Rutgers Athletics Announces 2022-23 Award Winners
Aug 02 | General
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers Athletics announced its 2022-23 award winners on Wednesday. The honors for Rutgers student-athletes includes Male and Female Athlete of the Year for each academic year, Bauer Athlete of the Year, the Big Ten Medal of Honor, the Coursen Award, the Headley-Singer Award and the Werblin Award. This award is given to one male and one female student-athlete of the freshman class and is based on athletic success during the most recent academic year/season.
Freshman of the Year
This award is given to one male and one female student-athlete of the freshman class and is based on athletic success during the most recent academic year/season.
Christian Coppola (Baseball)
A pitcher from Galloway, New Jersey, Christian Coppola burst onto the scene as a true freshman, earning the role as the team's Friday night starter and becoming the first freshman in program history to be named All-Big Ten First Team. His 3.68 ERA led all Big Ten starting pitchers, and he was named a Freshman All-American by Baseball America, Perfect Game and D1 Baseball. He finished the season with a 5-5 record, 3.68 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 71 strikeouts and 37 walks in 66.0 innings to go with a .240 batting average against. After the season, Coppola tried out and earned a spot on USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team, becoming only the third player in program history to make the team.
Kaylene Smikle (Basketball)
Smikle was named to the 2022-23 All-Big Ten Second Team as well as All-Freshman Team, making her just the second player in program history to earn both awards in the same season. She was also a three-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week, the most in program history. Smikle led Rutgers and freshman in the Big Ten with 17.9 points per game in addition to averaging 19.5 points in conference play. For her efforts, Smikle was alsonamed to the All-Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association Third Team – just the fourth player in program history to earn a spot on the prestigious list.
Sophomore of the Year
This award is given to one male and one female student-athlete of the sophomore class and is based on athletic success during the most recent academic year/season.
Sincere Robinson (Track & Field)
Robinson earned All-America laurels during the indoor season in the long jump and produced an indoor Big Ten title in the event with a jump of 7.77m (25’6”). Robinson took silver at the outdoor Big Ten Championships and later qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships. He placed ninth with a jump of 7.83m (25' 8.25") to earn three-time All-America honors. Robinson captured the outdoor school record earlier in the season at the Rutgers Relays on April 22 with a jump of 7.88m (25' 10.25").
Chloe Timberg (Track & Field)
A three-time Big Ten Champion, Timberg made her second-straight appearance at the 2023 NCAA Outdoor Championships and previously qualified for the indoor competition in 2023. Timberg cleared 4.22m (13' 10") to book her ticket to Austin, Texas for the 2023 Outdoor Championships. During the indoor season, Timberg set a Big Ten Championships record in the pole vault with a mark of 4.46m (14’7.5”) en route to a conference gold medal in the event. She was also a Second Team All-American during the indoor season.
Junior of the Year
This award is given to one male and one female student-athlete of the junior class and is based on athletic success during the most recent academic year/season.
Ryan Lasko (Baseball)
An outfielder from Jackson, New Jersey, Lasko wrapped up a historic three-year career with another stellar season in 2023. Lasko became the first player in program history to be named All-Big Ten First Team multiple times after receiving the honor last year. Lasko finished the regular season with a team-best .332 average, 32 extra-base hits, 73 hits, 58 runs scored while adding 11 home runs and 52 RBIs. After the season, Lasko was selected by the Oakland Athletics with the 41st pick in the 2nd round of the MLB Draft, becoming the third-highest draft pick in program history.
Kyleigh Sand (Softball)
Kyleigh Sand earned her second consecutive first-team all-region honor after helping Rutgers softball return to the Big Ten Tournament, capture the most wins (32) since 1994 and guide the program to its best start (8-0) since 1980. A Second Team All-Big Ten Team member, Sand led RU batting .374 with a .442 on-base percentage and 26 stolen bases. She totaled 71 hits leading to 13 doubles and a team-leading three triples. Sand accounted for 54 of RU's school-record 288 runs scored while also adding 14 RBIs. On defense, Sand helped turn 11 of the Scarlet Knights' 23 double plays. In the Big Ten, Sand led the league in stolen bases and ranked ninth in batting average, second in hits, and third in runs scored. Among Rutgers' single-season leaders, Sand put her name second in hits and at-bats and fifth in stolen bases.
