Photo Gallery | Big Ten Medal of Honor History | Spirit Award History | Banquet Program
URBANA, ILL. – Softball star Allie Bauch (Schaumburg, Ill.) and All-American golfer Charlie Danielson (Osceola, Wis.) garnered the prestigious Big Ten Conference Medal of Honor Monday night at the Fighting Illini All-Sports Celebration held at the Wyndham Garden Hotel.
This year marks the 102nd anniversary of the Big Ten Medal of Honor, awarded annually to one male and one female student-athlete from the graduating class of each member institution who has demonstrated excellence on and off the field throughout their college career. The conference's most exclusive award was the first of its kind in intercollegiate athletics to recognize academic and athletic excellence.
Bauch has started all 47 games this season at second base. She is hitting .327 while leading the Illini with 38 runs scored. She ranks among the team's top three in hits, RBI, doubles, triples, home runs, slugging percentage and stolen bases.
Bauch was impressive as a junior, earning first-team All-Big Ten honors along with National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Midwest Region accolades. She led the Illini in 10 offensive statistical categories, including batting average, slugging percentage, hits, and home runs. Bauch also was an All-Midwest Region pick as a sophomore.
Off the field, Bauch made history last season by becoming the first-ever Illini softball player to earn Capital One First-Team Academic All-America honors. A mathematics major, Bauch's accomplishments also include NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete, Big Ten Distinguished Scholar and Academic All-Big Ten.
"Allie is a great representative of the Fighting Illini softball program, the University of Illinois and the Big Ten Conference," head coach Tyra Perry said. "She is a leader for our team both on and off the field and has been a catalyst for the success we have achieved this season. Allie fully encompasses what it means to be a student-athlete through her actions, her character, her work ethic and her focus. She has not only set high standards for herself in both athletics and academics, but also in serving the community and understanding the importance of giving back. I am extremely proud of Allie and believe she is very deserving of receiving the Big Ten Medal of Honor."
Danielson is in the midst of a fantastic senior season. Ranked among the nation's top golfers and one of 10 semifinalists for the Ben Hogan Award, he leads the Illini with a 70.70 stroke average on the season. Danielson has recorded seven top-five finishes, winning two tournaments and most recently finishing runner-up at the Big Ten Championships while helping Illinois to the team title. It marked the third conference championship the Illini have won during his career.
Danielson was a second-team PING All-American, first-team All-Midwest Region and first-team All-Big Ten selection last year. He won the Les Bolstad Award as a sophomore for having the Big Ten's lowest stroke average during the regular season. He also was co-medalist at the 2014 Big Ten Championships. The highlight of Danielson's freshman campaign was a 13th-place finish at the NCAA Championships.
A management major in the U of I College of Business, Danielson also excels in the classroom as a Cleveland Golf/Srixon All-America Scholar and Academic All-Big Ten honoree.
"Charlie's body of work here at Illinois perfectly represents what the Big Ten Medal of Honor is all about," head coach Mike Small said. "Charlie is not only a decorated golfer, but he's also a two-time Academic All-American. He leads by example in everything that he does. I've had a lot of great players come through, but I've never had anyone who worked harder than he does. As a program, we are very proud of Charlie; he has earned this award every day for four years. Charlie is excellence, and that is evidenced by the laurels he has been awarded, but what's unique about Charlie is that he does all of these things because he loves it. He is a great student and he loves the game of golf."
Bauch and Danielson were just two of more than 500 Fighting Illini student-athletes, managers and cheerleaders honored at the All-Sports Celebration, a banquet that recognizes graduating student-athletes and others who have excelled both athletically and academically.
The Fighting Illini Spirit Awards, which are given to the male and female athlete who best exemplify the spirit, courage, effort and dedication of the Fighting Illini, also were handed out on Monday. Receiving the 2016 Fighting Illini Spirit Awards were Taylore Peterson (Portage, Mich.) of soccer and football's Joe Spencer (Mason, Ohio).
The Leadership Academy Awards were presented to athletes who exemplify leadership skills and service in the community. David Kendziera (Mount Prospect, Ill.) of track and field was awarded the Leader of Distinction honor, while volleyball's Katie Stadick (Watertown, Wis.) received the Leader of Merit honor.
The women's cross country (3.57 GPA) and men's cross country (3.40 GPA) teams were recognized for having the top team cumulative grade-point averages among Illinois' varsity sports over the last two semesters, and seven individuals were honored for having the top GPA in their respective classes. Soccer's Olivia Schmitt (Naperville, Ill., 3.93 GPA in journalism), softball's Annie Flemming (Chillicothe, Ill., 3.93 GPA in kinesiology) and cross country/track's Zack Smith (Downers Grove, Ill., 4.0 GPA in accountancy) had the top GPAs among sophomores, soccer's Alia Abu-Douleh (Marion, Ill., 3.96 GPA in architectural studies) and track's Michael Hyc (Chicago, Ill., 4.0 GPA in accountancy) were the top juniors, while volleyball's Allison Palmer (Laguna Beach, Calif., 3.96 GPA in accountancy) and tennis' Jared Hiltzik (Wilmette, Ill., 3.76 GPA in communication) were honored as the top seniors.
The Big Ten Postgraduate Scholarships also were awarded. Seniors Stephanie Hein (Hartland, Wis.) of swimming and Mason Monheim (Orrville, Ohio) of football received $7,500 scholarships to be utilized at their graduate schools.
Women's gymnastics once again received the Illini Life Skills Team Competition Award for its commitment to community service.
