Big Ten Conference Recognizes 112th Medal of Honor Class
Thirty-six student-athletes in 14 sports honored
ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Big Ten Conference is celebrating its 112th class of recipients who earned the Big Ten Medal of Honor from their respective institutions during the 2025-26 academic year. Established in 1915, the Big Ten Medal of Honor is the conference’s most prestigious award. It was the first award in intercollegiate athletics to demonstrate support for the educational emphasis placed on athletics.
The Big Ten Medal of Honor is awarded 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 collegiate career. This year’s class comprised student-athletes from 14 sports.
Big Ten schools currently feature more than 14,000 student-athletes, but only 36 earn the award on an annual basis. Since the Big Ten Medal of Honor was first presented more than a century ago, 1,724 student-athletes have earned this unique distinction. Those names are permanently displayed at the Big Ten Office in Rosemont.
Below is a listing of this year’s recipients:
2026 Big Ten Medal of Honor Class
Illinois
Kenta Miyoshi, Tennis
McKenna Schaefbauer, Tennis
Indiana
Trelee Banks, Track & Field
Shay Ciezki, Basketball
Iowa
Will Ryan, Cross Country/Track & Field
Ava Bayless, Wrestling
Maryland
Will Schaller, Lacrosse
Kori Edmondson, Lacrosse
Michigan
Josh Eernisse, Ice Hockey
Abby Tamer, Field Hockey
Michigan State
Ozan Baris, Tennis
Nikki Smith, Gymnastics
Minnesota
Derik LeCaptain, Football
Amaya Battle, Basketball
Nebraska
Asher Cohen, Gymnastics
Axelina Johansson, Track & Field
Northwestern
Nick Martinelli, Basketball
Madison Taylor, Lacrosse
Ohio State
Bruce Thornton, Basketball
Lena Hentschel, Diving
Oregon
Matthew Erickson, Cross Country/Track & Field
Anna Simmons, Lacrosse
Penn State
Levi Haines, Wrestling
Tessa Janecke, Ice Hockey
Purdue
Trey Kaufman-Renn, Basketball
Daryn Wright, Diving
Rutgers
Athan Kaliakmanis, Football
Charlee Crawford, Track & Field
UCLA
Chase Dodd, Water Polo
Lauren Betts, Basketball
USC
Dillon Klein, Volleyball
Maribel Flores, Soccer
Washington
Jonah Coleman, Football
Lucy Newlin, Soccer
Wisconsin
Ben Dexheimer, Ice Hockey
Caroline Harvey, Ice Hockey