Fighting Illini Athletics Celebrated at the 2025 Oskees

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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.

Jackson Buchanan of golf and Raina Terry of volleyball 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.

In his four seasons at Illinois, Buchanan has grown to become one of nation’s top competitors. His on-course résumé includes four collegiate victories and an individual runner-up at the 2023 NCAA Championship, plus program records for lowest individual round (62) and 54-hole tournament score (194). He helped lead the Fighting Illini to two Big Ten team titles (2022 and 2023), and two top-five national finishes at the NCAA Championship (2023 and 2024) with the opportunity for another on the horizon this postseason. Now, the two-time GCAA All-American and reigning Big Ten Player of the Year becomes the sixth Illini men’s golfer to be recognized with the Big Ten Medal of Honor – the fifth under head coach Mike Small. Currently No. 15 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, Buchanan is also on pace for the second-lowest career stroke average in Illinois program history (71.33).

Off the course, Buchanan is one of five finalists for the 2025 Byron Nelson Award, presented annually to collegiate golf’s top student-athlete for accomplishments on the course, in the classroom, and in the community. He has been honored as a GCAA All-America Scholar, CSC Academic All-District, Big Ten Distinguished Scholar, and Academic All-Big Ten, and will graduate with a degree in Operations Management from the prestigious Gies College of Business. In addition to his academic success, Buchanan has continued to give back to the community. At home in Georgia, he has supported families in need through his work at the North Gwinnett Co-Op and The Block, while also dedicating time to junior golfers through the North Georgia Golf Academy. In Central Illinois, he has served at the Eastern Illinois Foodbank, boxed non-perishable items through the Tinervin Family Foundation, worked with kids at International Prep Academy, and taken part in Illinois’ Campus Walk for Suicide Awareness.

Terry closed out her illustrious career with her best season yet. The 23rd player in Fighting Illini history to earn AVCA All-American status, Terry broke the Fighting Illini records for career kills (2,138), aces (220) and points (2,522.0) during her final season. A three-time All-Big Ten First Team member and AVCA All-Region honoree, Terry was the only active player in the conference with over 2,000 kills and over 200 aces. She is also the active career leader in all of Division I with 220 strikes from behind the service line. Helping her team to two NCAA Tournaments including a trip to the round of 16, Terry became the first player in Illinois volleyball history to be drafted in the Pro Volleyball Federation draft, as she was selected 11th overall by the Columbus Fury.

One of the best players to don the Orange and Blue, Terry made an impact both on and off the court. The Ohio native spent time working with local Boys and Girls Clubs, donating her time to helping children in need. Just as she encouraged her teammates on the court, off the court she helped others feel important, attending the “Night to Shine” event and by volunteering at an All-Star Game for those with special needs. A friend to all, Terry also visited local animal shelters, spending time with adoptable pets looking for their forever homes. Terry earned her undergraduate degree in Kinesiology and her Masters of Science in Recreation, Sport and Tourism.

In the honor’s inaugural year, the 2024-25 Big Ten Jackie Robinson Community & Impact Award was presented to Abby Lynch (soccer) and Kenenna Odeluga (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 2025 Spirit Awards were Matthew Bailey from football and Adalia McKenzie from basketball.

The women’s golf (3.88 GPA) and men’s gymnastics (3.70 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.

Aden O’Donnell of baseball, Jeremy Zhang of men’s tennis, Isabella Daley of women’s track & field, Martina Cibulkova of swim & dive, and Abby Ninan of swim & dive had the top GPAs among sophomores. Shawn Juliette of men’s track & field, Olivia Campbell of women’s track & field, Lizzie Stiverson of softball, Megan Sapp of women’s gymnastics, and Alexis Wendel of swim & dive were the top juniors. Among seniors, Anessa Arndt of soccer and Max Farkhadau of men’s gymnastics had the highest GPAs. For graduate students, Ryan Daly of baseball, Drake Westcott of baseball, Ben Humrichous of men’s basketball, Jason Kraisser of wrestling, Amari Sewell of men’s gymnastics, Paige Berkmeyer of softball, Lauren Wiles of softball, Kendall Bostic of women’s basketball, Lexanne Halama of women’s golf, Christina Martinez Mundo of volleyball, Kristine Blazevica from women’s track & field, Kennedy Berschel from soccer, and Sydney Stephens of soccer had the top GPAs. The top cheer GPAs belonged to Lexi Brizzolara and Isaiah Echavez.

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.

Individually, five Illini were recognized as Illini Way Student-Athlete Development Stand Out Athletes. Those individuals were Elleka Boeres of swim & dive, Martina Cibulkova of swim & dive, Tali Joelson from women’s gymnastics, Micheala Gentry from women’s gymnastics, 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.

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.

» Raina Terry, Volleyball   
» Jackson Buchanan, Golf

BIG TEN JACKIE ROBINSON COMMUNITY & IMPACT AWARD WINNERS

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.