Senior of the Year
This award is given to one male and one female student-athlete of the senior class and is based on athletic success during the most recent academic year/season. This category will encompass any individual who is a senior/5th year/6th year.
MD Myers (Men’s Soccer)
In his lone season with men’s soccer, Myers scored 13 goals and added seven assists for a conference-leading 33 points. He also ended the season ranked fourth in the nation in goals (13), third in shots on goal per game (1.90) and fifth in total points (33). Not only did he pace the Big Ten in goals and points but also shots (69) and shots on goal (40). After leading the Scarlet Knights to their first Big Ten Championship in program history, Myers was named Offensive Player of the Big Ten Tournament. Myers was unanimously named Big Ten Player of the Year as well as an All-Big Ten First Team selection. Myers was also named to the United Soccer Coaches First Team All-North Region as well as the ECAC Offensive Player of the Year and First Team All-ECAC. At the end of the season, Myers was selected by New York City FC in the 2023 MLS SuperDraft.
Hannah Joyner (Gymnastics)
During her senior campaign in 2023, Hannah Joyner became the first Rutgers athlete to win a Big Ten Gymnast of the Week award. She reached a 9.9 or higher in all four events in 2023, matching her career-highs of 9.900 on vault, 9.950 on beam, and 9.950 on floor, while setting a new career-best of 9.925 on bars and scoring 9.9 or higher on 12 occasions with eight event titles against a gauntlet of nationally ranked programs. Altogether she finished in the top three a total of 21 times in the regular season, made her third NCAA Regional appearance, and became the first Scarlet Knight to earn four consecutive All-Big Ten First Team honors. On her Senior Day, Joyner scored a 39.525 in the all-around to help the Scarlet Knights shatter the program record for team score with a 196.875.
Bauer Athlete of the Year
This award is given to the one male and one female student-athlete from any class who has consistently performed and excelled in athletic competition at a high level for the most recent academic year/season.
Adam Korsak (Football)
The winner of the 2022 Ray Guy Award as the nation's best punter, Adam Korsak led the country with 32 punts downed inside the 20 and minus 11 return yards against, ranking third in net punt average (43.57). Korsak was also selected First Team All-America by The Sporting News for the performance. For his career, the Aussie downed 41.5 percent of his punts inside the 20 with only seven touchbacks (2.0 percent). In a 27-game span between 2019 and 2022, Korsak had a streak of 150 consecutive attempts without a touchback. He never had a punt blocked or returned for a touchdown, with 63 attempts of at least 50 yards. That included a school-record 79-yard boot in 2018. He is the NCAA all-time leader in punting attempts (349) and yardage (15,318), a three-time captain for the Scarlet Knights and tied for the program record with 58 games played. The four-time Academic All-Big Ten selection previously earned a spot as a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, which recognizes an individual as the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation for combined academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership. He is also a member of the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team® for holding a GPA of at least 3.5.
Ethan Rall (Men’s Lacrosse)
Rall was named a First Team All-American by the USILA and USA Lacrosse Magazine, his third straight All-American season. The long-stick midfielder caused 21 turnovers and collected 49 ground balls. A Second Team All-Big Ten selection, Rall finished his 62-game Rutgers career with 85 caused turnovers, setting a new program record. The Islip, N.Y. native was a two-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week, finishing second in the league in caused turnovers per game and sixth in the Big Ten in ground balls per game (second among non-faceoff specialists). A Tewaaraton Award Watch List member, Rall was also named All-ECAC and has gone on to an impressive rookie season playing with the Cannons franchise in the Premier Lacrosse League.
Payton Lincavage (Softball)
Payton Lincavage was named one of the nine winners of the Rawlings Gold Glove Award by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) giving her the distinction of becoming the nation's best defensive third baseman in the country. At the corner, Lincavage committed only one error, with zero errors in Big Ten Conference play, over the course of 130 chances in 57 games. Lincavage held a .992 fielding percentage and was involved in six of RU's 23 double plays. Her play helped the Scarlet Knights return to the Big Ten Tournament, capture the most wins (32) since 1994 and guide the program to its best start (8-0) since 1980.
