CHAMPAIGN, ILL. – Illinois' best and brightest student athletes were honored Monday night at the annual Fighting Illini Oskee Awards celebration held at State Farm Center.
More than 500 Fighting Illini student-athletes, managers and cheerleaders were honored at the Oskee Awards, an annual event that recognizes first-year letter jacket recipients, graduating student-athletes and others who have excelled both athletically and academically. The event was hosted by former Fighting Illini cheerleader and current television host for KMOV-TV in St. Louis Laura Hettiger.
Senior standouts Nick Allegretti (football) and Ali Bastianelli (volleyball) took home the night's highest honor, the prestigious Big Ten Medal of Honor. Now in its 105th year, the Big Ten Medal of Honor is 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.
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 2019 Fighting Illini Spirit Awards were David Craan of baseball on men's side, while the women's award was shared by volleyball's Beth Prince and softball's Veronica Ruelius due to a tie in the voting.
The women's golf (3.67 GPA) and men's golf (3.31 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. Kylie Noonan of gymnastics (4.0 GPA in information systems) and Sean Coghlan of football (3.83 GPA in accountancy and finance) had the top GPAs among sophomores. Swimming and diving's Emily Martin (3.99 GPA in agricultural accounting) and baseball's Garrett Acton (3.98 GPA in finance) were the top juniors. Among seniors, softball's Stephanie Abello (3.97 in creative writing and Spanish), men's tennis player Noe Khlif (3.95 GPA in accountancy) and track and field's Joe Haight (3.95 in engineering physics) had the highest GPAs.
The Big Ten Postgraduate Scholarships also were awarded. Seniors Stephanie Abello of softball and Joe Haight of track & field received $7,500 scholarships to be utilized at their graduate schools.
The softball team, led by head coach Tyra Perry, once again received the Illini Life Skills Student-Athlete Development Team Competition Award for its commitment to community service.
Two past Big Ten Medal of Honor recipients took part in The Oskees Monday night. Tonya Booker (women's basketball) and Forry Wells (football), both celebrating 25 years since earning their Medals of Honor in 1994, were at State Farm Center to make remarks to the current crop of Fighting Illini student-athletes.
In addition to the awards handed out, finalists for Male and Female Dike Eddleman Athlete of the Year and Freshman of the Year awards also were announced. The Eddleman and Freshman winners will not be selected until the conclusion of the spring sports season in June.
The Conference's oldest and most prestigious award has been given annually to a male and female student in the graduating class that has demonstrated proficiency in both scholarship and athletics
» Senior Nick Allegretti, Football
» Senior Ali Bastianelli, Volleyball
Fighting Illini Spirit Award Winners | Award History
Athletes who exemplify the spirit, courage, effort and dedication of the Fighting Illini
» Veronica Ruelius, Softball and Beth Prince, Volleyball (Tie)
» David Craan, Baseball
Fighting Illini Outstanding Team GPA Awards
Highest cumulative grade point average for a team over the last two semesters
» Women's Golf - 3.67 GPA, Coach Renee Slone
» Men's Golf - 3.31 GPA, Coach Mike Small
Outstanding Scholar-Athlete Award Winners
Female and male student-athletes with the highest grade-point average in each class of school
» Sophomore Kylie Noonan, Gymnastics, 4.0 GPA, information systems
» Sophomore Sean Coghlan, Football, 3.83 GPA, accountancy & finance
» Junior Emily Martin, Swimming & Diving, 3.99 GPA, agricultural accounting
» Junior Garrett Acton, Baseball, 3.98 GPA, finance
» Senior Stephanie Abello, Softball, 3.97 GPA, creative writing & Spanish
» Senior Noe Khlif, Tennis, 3.95 GPA, accountancy
and senior Joe Haight, Track & Field, 3.95 GPA, engineering physics
Big Ten Postgraduate Scholarship Recipients
Female and male student-athletes selected to receive $7,500 scholarships to be utilized at their graduate schools
» Senior Stephanie Abello, Softball
» Senior Joe Haight, Track & Field
Life Skills Student-Athlete Development Team Competition Award
Team that shows the most commitment to community service during the academic year
» Softball, Coach Tyra Perry
Dike Eddleman Female Athlete of the Year Finalists | Award History
Presented to the University of Illinois female athlete who most excelled in her sport at both the conference and national levels. Winner announced in June after the completion of all spring sports.
» Alex Wittinger – Basketball
» Crystal Wang – Golf
» Mary Jane Otto – Gymnastics
» Katie Murray – Soccer
» Bella Loya – Softball
» Ling Kuhn – Swimming & Diving
» Asuka Kawai – Tennis
» Jordyn Poulter – Volleyball
Dike Eddleman Male Athlete of the Year Finalists | Award History
Presented to the University of Illinois male athlete who most excelled in his sport at both the conference and national levels. Winner announced in June after the completion of all spring sports.
» Michael Massey – Baseball
» Reggie Corbin – Football
» Michael Feagles – Golf
» Alex Diab – Gymnastics
» Aleks Kovacevic – Tennis
» Devin Quinn – Track & Field
» Emery Parker – Wrestling
Female Freshman of the Year Finalists | Award History
Presented to a female, participating in her first year at Illinois, who most excelled in athletics. Winner announced in June after the completion of all spring sports.
» Madison Marasco – Cross Country
» Kornkamol Sukaree – Golf
» Ashley Cathro – Soccer
» Sydney Sickels – Softball
» Taylor Kuper – Volleyball
Male Freshman of the Year Finalists | Award History
Presented to a male, participating in his first year at Illinois, who most excelled in athletics. Winner announced in June after the completion of all spring sports.
» Cam McDonald – Baseball
» Ayo Dosunmu – Basketball
» Adrien Dumont de Chassart – Golf
» Michael Fletcher – Gymnastics
» Keenan Mayo – Tennis
Fighting Illini Female Spirit Award Finalists | Award History
Female student-athlete who best exemplifies the spirit, courage, effort and dedication of the Fighting Illini
» Sarah Shewan – Basketball
» Tristyn Nowlin – Golf
» Haylee Roe – Gymnastics
» Morgan Maroney – Soccer
» Veronica Ruelius – Softball ***CO-WINNER***
» Megan Vuong – Swimming & Diving
» Katie Stapleton – Track/Cross Country
» Beth Prince – Volleyball ***CO-WINNER***
Fighting Illini Male Spirit Award Finalists | Award History
Male student-athlete who best exemplifies the spirit, courage, effort and dedication of the Fighting Illini
» David Craan – Baseball ***WINNER***
» Giorgi Bezhanishvili – Basketball
» Austin Roberts – Football
» Clay Mason Stephens – Gymnastics
» Denis O'Callaghan – Track/Cross Country
Chi Alpha Sigma Inductees
Chi Alpha Sigma is the National College Athlete Honor Society. To be selected, student-athletes must maintain at least a 3.4 GPA through their junior year, earn a varsity, letter, have good moral character, and exhibit citizenship and leadership qualities.