» Abby Lynch, Soccer   
» Kenenna Odeluga, Football

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

   » Adalia McKenzie, Basketball
   » Matthew Bailey, Football

FIGHTING ILLINI OUTSTANDING TEAM GPA AWARDS

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

   » Women’s Golf – 3.88 GPA, Coach Renee Slone
   » Men’s Gymnastics – 3.70 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, business
   » Male Cheer Isaiah Echavez, 3.67 GPA, business
   » Sophomore Aden O’Donnell, Baseball, 4.00 GPA, business
   » Sophomore Jeremy Zhang, Men’s Tennis, 4.00 GPA, finance
   » Sophomore Isabella Daley, Women’s Track & Field, 4.00 GPA, political science
   » Sophomore Martina Cibulkova, Swim & Dive, 4.00 GPA, kinesiology
   » Sophomore Abby Ninan, Swim & Dive, 4.00 GPA, accountancy
   » Junior Shawn Juliette, Men’s Track & Field, 4.00 GPA, accountancy & data science
   » Junior Olivia Campbell, Women’s Track & Field, 4.00 GPA, psychology
   » Junior Lizzie Stiverson, Softball, 4.00 GPA, kinesiology
   » Junior Megan Sapp, Women’s Gymnastics, 4.00 GPA, political science
   » Junior Alexis Wendel, Swim & Dive, 4.00 GPA, finance & management
   » Senior Max Farkhadau, Men’s Gymnastics, 3.93 GPA, chemistry
   » Senior Anessa Arndt, Soccer, 4.00 GPA, integrative biology
   » Graduate Student Ryan Daly, Baseball, 4.00 GPA, strategic leadership & management
   » Graduate Student Drake Westcott, Baseball, 4.00 GPA, strategic leadership & management
   » Graduate Student Ben Humrichous, Men’s Basketball, 4.00 GPA, recreation, sport, & tourism
   » Graduate Student Jason Kraisser, Wrestling, 4.00 GPA, strategic leadership & management
   » Graduate Student Amari Sewell, Men’s Gymnastics, 4.00 GPA, community health & public health
   » Graduate Student Paige Berkmeyer, Softball, 4.00 GPA, animal sciences
   » Graduate Student Lauren Wiles, Softball, 4.00 GPA, management
   » Graduate Student Kendall Bostic, Women’s Basketball, 4.00 GPA, special education
   » Graduate Student Lexanne Halama, Women’s Golf, 4.00 GPA, integrative biology
   » Graduate Student Christina Martinez Mundo, Volleyball, 4.00 GPA, recreation, sport, & tourism
   » Graduate Student Kristine Blazevica, Women’s Track & Field, 4.00 GPA, recreation, sport, & tourism
   » Graduate Student Kennedy Berschel, Soccer, 4.00 GPA, strategic leadership & management
   » Graduate Student Sydney Stephens, Soccer, 4.00 GPA, recreation, sport, & tourism

ILLINI WAY STUDENT-ATHLETE DEVELOPMENT TEAM COMPETITION AWARD

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.

   » Kendall Bostic – Basketball
   » Halle Hill – Cross Country
   » Chloe Cho – Gymnastics
   » Sarah Foley – Soccer
   » Tacoria Humphrey – 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.

   » Vytas Valincius – Baseball
   » Kasparas Jakucionis – Basketball
   » Pat Bryant – Football
   » Max Herendeen – Golf
   » Brandon Dang – Gymnastics
   » Kenta Miyoshi – Tennis
   » Cody Johnston – Track & Field
   » Lucas Byrd – 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.

   » Berry Wallace – Basketball
   » Chloe Cho – Gymnastics
   » Lauren Seppi – Soccer
   » Keirys Click – Softball
   » Chloe Diner – Swim & Dive
   » Ariel Madatali – Tennis
   » Lucie Kienast – Track & Field
   » Ashlyn Philpot – 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.

   » Kasparas Jakucionis – Basketball
   » Collin Dixon – Football
   » Trey Marrion – Golf
   » Ian Sandoval – Gymnastics
   » Zach Viiala – Tennis
   » Kannon Webster – 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.

   » Jasmine Brown-Hagger – Basketball
   » Emmalise Nock – Gymnastics
   » Karley Yergler – Softball
   » Abria Smith – Track & Field
   » Christina Martinez Mundo – 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.

   » Zach Bates – Baseball
   » Kylan Boswell – Basketball
   » J.C. Davis – Football
   » Jip de Greef – Track & Field
   » Jason Kraisser – Wrestling

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

   » Adalia McKenzie – Basketball
   » Makayla Green – Gymnastics
   » Kennedy Berschel – Soccer
   » Stevie Meade – Softball
   » Elleka Boeres – Swim & Dive
   » Megan Heuser – Tennis
   » Tori Thomas – Track & Field

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

   » Jacob Schroeder – Baseball
   » Ben Humrichous – Basketball
   » Anthony Maida – Cross Country
   » Matthew Bailey – Football
   » Sam Phillips – Gymnastics
   » Mathis Debru – Tennis
   » Tyler Sudduth – Track & Field
   » Luke Luffman – Wrestling