Big Ten Medal of Honor
This award is given to one male and one female student-athlete from the graduating class of each Big Ten member institution who has attained the greatest proficiency in athletics and scholastic work. The awardees will have demonstrated excellence on and off the field throughout their respective collegiate careers.
Adam Korsak (Football)
The winner of the 2022 Ray Guy Award as the nation's best punter, Adam Korsak led the country with 32 punts downed inside the 20 and minus 11 return yards against, ranking third in net punt average (43.57). Korsak was also selected First Team All-America by The Sporting News for the performance. For his career, the Aussie downed 41.5 percent of his punts inside the 20 with only seven touchbacks (2.0 percent). In a 27-game span between 2019 and 2022, Korsak had a streak of 150 consecutive attempts without a touchback. He never had a punt blocked or returned for a touchdown, with 63 attempts of at least 50 yards. That included a school-record 79-yard boot in 2018. He is the NCAA all-time leader in punting attempts (349) and yardage (15,318), a three-time captain for the Scarlet Knights and tied for the program record with 58 games played. The four-time Academic All-Big Ten selection previously earned a spot as a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, which recognizes an individual as the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation for combined academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership. He is also a member of the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team® for holding a GPA of at least 3.5.
Hannah Joyner (Gymnastics)
The most decorated gymnast in Rutgers history, Hannah Joyner holds program records in the all-around, balance beam and career 9.9+ scores, amassing the score 40 times over her career, and was the first four-time First Team All-Big Ten honoree in Rutgers gymnastics history. Joyner parlayed her top-25 national performances on beam and in the all-around as a freshman into Rutgers' first NCAA qualifier on beam and third NCAA qualifier overall as a sophomore. In her second year "On The Banks," Joyner set the school record on beam with a 9.95 and became the first RU gymnast to post 9.9s or higher on all four events. Joyner's junior season marked a second trip to the NCAA Regionals. During her senior campaign in 2023, Joyner reached a 9.9 or higher in all four events, matching her career-highs of 9.900 on vault, 9.950 on beam, and 9.950 on floor, while setting a new career-best of 9.925 on bars and scoring 9.9 or higher on 12 occasions with eight event titles against a gauntlet of nationally ranked programs. Altogether she finished in the top three a total of 21 times in the regular season and made her third NCAA Regional appearance. On her Senior Day, Joyner helped the Scarlet Knights shatter the program record for team score with a 196.875. In the classroom, the social work major has been named to three Academic All-Big Ten teams and two WCGA Scholastic All-America lists.
Coursen Award
This award is for the most outstanding male student-athlete from the graduating class who, during his career at the university, has participated in the intercollegiate athletics program and proved himself to be an athlete of outstanding ability, and has shown determination, courage, modesty, and self-discipline and who, with unselfish devotion to his teammates and generous fairness to his opponents, has represented Rutgers University to the highest of standards.
Caleb McConnell (Men’s Basketball)
McConnell was the anchor of the top defensive team in the Big Ten and the seventh-best in the nation, as Rutgers allowed 60.4 points per game. Regarded as one of the top defenders in the country, McConnell finished his final season “On the Banks” averaging 9.1 points. 5.5 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game. McConnell averaged 2.5 steals per game with 71 steals, good for second in the conference. His 2.56 steals per game were good for sixth in the nation and first in the Big Ten Conference. McConnell repeated as Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, was a top-4 finalist for the 2022-23 Naismith National Defensive Player of the Year Award and won both the 2023 Lefty Driesell Award and the 2022-23 ESPN College Gameday National Defensive Player of the Year Award. After the season, McConnell was signed by the Oklahoma City Thunder to an Exhibit-10 contract.
Headley-Singer Award
This award is for the most outstanding female student-athlete from the graduating class who, during her career at the university, has participated in the intercollegiate athletics program and proved herself to be an athlete of outstanding ability, and has shown determination, courage, modesty, and self-discipline and who, with unselfish devotion to her teammates and generous fairness to her opponents, has represented Rutgers University to the highest of standards.
