Kansas Athletics Celebrates 2025-26 Accomplishments at Rock Chalk Choice Awards
8/31/2026 1:57:00 PM | General, Student-Athlete Support Services, SAAC
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas Athletics celebrated the many accomplishments of the 2025-26 season at the 14th edition of the Rock Chalk Choice Awards, held Sunday evening at the Lied Center on the campus of the University of Kansas.
Dressed to impress, more than 500 KU student-athletes, coaches, administrators, received red carpet treatment prior to the event.
"I want to acknowledge all the nominees and all the award winners," Director of Athletics Travis Goff said during the ceremony. "We are so proud for every one of you to represent our university and our athletics program. There is unequivocally no better group of young men and women that we would rather have represented us than you. Congrats on an incredible year behind us and I can't wait for what lies ahead. Rock Chalk!"
Brian Hanni, the Voice of the Jayhawks, served at the emcee for the event and following the red carpet, Hanni introduced the many KU All-Americans from 2025-26. Then KU senior associate athletics director Ryan King recognized the 31 student-athletes who earned the Dr. Gerald Lage Academic Achievement Award, the highest academic honor given out by the Big 12 Conference. Additionally, KU athletics faculty athletics representative, Dr. Susan Williams, recognized the KU spirit squads for their many hours and appearances throughout 2025-26.
During the evening's events, five spotlight performances from 2025-26 were highlighted. Those included:
Also included in the evening was recognition of Richard Konzem with the K Club Lifetime Service Award. K Club is an organization of former Kansas student-athletes, student managers and student athletic trainers. From his time as a student at KU to his 23 years as a KU athletics administrator, Konzem has been active in Kansas Athletics for more than 50 years.
Rock Chalk Choice Award Winners (voted on by KU head coaches and executive staff from nominations submitted by each sport):
Athlete of the Year Winner Women's Sport Program – Shiyun Lai, swimming & diving
Athlete of the Year Winner Men's Sport Program – Tyson LeBlanc, baseball; and Ashton Barkdull, track & field
Newcomer of the Year Winner Women's Sport Program – Ella Boyer, softball; and Jaliya Davis, basketball
Newcomer of the Year Winner Male Sport Program – Stephen Maroro, track & field
The Dr. Scooter Ward Crimson Climb Award – Gavyn Schlotterback, baseball
The Jayhawker Award – Jaylon Daniels, football
The True Blue Award – Ryan White, volleyball
The Billy Mills Award – Anna Soles, softball
Best Jayhawk in a Supporting Role – Simryn Jacob, tennis
Del Shankel Teaching Excellence Winner – Wen-hao Chou (sport management department)
Team GPA – Volleyball
ABOUT THE AWARDS
THE JAYHAWKER AWARD
The Jayhawker Award honors a student-athlete who exemplifies the characteristics of the pioneers who remained steadfast in their values while overcoming hardship and helping shape the state of Kansas. Nominees for this award demonstrate an extraordinary commitment to excellence and embody the values that define Kansas Athletics. Through their unwavering competitive spirit, they make a lasting impact on their team, the department, and the Jayhawk community. Recipients serve as role models for their peers through both their achievements and their character.
THE TRUE-BLUE AWARD
The True-Blue Award honors a student-athlete who demonstrates commitment to excellence in their leadership among their peers, and in their actions reflect Kansas values of togetherness. The nominees for this award advance Kansas Athletics through active participation in student organizations and community building opportunities.
THE DR. SCOOTER WARD CRIMSON CLIMB AWARD
The Dr. Scooter Ward Crimson Climb Award honors the legacy of Dr. Scott "Scooter" Ward and the optimism, encouragement, and unwavering belief in others that defined his life and service to Kansas Athletics. This award recognizes a student-athlete who has demonstrated exceptional resilience while navigating personal, academic, athletic, or other significant challenges. Nominees respond to adversity with determination, optimism, and a commitment to continued growth. Through their perseverance and positive spirit, they inspire teammates and the broader Jayhawk community, proving that obstacles can become opportunities to learn, improve, and continue the climb.
THE BILLY MILLS AWARD
The Billy Mills Award honors a student-athlete who demonstrates an extraordinary commitment to inclusive excellence and support of the Jayhawk community through the power of sport. The nominees for this award must have exhibited intentionality in gaining greater perspective, developing their sense of self, and contributing to a united community (Lawrence and/or within our athletics community).
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR AWARD
The Newcomer of the Year Award honors a freshman or red-shirt freshman student-athlete who in their first year as a Jayhawk demonstrated competitive excellence and excelled in competition during their season. The nominees for this award must exhibit a high level of integrity and accountability.
ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
The Athlete of the Year Award honors the top student-athlete from a men's program and women's program in recognition of their extraordinary athletic performance. This award is presented to one men's program and one women's program student-athlete.
Dressed to impress, more than 500 KU student-athletes, coaches, administrators, received red carpet treatment prior to the event.
