PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Rutgers University student-athletes Shane Knobloch of men's lacrosse and Cassidy Spilis of women's lacrosse were named recipients of the prestigious Big Ten Medal of Honor.
  
This year marks the 110^th anniversary of the Big Ten Medal of Honor, awarded annually to one male and one female student-athlete from the graduating class of each member institution who have 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. 

Knobloch finished his Rutgers career this past season as just the second four-time All-American in program history and first since 1980. The Moorestown, N.J. native was a First Team All-American this past season across three publications and was named the Lt. Donald MacLaughlin Jr. Outstanding Midfielder of the Year by the USILA, the first winner of the award for the nation's best midfielder in program history. This season, he was also named First Team All-Big Ten and to the Tewaaraton Award Top 25 Watch List as he scored 29 goals, leading the team, and placed second on the squad with 11 assists for 40 points. He scored multiple goals in 11 games with five hat tricks and had a team-high four man-up goals. In his career, Knobloch played in 60 games, scoring 98 goals and adding 49 assists for 147 points. He was a three-time All-Big Ten selection, twice making the First Team, and was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2021. A two-time All-ECAC selection, he was a Scholar All-American this past season. Knobloch was the fourth overall draft pick in the First Round of the Premier Lacrosse Collegiate Draft, the highest drafted player in program history, and currently plays for the Carolina Chaos in the PLL.
 
The most prolific scorer in Rutgers women's lacrosse history, Spilis wrapped up her collegiate career as the program's all-time leader in career points (281), goals (266) and draw controls (313). In 81 career games, Spilis produced 281 points on 266 goals and 15 assists along with 313 draw controls, 149 ground balls and 102 caused turnovers. The Tabernacle, New Jersey, native was a two-time conference player of the year, four-time First Team All-Big Ten selection, three-time IWLCA All-American and three-time IWLCA All-Region pick. This past season, Spilis tallied 79 points on 74 goals and five helpers to go along with 98 draw controls, 40 ground balls and 36 caused turnovers, earning first team All-America, all-region and all conference recognition along with being named the 2024 Big Ten Midfielder of the Year. In the classroom, Spilis was a four-time Academic All-Big Ten selection. Working towards her master's degree, Spilis was the Big Ten's Dr. Pepper College Football Playoff scholarship recipient - given to one student-athlete from across the conference each year.

Rutgers recently wrapped up the 10^th season of competition in the Big Ten. Knobloch is the third Big Ten Medal of Honor from the men's lacrosse program, preceded by Kieran Mullins in 2021 and Michael Rexrode in 2018. Spillis is the second ever women's lacrosse Medal of Honor recipient, as TT Naslonski was the first in 2022.

All-Time Rutgers Big Ten Medal of Honor Scarlet Knights
2024: Shane Knobloch (men's lacrosse) and Cassidy Spilis (women's lacrosse)
2023: Adam Korsak (football) & Hannah Joyner (gymnastics)
2022: Geo Baker (men's basketball) & TT Naslonski (women's lacrosse)
2021: Kieran Mullins (men's lacrosse) & Gianna Glatz (field hockey) 
2020: Jordan Pagano (wrestling) & Amanda Visco (women's soccer) 
2019: Anthony Ashnault (wrestling) & Sarah Johanek (rowing) 
2018: Michael Rexrode (men's lacrosse) & Casey Murphy (women's soccer) 
2017: Ken Theobold (wrestling) & Alyssa Bull (field hockey) 
2016: Corey Crawford (men's track & field) & Brianne Reed (women's soccer)
2015: David Milewski (football) & Betnijah Laney (women's basketball) 
 
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