Jasmine Van Note (Track & Field)
A standout in both the discus and shot put, Van Note set the program outdoor record in the shot put with a mark of 16.67m (54’ 8.25”) at the Florida Relays this past spring. Van Note also set the indoor standard in the event with a throw of 16.59m (54’ 5.25”) at the Scarlet Knights Open and produced two first-place results during the indoor campaign in her final collegiate season. A 2022 NCAA Outdoor Regional Qualifier, Van Note is a three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection.
Werblin Award
The Werblin Award is given to any male or female student-athlete who, either as an individual or as a member of a team, received national recognition or won a national championship during the most recent academic year.
Christian Coppola (Baseball) – All-American
A pitcher from Galloway, New Jersey, Christian Coppola burst onto the scene as a true freshman, earning the role as the team's Friday night starter and becoming the first freshman in program history to be named All-Big Ten First Team. His 3.68 ERA led all Big Ten starting pitchers, and he was named a Freshman All-American by Baseball America, Perfect Game and D1 Baseball. He finished the season with a 5-5 record, 3.68 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 71 strikeouts and 37 walks in 66.0 innings to go with a .240 batting average against. After the season, Coppola tried out and earned a spot on USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team, becoming only the third player in program history to make the team.
Caleb McConnell (Men’s Basketball) – All-American
McConnell was the anchor of the top defensive team in the Big Ten and the seventh-best in the nation, as Rutgers allowed 60.4 points per game. Regarded as one of the top defenders in the country, McConnell finished his final season “On the Banks” averaging 9.1 points. 5.5 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game. McConnell averaged 2.5 steals per game with 71 steals, good for second in the conference. His 2.56 steals per game were good for sixth in the nation and first in the Big Ten Conference. McConnell repeated as Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, was a top-4 finalist for the 2022-23 Naismith National Defensive Player of the Year Award and won both the 2023 Lefty Driesell Award and the 2022-23 ESPN College Gameday National Defensive Player of the Year Award. After the season, McConnell was signed by the Oklahoma City Thunder to an Exhibit-10 contract.
Iris Langejans (Field Hockey) – All-American
Langejans excelled in her second season 'On the Banks'. The native of The Netherlands was named a Third Team All-American. She was a First Team All-Big Ten and First Team All-Region selection and was also a NFHCA Collegiate Watch List member. Langejans was the team's leader this season in points, she notched career-bests with four goals and eight assists for 16 points, including two game-winning goals. Following the game-winning goal in the team's 2-1 win over No. 3 Northwestern, she was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week and NFHCA National Defensive Player of the Week. Overall, Langejans was first on the squad in points and assists and second in goals. She was also recognized for her academic achievement as a member of the Fall Academic All-Big Ten list and achieved a 3.66 GPA to earn the AD's Excellence Award.
Adam Korsak (Football) – All-American
The winner of the 2022 Ray Guy Award as the nation's best punter, Adam Korsak led the country with 32 punts downed inside the 20 and minus 11 return yards against, ranking third in net punt average (43.57). Korsak was also selected First Team All-America by The Sporting News for the performance. For his career, the Aussie downed 41.5 percent of his punts inside the 20 with only seven touchbacks (2.0 percent). In a 27-game span between 2019 and 2022, Korsak had a streak of 150 consecutive attempts without a touchback. He never had a punt blocked or returned for a touchdown, with 63 attempts of at least 50 yards. That included a school-record 79-yard boot in 2018. He is the NCAA all-time leader in punting attempts (349) and yardage (15,318), a three-time captain for the Scarlet Knights and tied for the program record with 58 games played. The four-time Academic All-Big Ten selection previously earned a spot as a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, which recognizes an individual as the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation for combined academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership. He is also a member of the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team® for holding a GPA of at least 3.5.
Noah Daniels (Men’s Lacrosse) – All-American
Daniels made an instant impact 'On the Banks' in his first season at RU as a graduate student, earning All-American recognition from USA Lacrosse Magazine. One of RU's top short-stick defensive midfielders, Daniels totaled eight goals, three assists, 29 ground balls and 11 caused turnovers. The Lindenhurst, N.Y. native had 10 games with multiple ground balls, and had a scoring streak from March 11 to April 7 where he scored seven of his eight goals in that five-game span, including two multi-goal games against Big Ten Teams. He was fourth on the team in caused turnovers and fifth in ground balls. A Scholar All-American last season, Daniels had 25 goals, 11 assists, 133 ground balls and 39 caused turnovers for his career.
