Fighting Illini Athletics Celebrated at the 2026 Oskees

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois' best and brightest student-athletes were honored in person at The Oskees on 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.

McKenna Schaefbauer and Kenta Miyoshi of women's and men's tennis 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.

Throughout her three years in the orange and blue, Schaefbauer's growth and impact are undeniable. She started at the No. 6 singles spot in her first match at Illinois and went on to play solely at No. 1 during her junior and senior seasons. The Normal, Illinois, native grew on and off the court while truly embodying what it means to be a student-athlete. Schaefbauer capped her career as a unanimous First Team All-Big Ten selection in 2026 to become a two-time all-conference selection. This past season, she earned a career-high ITA singles ranking of No. 29 while capturing four wins over nationally-ranked opponents.

Schaefbauer's list of achievements off the court is even more impressive. The senior has earned Academic All-Big Ten honors and been recognized as a three-time ITA Scholar-Athlete and two-time CSC All-District selection while working towards her degree in political science. Schaefbauer has been involved in the community both at South Carolina and across her three seasons at Illinois, participating in food drives, fundraisers, youth tennis camps, and numerous volunteer appearances including Big Ten Reading Week, MLK Day of Service, Feeding Our Kids. She has also served as the women's tennis SAAC representative. Schaefbauer is the eighth Illinois women's tennis student-athlete to receive the Big Ten Medal of Honor and the first since 2005.

Across his four seasons at Illinois, Miyoshi has become a mainstay in the Illini lineup and one of the best players not only in the Big Ten, but in the country. Named the 2025 Big Ten Player of the Year, Miyoshi has secured all-conference status in each of the last three seasons, including unanimous All-Big Ten First Team honors in 2025 and 2026. The Japan native has earned ITA Singles All-America accolades in back-to-back seasons, and he enters the NCAA Tournament with 97 career singles wins.

Off the court, Miyoshi was a CSC First Team Academic All-American during the 2024-25 academic year – the first student-athlete in program history to achieve that honor – and is a two-time Academic All-Big Ten and three-time ITA Scholar-Athlete selection. He has also claimed Big Ten Distinguished Scholar and CSC Academic All-District recognition in both 2024 and 2025. Miyoshi served as one of the team's SAAC representatives in 2024-25 and was one of three student representatives across campus on the 2024-25 Illinois Athletic Board. Also making an impact in the community, he has participated in United Way of Champaign County and MLK Day of Service initiatives. He is the seventh Illinois men's tennis student-athlete to receive the Big Ten Medal of Honor and the first since 2004.

In the honor's second year, the 2025-26 Big Ten Jackie Robinson Community & Impact Award was presented to Tali Joelson (women's gymnastics) and TJ Griffin (football). The award celebrates a male and female athlete at each conference school who embodies "Jackie's Nine" core values of courage, determination, teamwork, persistence, integrity, citizenship, justice, commitment, and 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 2026 Spirit Awards were Kylan Boswell and Lety Vasconcelos from our men's and women's basketball teams.

The women's golf (3.90 GPA) and men's gymnastics (3.73 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.

Jax Washburn of men's gymnastics, Chloe Cho of women's gymnastics, Kylie Eaton of women's golf, and Ava Moore of softball had the top GPAs among sophomores. Zach Viiala of men's tennis and Adisyn Caryl of softball were the top juniors. Among seniors, Will Baysingar of wrestling, Victoria Zheng from women's golf, Brielle Mapanao from women's golf, and Alexis Wendel of swim and dive had the highest GPAs. For graduate students, Richie LaCien of baseball, Dylan Connell of wrestling, Charlie Fifield of wrestling, Gisela Segura of women's basketball, Christina Crawford of softball, Sydney Stephens of soccer, Kristine Blazevica of women's track & field, Anastasia Retsa of women's track & field, and Nora Wollen of women's track & field had the top GPAs. The top cheer GPAs belonged to Lexi Brizzolara and Eli Kennel.

The women's gymnastics team, led by first-year head coach Josh Nilson, earned the Illini Way Student-Athlete Development Team Competition Award for its achievements in community and DEI engagement, personal and professional development, and leadership.

Individually, five Illini were recognized as Illini Way Student-Athlete Development Stand Out Athletes. Those individuals were Chloe Cho from women's gymnastics, Martina Cibulkova of swim & dive, Tali Joelson from women's gymnastics, Cari Bohm of volleyball, and Tadeas Placek from men's track & field.

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.

BIG TEN MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENTS | AWARD HISTORY

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.

» McKenna Schaefbauer, Women's Tennis   
» Kenta Miyoshi, Men's Tennis

BIG TEN JACKIE ROBINSON COMMUNITY & IMPACT AWARD WINNERS | AWARD HISTORY

The Big Ten Conference's newest award celebrates student-athletes who embody "Jackie's Nine" core values - courage, determination, teamwork, persistence, integrity, citizenship, justice, commitment, and excellence.