"I want to acknowledge all the nominees and all the award winners," Director of Athletics Travis Goff said during the ceremony. "We are so proud for every one of you to represent our university and our athletics program. There is unequivocally no better group of young men and women that we would rather have represented us than you. Congrats on an incredible year behind us and I can't wait for what lies ahead. Rock Chalk!"
Brian Hanni, the Voice of the Jayhawks, served at the emcee for the event and following the red carpet, Hanni introduced the many KU All-Americans from 2025-26. Then KU senior associate athletics director Ryan King recognized the 31 student-athletes who earned the Dr. Gerald Lage Academic Achievement Award, the highest academic honor given out by the Big 12 Conference. Additionally, KU athletics faculty athletics representative, Dr. Susan Williams, recognized the KU spirit squads for their many hours and appearances throughout 2025-26.
During the evening's events, five spotlight performances from 2025-26 were highlighted. Those included:
- KU volleyball advancing to the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 with a home match win against Miami (Fla).
- Jayhawk junior Shiyun Lai earning Big 12 Diver of the Year and All-American honors in both the 1-meter and 3-meter springboard at the 2026 NCAA Championships.
- Kansas pole vaulter Ashton Barkdull winning the 2026 NCAA Indoor championship with a jump of 5.80 meters.
- KU soccer advancing to the 2025 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 win at Louisville.
- Kansas baseball defeating Arkansas in the 2026 NCAA Lawrence Regional at Hoglund Ballpark. KU hosted both a regional and super regional for the first time.
Also included in the evening was recognition of Richard Konzem with the K Club Lifetime Service Award. K Club is an organization of former Kansas student-athletes, student managers and student athletic trainers. From his time as a student at KU to his 23 years as a KU athletics administrator, Konzem has been active in Kansas Athletics for more than 50 years.
Rock Chalk Choice Award Winners (voted on by KU head coaches and executive staff from nominations submitted by each sport):
Athlete of the Year Winner Women's Sport Program – Shiyun Lai, swimming & diving
Athlete of the Year Winner Men's Sport Program – Tyson LeBlanc, baseball; and Ashton Barkdull, track & field
Newcomer of the Year Winner Women's Sport Program – Ella Boyer, softball; and Jaliya Davis, basketball
Newcomer of the Year Winner Male Sport Program – Stephen Maroro, track & field
The Dr. Scooter Ward Crimson Climb Award – Gavyn Schlotterback, baseball
The Jayhawker Award – Jaylon Daniels, football
The True Blue Award – Ryan White, volleyball
The Billy Mills Award – Anna Soles, softball
Best Jayhawk in a Supporting Role – Simryn Jacob, tennis
Del Shankel Teaching Excellence Winner – Wen-hao Chou (sport management department)
Team GPA – Volleyball
ABOUT THE AWARDS
THE JAYHAWKER AWARD
The Jayhawker Award honors a student-athlete who exemplifies the characteristics of the pioneers who remained steadfast in their values while overcoming hardship and helping shape the state of Kansas. Nominees for this award demonstrate an extraordinary commitment to excellence and embody the values that define Kansas Athletics. Through their unwavering competitive spirit, they make a lasting impact on their team, the department, and the Jayhawk community. Recipients serve as role models for their peers through both their achievements and their character.
THE TRUE-BLUE AWARD
The True-Blue Award honors a student-athlete who demonstrates commitment to excellence in their leadership among their peers, and in their actions reflect Kansas values of togetherness. The nominees for this award advance Kansas Athletics through active participation in student organizations and community building opportunities.
THE DR. SCOOTER WARD CRIMSON CLIMB AWARD
The Dr. Scooter Ward Crimson Climb Award honors the legacy of Dr. Scott "Scooter" Ward and the optimism, encouragement, and unwavering belief in others that defined his life and service to Kansas Athletics. This award recognizes a student-athlete who has demonstrated exceptional resilience while navigating personal, academic, athletic, or other significant challenges. Nominees respond to adversity with determination, optimism, and a commitment to continued growth. Through their perseverance and positive spirit, they inspire teammates and the broader Jayhawk community, proving that obstacles can become opportunities to learn, improve, and continue the climb.
THE BILLY MILLS AWARD
The Billy Mills Award honors a student-athlete who demonstrates an extraordinary commitment to inclusive excellence and support of the Jayhawk community through the power of sport. The nominees for this award must have exhibited intentionality in gaining greater perspective, developing their sense of self, and contributing to a united community (Lawrence and/or within our athletics community).
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR AWARD
The Newcomer of the Year Award honors a freshman or red-shirt freshman student-athlete who in their first year as a Jayhawk demonstrated competitive excellence and excelled in competition during their season. The nominees for this award must exhibit a high level of integrity and accountability.
ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
The Athlete of the Year Award honors the top student-athlete from a men's program and women's program in recognition of their extraordinary athletic performance. This award is presented to one men's program and one women's program student-athlete.
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