Shane Knobloch (Men’s Lacrosse) – All-American
Knobloch was named a Second Team All-American, his third time in his three seasons "On the Banks" as an All-American. The Second Team All-Big Ten selection scored 21 goals and added 17 assists for 38 points, sharing the team-high in assists and was second on the team in points. The Moorestown, N.J. native, had five multi-goal games including four hat tricks and had three games of at least five points, highlighted by a seven-point day in a win over No.5 Loyola. A Tewaaraton Award Watch List member,, the midfielder scored the game-winning goal in overtime in the team's win over eventual Big Ten Tournament champion Michigan. Knobloch was also named First Team All-ECAC.
Ethan Rall (Men’s Lacrosse) – All-American
Rall was named a First Team All-American by the USILA and USA Lacrosse Magazine, his third straight All-American season. The long-stick midfielder caused 21 turnovers and collected 49 ground balls. A Second Team All-Big Ten selection, Rall finished his 62-game Rutgers career with 85 caused turnovers, setting a new program record. The Islip, N.Y. native was a two-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week, finishing second in the league in caused turnovers per game and sixth in the Big Ten in ground balls per game (second among non-faceoff specialists). A Tewaaraton Award Watch List member, Rall was also named All-ECAC and has gone on to an impressive rookie season playing with the Cannons franchise in the Premier Lacrosse League.
Ross Scott (Men’s Lacrosse) – All-American
Scott earned All-American honors for the second straight season as an Honorable Mention selection by the USILA. A Second Team All-Big Ten selection and one of the 25 finalists for the Tewaaraton Award, he scored 25 goals and had 17 assists for a team-best 42 points, also sharing the team-lead in assists. The West Linn, Ore. native finished in the top-10 in the Big Ten in goals and assists per game. The team captain and attackman had six multi-goal games, including two games of five goals. He was also named a Scholar All-American by the USILA.
Meghan Ball (Women’s Lacrosse) – All-American
The 2023 Big Ten Defender of the Year, a unanimous First Team All-Big Ten selection and a First Team IWLCA All-Region pick, Ball led the conference in caused turnovers per game (3.53) and ground balls per game (3.00), finishing second and 12th, respectively, in both categories nationally. Ball also closed out her season third in the conference and 27th in the NCAA with 5.94 draw controls per game, closing her 2022 campaign with team-highs in draw controls (101), caused turnovers (60) and ground balls (51). Her 60 caused turnovers to reset her program single-season record set a season ago.
Cassidy Spilis (Women’s Lacrosse) – All-American
A First Team All-Big Ten honoree and a First Team IWLCA All-Region pick, Spilis finished the regular season with a team-high 47 goals to go along with 45 draw controls, 26 ground balls and 22 caused turnovers. The 2022 Big Ten Midfielder of the Year scored three or more goals in 10 games during the season, including a season-high six in RU's 15-8 victory over Georgetown back in February. A two-time Big Ten Midfielder of the Year this season, Spilis passed current volunteer assistant coach Taralyn Naslonski for the most in program history at 192 for her career.
Victoria Grieder (Rowing) - U-23 World Champion
Grieder helped Rutgers to its fourth consecutive NCAA Championships in 2023, finishing 15th in the country with all three boats racing to second-place finishes in the C finals (14th overall) at the national regatta. Grieder coxed the Rutgers 2nd Varsity 8 to a bronze medal at the Big Ten Championships and also helped Team USA to a gold medal at the 2023 World Rowing Under 23 Championships last month in Bulgaria.
Hannah Heideveld (Rowing) – U23 World Champion, All-American
Heideveld earned All-America laurels for the second consecutive season in 2023. Heideveld is a member of the Rutgers Varsity 8, which placed 14th in the nation at the 2023 NCAA Championships after placing second in the C final on the final day of the national regatta. The Netherlands native also claimed her second consecutive All-Big Ten First Team honor this spring, along with the 2023 Competitive Excellence Award at the Rutgers Chancellor-Provost's Student Leadership Awards Gala. Heideveld helped Team USA to a gold medal at the 2023 World Rowing Under 23 Championships last month in Bulgaria.