» Tali Joelson, Women's Gymnastics   
» TJ Griffin, Football

FIGHTING ILLINI SPIRIT AWARD WINNERS | AWARD HISTORY

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

   » Lety Vasconcelos, Women's Basketball
   » Kylan Boswell, Men's Basketball

FIGHTING ILLINI OUTSTANDING TEAM GPA AWARDS

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

   » Women's Golf - 3.90 GPA, Coach Renee Slone
   » Men's Gymnastics - 3.73 GPA, Coach Daniel Ribeiro

OUTSTANDING SCHOLAR-ATHLETE AWARD WINNERS

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

   » Female Cheer Lexi Brizzolara, 4.00 GPA, accounting & information systems
   » Male Cheer Eli Kennel, 3.80 GPA, advertising
   » Sophomore Jax Washburn, Men's Gymnastics, 4.00 GPA, health planning & administration
   » Sophomore Chloe Cho, Women's Gymnastics, 4.00 GPA, interdisciplinary health sciences
   » Sophomore Kylie Eaton, Women's Golf, 4.00 GPA, kinesiology
   » Sophomore Ava Moore, Softball, 4.00 GPA, accountancy
   » Junior Zach Viiala, Men's Tennis, 4.00 GPA, finance
   » Junior Adisyn Caryl, Softball, 3.98 GPA, elementary education
   » Senior Will Baysingar, Wrestling, 3.98 GPA, finance & data science
   » Senior Victoria Zheng, Women's Golf, 4.00 GPA, finance
   » Senior Brielle Mapanao, Women's Golf, 4.00 GPA, kinesiology
   » Senior Alexis Wendel, Swim & Dive, 4.00 GPA, finance
   » Graduate Student Richie LaCien, Baseball, 4.00 GPA, strategic leadership & management
   » Graduate Student Dylan Connell, Wrestling, 4.00 GPA, management
   » Graduate Student Charlie Fifield, Wrestling, 4.00 GPA, management
   » Graduate Student Gisela Segura, Women's Basketball, 4.00 GPA, recreation, sport, & tourism
   » Graduate Student Christina Crawford, Softball, 4.00 GPA, livestock systems health
   » Graduate Student Sydney Stephens, Soccer, 4.00 GPA, recreation, sport, & tourism
   » Graduate Student Kristine Blazevica, Women's Track & Field, 4.00 GPA, recreation, sport, & tourism
   » Graduate Student Anastasia Retsa, Women's Track & Field, 4.00 GPA, management
   » Graduate Student Nora Wollen, Women's Track & Field, 4.00 GPA, management

ILLINI WAY STUDENT-ATHLETE DEVELOPMENT TEAM COMPETITION AWARD

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

   » Women's Gymnastics, Coach Josh Nilson

DIKE EDDLEMAN FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR FINALISTS | AWARD HISTORY

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.

   » Berry Wallace – Basketball
   » Chloe Cho – Gymnastics
   » Izzy Lee – Soccer
   » McKenna Schaefbauer – Tennis
   » Sophia Beckmon – Track & Field

DIKE EDDLEMAN MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR FINALISTS | AWARD HISTORY

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.

   » Keaton Wagler – Basketball
   » Luke Altmyer – Football
   » Max Herendeen – Golf
   » Brandon Dang – Gymnastics
   » Kenta Miyoshi – Tennis
   » Jip de Greef – Track & Field
   » Kannon Webster – Wrestling

FEMALE FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR FINALISTS | AWARD HISTORY

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.

   » Cearah Parchment – Basketball
   » Summer Clancy – Gymnastics
   » Ashlyn Adams – Soccer
   » Ady Kiddy – Softball
   » JaiCieonna Gero-Holt – Track & Field
   » Alyssa Aguayo – Volleyball

MALE FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR FINALISTS | AWARD HISTORY

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.

   » AJ Putty – Baseball
   » Keaton Wagler – Basketball
   » Gabriel Debru – Tennis
   » Luuk Pelkmans – Track & Field
   » Colin Kelly – Wrestling

FEMALE NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR FINALISTS

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.

   » Maddie Webber – Basketball
   » Nora Wollen – Cross Country
   » Cayla Jackson – Soccer
   » Skylar Brennan – Softball
   » Michelle Kaner – Swim & Dive
   » Cara Mester – Tennis
   » Meagan Humphries – Track & Field
   » Kenna Phelan – Volleyball

MALE NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR FINALISTS

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.

   » Andrej Stojakovic – Basketball
   » James Thompson Jr. – Football
   » Dane Huddleston – Golf
   » Andreas Hantson – Track & Field
   » Spencer Moore – Wrestling

FIGHTING ILLINI FEMALE SPIRIT AWARD FINALISTS | AWARD HISTORY

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

   » Lety Vasconcelos – Basketball
   » Tali Joelson – Gymnastics
   » Ashley Stellon – Soccer
   » Alaina Miller – Softball
   » Elleka Boeres – Swim & Dive
   » Cari Bohm – Volleyball

FIGHTING ILLINI MALE SPIRIT AWARD FINALISTS | AWARD HISTORY

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

   » Will Johannes – Baseball
   » Kylan Boswell – Basketball
   » Kenenna Odeluga – Football
   » Ryan Vanichtheeranont – Gymnastics
   » Gabriel Debru – Tennis
   » Danny Pucino – Wrestling