Caryl, Ryniec Earn All-Conference Honors

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Big Ten announced the all-conference awards on Wednesday morning, prior to the start of the 2024 B1G Softball Tournament. Adisyn Caryl was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team, while Abby Ryniec received the Sportsmanship Award.

Caryl played in all 51 regular-season games for the Fighting Illini, making 50 straight starts following the season opener when she came on in relief. On the year, Caryl is second on the team in batting with a .342 average along with 24 RBI. The newcomer logged 12 multi-hit games during her first year, tallying three hits in four of those games.

The Illini third baseman posted a .306 batting average with 10 RBI and four extra-base hits during league play. The Kansas native's lone homer of the season came during the Orange and Blue's series finale at Maryland, helping the team to a 4-0 win.

Caryl is the first Illinois player to make the All-Freshmen Team since a trio of Illini garnered the recognition in 2022. Following that season, Lauren Wiles, Stevie Meade and Paige Berkmeyer each took home the award.

A crucial piece to the Fighting Illini lineup, Ryniec has played in 50 games this year, making 48 starts. The senior is third on the team with a .338 batting average in her final year with the Orange and Blue. In Big Ten action, Ryniec owns a .304 average with a team-best 12 RBI. The Downers Grove, Ill., native tallied her first-career home run in conference play, sending a ball over the centerfield fence at Ohio State.

[12] Illinois faces off against [5] Minnesota on Wednesday at Bob Pearl Field in Iowa City, Iowa. First pitch is slated for 1:30 p.m. on Big Ten Network.

2024 BIG TEN CONFERENCE SOFTBALL POSTSEASON HONORS 

Player of the Year: Jess Oakland, So., SS, Minnesota 

Pitcher of the Year: Ashley Miller, Gr., RHP, Northwestern 

Freshman of the Year: Bridget Nemeth, RHP, Penn State 

Coach of the Year: Kate Drohan, Northwestern 

FIRST TEAM ALL-BIG TEN 

Sarah Stone, Jr., IF, Indiana 

Jena Young, Fr., IF, Iowa 

Jaeda McFarland, Gr., OF, Maryland 

Lauren Derkowski, Jr., P, Michigan 

Maddie Erickson, So., IF, Michigan 

Elle Sieler, Jr., OF, Michigan 

Keke Tholl, Sr., IF, Michigan 

Taylor Krapf, Jr., C, Minnesota 

JESS OAKLAND, So., IF, Minnesota 

Billie Andrews, Sr., IF, Nebraska 

Kelsey Nader, So., OF, Northwestern 

ASHLEY MILLER, Gr., P, Northwestern 

Kansas Robinson, So., IF, Northwestern 

Kami Kortokrax, Jr., IF, Ohio State 

BRIDGET NEMETH, Fr., P, Penn State 

Kyleigh Sand, Sr., IF, Rutgers 

MORGAN SMITH, Sr., OF, Rutgers 

Hilary Blomberg, Fr., DP, Wisconsin 

SECOND TEAM ALL-BIG TEN* 

Taylor Minnick, Jr., OF, Indiana 

Aly VanBrandt, Fr., IF, Indiana 

Rylie Moss, Jr., OF, Iowa 

Sydney Lewis, So., DP, Maryland 

Mazie MacFarlane, Gr., OF, Maryland 

Diamond Williams, Gr., IF, Maryland 

Courtney Wyche, Gr., P, Maryland 

Ella Stephenson, Fr., OF, Michigan 

Hannah Hawley, So., IF, Michigan State 

Morgan DeBord, Gr., OF, Minnesota 

Sydney Strelow, Gr., IF, Minnesota 

Sydney Gray, Sr., IF, Nebraska 

Taylor Heckman, Sr., OF, Ohio State 

Allison Smith, Sr., P, Ohio State 

Gaby Garcia, Sr., C, Penn State 

Maddie Gordon, Jr., OF, Penn State 

Kaitlyn Morrison, Sr.+, IF, Penn State 

Mattie Boyd, 5th-yr., P, Rutgers 

Ava Kuszak, So., IF, Wisconsin 

ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM 

Adisyn Caryl, IF, Illinois 

Alex Cooper, UTL, Indiana 

Aly VanBrandt, UTL, Indiana 

Jena Young, IF, Iowa 

Ava Cosatles, UTL, Michigan 

ELLA STEPHENSON, OF, Michigan 

Samantha Bland, IF/OF, Nebraska 

Emma Raye, C/IF, Northwestern 

Jasmyn Burns, C/UTL, Ohio State 

Bridget Nemeth, RHP, Penn State 

HILARY BLOMBERG, C, Wisconsin 

ALL-DEFENSIVE TEAM 

P: Morgan Smith, Sr., Rutgers 

C: Emma Raye, Fr., Northwestern 

1B: Sammy Diaz, Sr., Iowa 

2B: Sydney Strelow, Gr., Minnesota 

SS: Jess Oakland, So., Minnesota 

3B: Alex Cooper, Fr., Indiana 

OF: Morgan DeBord, Gr., Minnesota 

OF: Moriah Polar, Fr., Purdue 

OF: Jaeda McFarland, Gr., Maryland 

SPORTSMANSHIP HONOREES 

Abby Ryniec, Illinois 

Brooke Benson, Indiana 

Sammy Diaz, Iowa 

Megan Mikami, Maryland 

Ellie Sieler, Michigan 

Macy Lee, Michigan State 

Jacie Hambrick, Minnesota 

Mckinley Malecha, Nebraska 

Lauren Boyd, Northwestern 

Kirsten Eppele, Ohio State 

Amanda Mack, Penn State 

Kate Claypool, Purdue 

Megan Herka, Rutgers 

Tessa Magnanimo, Wisconsin 

ALL CAPS indicates unanimous selections 

* - additional players due to ties in voting