In addition to the awards handed out, finalists for Dike Eddleman Male and Female Athlete of the Year and Newcomer of the Year also were announced. The Eddleman and Newcomer winners will not be selected until the conclusion of the spring sports season in June.
Awarded to one female and male student-athlete from the graduating class at each conference institution who has demonstrated excellence on and off the field
Senior Allie Bauch (Schaumburg, Ill.), Softball
Senior Charlie Danielson (Osceola, Wis.), Golf
Fighting Illini Spirit Award Winners | Award History
Athletes who exemplify the spirit, courage, effort and dedication of the Fighting Illini
Junior Taylore Peterson (Portage, Mich.), Soccer
Junior Joe Spencer (Mason, Ohio) Football
Leadership Academy Awards
Athletes who exemplify leadership skills and service in the community
Leader of Distinction
Junior David Kendziera (Mount Prospect, Ill.), Track & Field
Leader of Merit
Junior Katie Stadick (Watertown, Wis.) Volleyball
Fighting Illini Outstanding Team GPA Awards
Highest cumulative grade point average for a team over the last two semesters
Women's Cross Country - 3.57 GPA, Coach Scott Jones
Men's Cross Country - 3.40 GPA, Coach Jake Stewart
Outstanding Scholar-Athlete Award Winners
Female and male student-athletes with the highest grade-point average in each class of school
Sophomore Olivia Schmitt (Naperville, Ill.), Soccer, 3.93 GPA, journalism
Sophomore Annie Flemming (Chillicothe, Ill.), Softball, 3.93 GPA, kinesiology
Sophomore Zack Smith (Downers Grove, Ill.), Track/Cross Country, 4.0 GPA, accountancy
Junior Alia Abu-Douleh (Marion, Ill.), Soccer, 3.96 GPA, architectural studies
Junior Michael Hyc (Chicago, Ill.), Track & Field, 4.0 GPA, accountancy
Senior Allison Palmer (Laguna Beach, Calif.), Volleyball, 3.96 GPA, accountancy
Senior Jared Hiltzik (Wilmette, Ill.), Tennis, 3.76 GPA, communication
Big Ten Postgraduate Scholarship Recipients
Senior Stephanie Hein (Hartland, Wis.), Swimming
Senior Mason Monheim (Orrville, Ohio), Football
Life Skills Team Competition Award
Women's Gymnastics, Coach Kim Landrus
Dike Eddleman Female Athlete of the Year Finalists | Award History
Winner announced in June after the completion of all spring sports
Senior Alyssa Schneider (Bartlett, Ill.), Cross Country
Senior Jannelle Flaws (Glenview, Ill.), Soccer
Sophomore Pedrya Seymour (Nassau, Bahamas), Track & Field
Senior Jocelynn Birks (Willow Springs, Ill.), Volleyball
Dike Eddleman Male Athlete of the Year Finalists | Award History
Winner announced in June after the completion of all spring sports
Junior Malcolm Hill (Fairview Heights, Ill.), Basketball
Junior Dylan Lafond (Manchester, N.H.), Cross Country
Senior Clayton Fejedelem (Lemont, Ill.), Football
Senior Charlie Danielson (Osceola, Wis.), Golf
Sophomore Brandon Ngai (Sacramento, Calif.), Gymnastics
Senior Jared Hiltzik (Wilmette, Ill.), Tennis
Sophomore Jonathan Wells (Fox Lake, Ill.), Track & Field
Sophomore Isaiah Martinez (Lemoore, Calif.), Wrestling
Female Newcomer of the Year Finalists | Award History
Winner announced in June after the completion of all spring sports
Freshman Alex Wittinger (Delano, Minn.), Basketball
Freshman Bing Singhsumalee (Naperville, Ill.), Golf
Freshman Lizzy LeDuc (Dallas, Texas), Gymnastics
Freshman Morgan Maroney (Castle Rock, Colo.), Soccer
Freshman Ines Vias (Germantown, Md.), Tennis
Freshman Jordyn Poulter (Aurora, Colo.), Volleyball
Male Newcomer of the Year Finalists | Award History
Winner announced in June after the completion of all spring sports
Freshman Cole Bellair (Lockport, Ill.), Baseball
Freshman Jalen Coleman-Lands (Indianapolis, Ind.), Basketball
Freshman Jesse Reiser (McHenry, Ill.), Cross Country
Freshman Alex Diab (Glen Ellyn, Ill.), Gymnastics
Freshman Devin Quinn (Punta Gorda, Fla.), Track & Field
Fighting Illini Female Spirit Award Finalists | Award History
Athletes who exemplify the spirit, courage, effort and dedication of the Fighting Illini
Senior Kyley Simmons (Council Bluffs, Iowa), Basketball
Junior Taylore Peterson (Portage, Mich.), Soccer *WINNER*
Senior Allie Bauch (Schaumburg, Ill.), Softball
Senior Sloane McDermott (Mokena, Ill.), Swimming
Junior Madie Baillon (Champaign, Ill.), Tennis
Fighting Illini Male Spirit Award Finalists | Award History
Athletes who exemplify the spirit, courage, effort and dedication of the Fighting Illini
Sophomore Grey Schultz (Champaign, Ill.), Baseball
Senior Mike Thorne Jr. (Fayetteville, N.C.), Basketball
Junior Joe Spencer (Mason, Ohio), Football *WINNER*
Senior Alex Burge (Bloomington, Ill.), Golf
Senior Ben Dodds (Champaign, Ill.), Track & Field
Senior Jeff Koepke (Prospect Heights, Ill.), Wrestling