Emily Mason (Women’s Soccer) – All-American
An All-Big Ten First Team and All-North Region First Team selection, Mason turned in 14 matches with the full 90 minutes played, contributing to eight shutouts on the Scarlet Knight defense. The versatile, 5-foot-10 defender has also chipped in on the attack, scoring her first collegiate goal in a 7-0 win against Temple on Sept. 1 and then scoring her first collegiate brace in a 3-0 win at Purdue on Oct. 2. She also added an important assist in the 1-1 draw at then-No. 8 Northwestern on Sept. 29. Mason missed the first two contests of the season while serving with the United States Youth National Team at the U20 World Cup in Costa Rica. She previously won gold with the USYNT at the Concacaf Women's Championship and the Sud Ladies Cup in 2021.
Payton Lincavage (Softball) - Golden Glove Award
Payton Lincavage was named one of the nine winners of the Rawlings Gold Glove Award by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) giving her the distinction of becoming the nation's best defensive third baseman in the country. At the corner, Lincavage committed only one error, with zero errors in Big Ten Conference play, over the course of 130 chances in 57 games. Lincavage held a .992 fielding percentage and was involved in six of RU's 23 double plays. Her play helped the Scarlet Knights return to the Big Ten Tournament, capture the most wins (32) since 1994 and guide the program to its best start (8-0) since 1980.
Sincere Robinson (Track & Field) – All-American
Robinson earned All-America laurels during the indoor season in the long jump and produced an indoor Big Ten title in the event with a jump of 7.77m (25’6”). Robinson took silver at the outdoor Big Ten Championships and later qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships. He placed ninth with a jump of 7.83m (25' 8.25") to earn three-time All-America honors. Robinson captured the outdoor school record earlier in the season at the Rutgers Relays on April 22 with a jump of 7.88m (25' 10.25").
Alex Carlson (Track & Field) – All-American
A holder of five school distance records, Carlson earned Second Team All-America laurels at the 2023 NCAA Indoor Championships in both the mile run and the 3,000m. Carlson also captured the 2023 Big Ten Indoor title in the 3,000m and earned First Team All-Big Ten accolades thanks to her finish at the conference championships.
Chloe Timberg (Track & Field) – All-American
A three-time Big Ten Champion, Timberg made her second-straight appearance at the 2023 NCAA Outdoor Championships and previously qualified for the indoor competition in 2023. Timberg cleared 4.22m (13' 10") to book her ticket to Austin, Texas for the 2023 Outdoor Championships. During the indoor season, Timberg set a Big Ten Championships record in the pole vault with a mark of 4.46m (14’7.5”) en route to a conference gold medal in the event. She was also a Second Team All-American during the indoor season.
AD’s Excellence Award
Awarded to a student-athlete who attended Rutgers University - New Brunswick for at least four semesters, accumulated a 3.5 or higher GPA throughout the academic year, earned All-America honors or regional first-team accolades during the specific year and demonstrated leadership and character.
Iris Langejans (Field Hockey)
Langejans excelled in her second season 'On the Banks'. The native of The Netherlands was named a Third Team All-American. She was a First Team All-Big Ten and First Team All-Region selection and was also a NFHCA Collegiate Watch List member. Langejans was the team's leader this season in points, she notched career-bests with four goals and eight assists for 16 points, including two game-winning goals. Following the game-winning goal in the team's 2-1 win over No. 3 Northwestern, she was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week and NFHCA National Defensive Player of the Week. Overall, Langejans was first on the squad in points and assists and second in goals. She was also recognized for her academic achievement as a member of the Fall Academic All-Big Ten list and achieved a 3.66 GPA to earn the AD's Excellence Award.
Luke Wells (Men’s Golf)
Wells transferred to the Banks from Butler prior to the Spring 2021 season. Wells was a two-time team captain (2021-22, 2022-23) and was named a Big Ten Player to Watch before the 2023 season. Wells compiled a third-place finish at the Monroe Invitational and a top-10 finish at the Southeastern Amateur during the 2022-23 season. Wells was named to the PING All-Region Team during the last three seasons. Wells is a three-time Big Ten Championship starter who has started as a Scarlet Knight in every event.
