Fighting Illini Athletics Celebrated at the 2024 Oskees

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois' best and brightest student-athletes were honored in person at The Oskees Monday night from State Farm Center.

The Oskees is an annual all-sports celebration recognizing first-year letter jacket recipients, graduating student-athletes and all Fighting Illini who have excelled both athletically and academically. Monday marked the second year of The Oskees back as a fully-attended banquet since 2019, following the cancelation in 2020 and smaller, modified events in 2021 and 2022 due to COVID-19.

Isaiah Williams of football and Kendall Bostic of basketball took home the night's highest honor, the prestigious Big Ten Medal of Honor. Established in 1915, 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.

On the field, Williams was one of the most productive receivers in Illinois history. He finished second in Illinois history in career receptions (214), seventh in receiving yards (2,304), and became the seventh wide receiver in Fighting Illini history to earn All-Big Ten First Team honors as a senior. Williams led the Big Ten in receptions with 82 during the 2023 regular season, 15 more than any Big Ten player, and ranked second in the conference in receiving yards during the regular season (1,055).

Off the field, neither challenges nor successes have stopped Williams from being a difference maker for his communities and Illinois' undisputed leader. His time at Illinois was highlighted by being voted a two-time captain by his teammates, earning a spot on the Jason Witten Man of the Year semifinalist list, taking a mission trip to Africa with two teammates, being voted to the Executive Board for EMPOWER – Illinois' diversity and inclusion initiative group – and attending the Black Student-Athlete Summit in Houston. 

Year after year at Illinois, Bostic has continued to add to her resume on and off the court. She's earned Big Ten All-Conference recognition all three years as an Illini and has been selected as Illinois' Sportsmanship Award honoree each of those seasons as well. Last year's Female Spirit Award winner, Bostic led the Big Ten in rebounding the last three seasons while racking up 34 career double-doubles. She has tallied 1,011 career points and 1,058 career rebounds and was named to the 2024 WBIT All-Tournament Team.

While Bostic has made a huge impact for the Fighting Illini on the court, her work off of it might be even more impressive. Aspiring young athletes line up night after night for a chance to talk with the Illini senior, take a photo, or get an autograph. Bostic is working towards her master's degree in special education and spends her days student-teaching in the community. In the classroom, Bostic is a two-time CSC Academic All-District selection and two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree. With a list of community service, volunteering, and speaking engagements that goes multiple pages, Bostic is the ultimate role model, teammate, and student-athlete.

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 2024 Spirit Awards were Isaiah Williams from football and Jada Peebles from basketball.

The women's swim & dive (3.76 GPA) and men's gymnastics (3.65 GPA) teams were recognized for having the top team cumulative grade-point averages among Illinois' varsity sports over the last two semesters, and a number of individuals were honored for having the top GPA in their respective classes.

Olivia Campbell of women's track & field, Alexis Wendel of swim & dive, Taylor De Boer of volleyball, and Ryan Voois of men's golf had the top GPAs among sophomores. Abby Lynch of soccer and track & field, Lexanne Halama of women's golf, and Daniel Renshaw from wrestling were the top juniors. Among seniors, Jessica Nunge of volleyball and Chase Waggoner of wrestling had the highest GPAs. For graduate students, Mia Takekawa from women's gymnastics, Ashley Cathro of soccer, Kendall Bostic from women's basketball, Camille Hobby of women's basketball, Jessica McDowell from women's track & field, Josie Frazier of women's tennis, Jake Reicin from wrestling, Luke Luffman of wrestling, Connor McCool, of men's gymnastics, Michael Fletcher from men's gymnastics, Marcus Domask of men's basketball, Asher Bradd from baseball, Jack Roberts of men's track & field, and TeRah Edwards from football had the top GPAs.

The swim & dive team, led by head coach Jeana Kempe, earned the Illini Way Student-Athlete Development Team Competition Award for its achievements in community and DEI engagement, personal and professional development, and leadership.

In addition to the awards handed out, finalists for Dike Eddleman Athlete of the Year, Freshman of the Year, and Newcomer of the Year also were announced. These award winners will be selected in June following the conclusion of the spring sports season.

The Big Ten Conference's oldest and most prestigious award has been given annually to a female and male student in the graduating class that has demonstrated proficiency in both scholarship and athletics.

» Kendall Bostic, Basketball   
» Isaiah Williams, Football

Female and male athletes who most exemplify the spirit, courage, effort, and dedication of the Fighting Illini.

   » Jada Peebles, Basketball
   » Isaiah Williams, Football

Highest cumulative grade-point average for a team over the last two semesters.

   » Swim & Dive - 3.76 GPA, Coach Jeana Kempe
   » Men's Gymnastics - 3.65 GPA, Coach Daniel Ribeiro

Female and male student-athletes with the highest grade-point average in each class of school.

