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Freshman of the Year

Since 1990*, the Illinois Freshman of the Year Award has been given annually to the best performing male and female student-athlete in his or her first year of competition in college athletics.
* From 1990-2017 the award was called the Newcomer of the Year Award and allowed for transfers to win. Starting in 2018 it became Freshman of the Year making it open only to those in their first year of competition in college

FIGHTING ILLINI ATHLETICS AWARDS

» Dike Eddleman Athlete of the Year 
» Big Ten Medal of Honor 
» Freshman of the Year

» Newcomer of the Year
» Big Ten Jackie Robinson Award
» Big Ten Outstanding Sportsmanship Award
» Spirit Award

Male Recipient

Year Name Sport
1990 Steve Bridges Track & Field/Cross Country
1991 Deon Thomas Basketball
1992 Marko Koers Track & Field
1993 Simeon Rice Football
1994 Jerry Turek Tennis
1995 Robert Holcombe Football
1996 Karl Roesler Wrestling
1997 Chris Jones Track & Field
1997 Cary Franklin Tennis
1998 Adam Tirapelle Wrestling
1999 Cory Bradford Basketball
1999 Jason Van Swol Track & Field
2000 Brandon Lloyd Football
2001 Amer Delic Tennis
2001 Phil Stolt Tennis
2002 Drew Davidson Baseball
2003 Alex Tirapelle Wrestling
2003 Rajeev Ram Tennis
2004 E.B. Halsey Football
2005 Kevin Anderson Tennis
2006 Kyle Hudson Football/Baseball
2007 Gakologelwang Masheto Track & Field
2008 Arrelious Benn Football
2009 Andrew Riley Track & Field
2010 D.J. Richardson Basketball
2011 Nathan Scheelhaase Football
2012 C.J. Maestas Gymnastics
2013 Fred Hartville Gymnastics
2014 Chandler Eggleston Gymnastics
2015 Isaiah Martinez Wrestling
2016 Alex Diab Gymnastics
2017 Michael Feagles Golf
2018 Jon Davis Track & Field
2019 Ayo Dosunmu Basketball
2020 Kofi Cockburn Basketball
2021 Andre Curbelo Basketball
2022 Ashton Anaya Gymnastics
2023 Gabe Jacas Football
2024 Max Herendeen Golf
2025 Kasparas Jakucionis Basketball

Female Recipient

Year Name Sport
1990 Peggy Pullman Gymnastics
1991 Mandy Cunningham Basketball
1992 Becky Biehl Golf
1993 Kirsten Gleis Volleyball
1994 Nicole "Puni" Viernes Gymnastics
1995 Erin Borske Volleyball
1996 Kim Berres Gymnastics
1997 Tisha Ponder Track & Field
1998 Aleisha Latimer Track & Field
1999 Allison Curtin Basketball
2000 Shavonna Hunter Basketball
2001 Jennifer McGaffigan Tennis
2001 Susanna Kallur Track & Field
2002 Ashley Williams Gymnastics
2003 Rachelle Coriddi Softball
2004 Cassie Hunt Track & Field/Cross Country
2005 Macall Harkins Tennis
2006 Julie Crall Gymnastics
2007 Angela Bizzarri Track & Field/Cross Country
2008 Allison Buckley Gymnastics
2009 Michelle Bartsch Volleyball
2010 Pepper Gay Softball
2011 Vanessa DiBernardo Soccer
2012 Ashley Spencer Track & Field
2013 Morolake Akinosun Track & Field
2014 Kandie Bloch-Jones Track & Field
2015 Brandi Donnelly Volleyball
2016 Jordyn Poulter Volleyball
2017 Jacqueline Quade Volleyball
2018 Mia Rabinowitz Tennis
2019 Kornkamol Sukaree Golf
2020 Mia Takekawa Gymnastics
2021 Olivia Howell Track & Field
2022 Lauren Wiles Softball
2023 Brooke Mosher Volleyball
2024 Elizabeth Ndudi Track & Field
2025 Chloe Cho Gymnastics
2025 Melissa Wullschleger Track & Field