Xavier Marcoux (Men’s Golf)
A two-time team captain and starter in every event as a Scarlet Knight (87 career rounds), Marcoux was the 2022 Old Town Collegiate Champion, shooting a -5 score of 65 in the final round to seal the win. The Concord, Mass. native was Big Ten Golfer of the Week in fall of 2022. A 2022-23 Big Ten Player to Watch and 2021-22 PING All-Region Team selection, he has previously been named Academic All-Big Ten and a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar. A Dean's List selection, Marcoux was awarded the Big Ten Postgraduate Scholarship and will utilize it to pursue a Master’s of Financial Analysis at the Rutgers Business School.
Cassidy Spilis (Women’s Lacrosse)
A First Team All-Big Ten honoree and a First Team IWLCA All-Region pick, Spilis finished the regular season with a team-high 47 goals to go along with 45 draw controls, 26 ground balls and 22 caused turnovers. The 2022 Big Ten Midfielder of the Year scored three or more goals in 10 games during the season, including a season-high six in RU's 15-8 victory over Georgetown back in February. A two-time Big Ten Midfielder of the Year this season, Spilis passed current volunteer assistant coach Taralyn Naslonski for the most in program history at 192 for her career.
Chloe Timberg (Track & Field)
A three-time Big Ten Champion, Timberg made her second-straight appearance at the 2023 NCAA Outdoor Championships and previously qualified for the indoor competition in 2023. Timberg cleared 4.22m (13' 10") to book her ticket to Austin, Texas for the 2023 Outdoor Championships. During the indoor season, Timberg set a Big Ten Championships record in the pole vault with a mark of 4.46m (14’7.5”) en route to a conference gold medal in the event. She was also a Second Team All-American during the indoor season.
Big Ten Sportsmanship Award
One member of each varsity sports team on every campus was chosen by his or her institution as a Sportsmanship Award honoree, and two Outstanding Sportsmanship Award winners were then selected from each institution. All of the Sportsmanship Award winners have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. In addition, these honorees must be in good academic standing and must have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting.
Noah Vedral (Football)
A two-time captain for the Scarlet Knights, Vedral ranks seventh in program history in both completions (337) and total offense (3,876), being 12th in passing yards (3,340). He claimed the team's Big Ten Sportsmanship Award the past two years, also being selected to the AFCA Good Works Team for exemplary community service, academic dedication and impact on and off the field. The quarterback is a three-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar and won the 2022 Paul Robeson Award, which is bestowed to the individual whose performance, leadership and dedication on and off the field had the greatest impact on Rutgers football. Involved with the community, Vedral served in numerous projects for Chop4Change, a Rutgers football initiative to spread a message of unity and equality. Events Vedral participated in included the Special Olympics opening ceremony and Saturdays in Motion at the YMCA Somerset Hills. It is the longest running recreational program in the United States for children with autism and their families. In addition, he was part of raising money for Easter dinner gift cards for families in need and for purchasing new winter coats and school supplies for local children. At the bowl game in 2021, the Nebraska native took part in packing bags of food for schools with special notes of encouragement. Vedral was a semifinalist for the 2021 William V. Campbell Trophy, which recognizes an individual as the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation.
Sofia Chichaikina (Swimming & Diving)
Sofia Chichaikina wrapped up her Scarlet Knight swimming career with five school records, four Rutgers Aquatic Center pool records and 10 Big Ten Championship podium finishes. In addition to holding the school record in the 100 free and with the 400 free, 800 free and 200 medley relays, Chichaikina also holds the second-fastest times in the 200 free and 200 butterfly and is among the all-time top ten in the 50 free and 200 IM. During her senior year, she set both the school and pool records in anchoring the 200-medley relay as well as swimming the anchor leg on the pool record-setting 200 free relay. At the 2023 Big Ten Championships, Chichaikina helped Rutgers to its highest point total since joining the league and reached the podium four times including a seventh-place performance with the 200-medley relay team and eighth place finishes in the 200 fly and with the 400 and 800 free relay squads. She also reached the B finals of the 200 free and 100 fly as well as the C final of the 50 free at the conference championships. An Information Technology & Informatics major, Chichaikina is a two-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar and three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree.