   » Female Cheer McKayla Smith, 4.00 GPA, accountancy
   » Male Cheer JP Hoffman, 3.99 GPA, finance
   » Sophomore Olivia Campbell, Track & Field, 4.00 GPA, psychology
   » Sophomore Alexis Wendel, Swim & Dive, 4.00 GPA, finance
   » Sophomore Taylor De Boer, Volleyball, 4.00 GPA, recreation, sport, and tourism
   » Sophomore Ryan Voois, Golf, 3.97 GPA, finance
   » Junior Lexanne Halama, Golf, 4.00 GPA, integrative biology
   » Junior Abby Lynch, Soccer/Track & Field, 4.00 GPA, accountancy
   » Junior Lexanne Halama, Golf, 4.00 GPA, integrative biology
   » Junior Daniel Renshaw, Wrestling, 3.99GPA, bioengineering
   » Senior Jessica Nunge, Volleyball, 4.00 GPA, integrative biology
   » Senior Chase Waggoner, Wrestling, 3.91 GPA, finance
   » Graduate Student Mia Takekawa, Gymnastics, 4.00 GPA, bioengineering
   » Graduate Student Ashley Cathro, Soccer, 4.00 GPA, community health (PhD)
   » Graduate Student Kendall Bostic, Basketball, 4.00 GPA, special education
   » Graduate Student Camille Hobby, Basketball, 4.00 GPA, recreation, sport, and tourism
   » Graduate Student Jessica McDowell, Track & Field, 4.00 GPA, education policy, organization, and leadership
   » Graduate Student Josie Frazier, Tennis, 4.00 GPA, accountancy
   » Graduate Student Jake Reicin, Wrestling, 4.00 GPA, management
   » Graduate Student Luke Luffman, Wrestling, 4.00 GPA, recreation, sport, and tourism
   » Graduate Student Connor McCool, Gymnastics, 4.00 GPA, recreation, sport, and tourism
   » Graduate Student Michael Fletcher, Gymnastics, 4.00 GPA, recreation, sport, and tourism
   » Graduate Student Marcus Domask, Basketball, 4.00 GPA, recreation, sport, and tourism
   » Graduate Student Asher Bradd, Baseball, 4.00 GPA, strategic leadership
   » Graduate Student Jack Roberts, Track & Field/Cross Country, 4.00 GPA, engineering
   » Graduate Student TeRah Edwards, Football, 4.00 GPA, strategic brand communication

Team accumulating the most points in four different categories: Unify (Community and DEI Engagement), Develop (Personal and Professional Development), Inspire (Leadership) and Achieve (Honors and Awards).

   » Swim & Dive, Coach Jeana Kempe

Presented to the University of Illinois female athlete who most excels in her sport at both the conference and national levels. Winner announced in June after the completion of all spring sports.

   » Makira Cook – Basketball
   » Halle Hill – Cross Country
   » Isabel Sy – Golf
   » Mia Takekawa – Gymnastics
   » Julia Cili – Soccer
   » Kelly Ryono – Softball
   » Sydney Stoll – Swim & Dive
   » Bara Sajdokova – Track & Field
   » Raina Terry – Volleyball

Presented to the University of Illinois male athlete who most excels in his sport at both the conference and national levels. Winner announced in June after the completion of all spring sports.

   » Camden Janik – Baseball
   » Terrence Shannon Jr. – Basketball
   » Jack Roberts – Cross Country
   » Jer'Zhan Newton – Football
   » Jackson Buchanan – Golf
   » Brandon Dang – Gymnastics
   » Hunter Heck – Tennis
   » Aiden Ouimet – Track & Field
   » Edmond Ruth – Wrestling

Presented to a female, participating in her first year at Illinois, who most excels in athletics. Winner announced in June after the completion of all spring sports.

   » Gretchen Dolan - Basketball
   » Avril Andre – Cross Country
   » Lyden Saltness - Gymnastics
   » Mya Archibald – Soccer
   » Adisyn Caryl – Softball
   » Matilda Garcia – Swim & Dive
   » Alice Xu – Tennis
   » Elizabeth Ndudi – Track & Field
   » Lily Barry – Volleyball

Presented to a male, participating in his first year at Illinois, who most excels in athletics. Winner announced in June after the completion of all spring sports.

   » Cameron Chee-Aloy – Baseball
   » Kaden Feagin – Football
   » Max Herendeen – Golf
   » Brandon Dang – Gymnastics
   » Cody Johnston – Track & Field
   » Chris Moore – Wrestling

Presented to a non-freshman female, participating in her first year at Illinois, who most excels in athletics. Winner announced in June after the completion of all spring sports.

   » Camille Hobby – Basketball
   » Serena Starks – Softball
   » Adelaide Reaser – Swim & Dive
   » McKenna Schaefbauer – Tennis
   » Darja Sopova – Track & Field

Presented to a non-freshman male, participating in his first year at Illinois, who most excels in athletics. Winner announced in June after the completion of all spring sports.

   » Cooper Omans – Baseball
   » Marcus Domask – Basketball
   » Luke Altmyer – Football
   » Kam Garrett – Track & Field

Female student-athlete who best exemplifies the spirit, courage, effort, and dedication of the Fighting Illini.

   » Jada Peebles – Basketball
   » Abby Mueller – Gymnastics
   » Mackenzie Schuler – Soccer
   » Paige Berkmeyer – Softball
   » Molly Yetter – Swim & Dive
   » Kate Duong – Tennis
   » Jessica McDowell – Track & Field
   » Jessica Nunge – Volleyball

Male student-athlete who best exemplifies the spirit, courage, effort, and dedication of the Fighting Illini.

   » Connor Milton – Baseball
   » Coleman Hawkins – Basketball
   » Isaiah Williams – Football
   » Michael Fletcher – Gymnastics
   » Will Rezny – Track & Field
   » Lucas Horve – Tennis
   » Daniel Renshaw – Wrestling