Women's Volleyball was voted the "Team of the Year" at the 2026 Rocket Awards.
Photo by: Bree Bee
Toledo Athletics Celebrates 2025-26 Athletic Year at Annual Rocket Awards
4/14/2026 2:35:00 PM | Athletics
Team and individual awards, recognition of special moments and MVP honors handed out at Monday's banquet
TOLEDO, Ohio – The fifth-annual Rocket Awards were held to celebrate University of Toledo student-athletes and their accomplishments for the 2025-26 school year in Savage Arena Monday evening.
The event was coordinated by the Athletic Department and the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). Awards highlighting individual and team achievements were handed out to celebrate another successful year for Toledo Athletics.
Women's Volleyball was named the Team of the Year. The Rockets won their first-ever MAC Championship title in their 45-year history with a thrilling 3-1 victory over Western Michigan in the conference tournament championship match.
Nathan Leininger (baseball) and Eli Enriquez (softball) each earned the Rocket Award.
Troy Sudbrook (baseball) was named Male Student-Athlete of the Year, while Grace Freiberger (women's volleyball) captured the Female Student-Athlete of the Year honor.
Women's volleyball's Macy Medors won the Undefeated Spirit Award, which was presented by the Chuck Ealey Foundation on behalf of Ealey, the Rocket quarterback who led the Toledo football team to three undefeated seasons from 1969-71.
Fall and winter sports from the 2025-26 academic year, along with spring sports from the 2025 season, were eligible for nominations.
2026 Rocket Awards
Team Awards
Team of the Year – Women's Volleyball
Best in Focus Award – Women's Volleyball
Academic Achievement Award – Women's Tennis - 3.863
Heart of the Community Team Award – Men's Golf
Heart of the Community Team Award – Softball
Individual Awards
The Rocket Award (male) – Nathan Leininger (baseball)
The Rocket Award (female) – Eli Enriquez (softball)
Student-Athlete of the Year (male) – Troy Sudbrook (baseball)
Student-Athlete of the Year (female) – Grace Freiberger (women's volleyball)
Chuck Ealey Undefeated Spirit Award – Macy Medors (women's volleyball)
Bleed Blue Award (male) – Charlie Scholvin (baseball)
Bleed Blue Award (female) – Margrett Watt (women's cross country/track & field)
Most Likely to Go Pro (male) – Sonny Wilson (men's basketball)
Most Likely to Go Pro (female) – Patricia Anumgba (women's basketball)
Rising Star Award (male) – Ty O'Brien (baseball)
Rising Star Award (female) – Faith Fedd-Robinson (women's basketball)
The Comedy Captain Award – Will James Jr. (men's basketball)
The Comedy Captain Award – Lizzy Puot (women's basketball)
Mr. Toledo – Troy Sudbrook (baseball)
Ms. Toledo – Grace O'Malley (softball)
Rookie Sensation Award (male) – Leroy Blyden Jr. (men's basketball)
Rookie Sensation Award (female) – Jessica Costlow (women's volleyball)
Heart of the Community Award – Matt Hofer (football)
Behind the Scenes Award – Brad Pierson (assistant athletic director of sports medicine)
Innovator of the Year Award – Ryan Kennedy (baseball)
Einstein Excellence Award – Jone Ibanez (women's tennis)
Champion Maker of the Year Award – Ben Wielgopolski (assistant strength & conditioning coach)
SPECIAL MOMENTS
Play of the Year – Women's Volleyball
Epic Fail Award – Women's Soccer
"I Wish I Could Delete This Photo" Award – Volleyball
TEAM MVPs
Baseball – Charlie Scholvin
Men's Basketball – Sonny Wilson
Women's Basketball – Ella Weaver
Men's Cross Country – Joad Martinho
Women's Cross Country – Karina James
Women's Track & Field – Dorcas Kiptanui
Football – John Alan Richter
Men's Golf – Bence Kotel
Women's Golf – Brooklyn Millard
Women's Rowing – Maggie Merriman
Women's Tennis – Isabella Barretto
Women's Soccer – McKenna Schultz
Softball – Eli Enriquez
Women's Swimming & Diving – Janne Slegers
Women's Volleyball – Grace Freiberger
The event was coordinated by the Athletic Department and the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). Awards highlighting individual and team achievements were handed out to celebrate another successful year for Toledo Athletics.
Women's Volleyball was named the Team of the Year. The Rockets won their first-ever MAC Championship title in their 45-year history with a thrilling 3-1 victory over Western Michigan in the conference tournament championship match.
Nathan Leininger (baseball) and Eli Enriquez (softball) each earned the Rocket Award.
Troy Sudbrook (baseball) was named Male Student-Athlete of the Year, while Grace Freiberger (women's volleyball) captured the Female Student-Athlete of the Year honor.
Women's volleyball's Macy Medors won the Undefeated Spirit Award, which was presented by the Chuck Ealey Foundation on behalf of Ealey, the Rocket quarterback who led the Toledo football team to three undefeated seasons from 1969-71.
Fall and winter sports from the 2025-26 academic year, along with spring sports from the 2025 season, were eligible for nominations.
2026 Rocket Awards
Team Awards
Team of the Year – Women's Volleyball
Best in Focus Award – Women's Volleyball
Academic Achievement Award – Women's Tennis - 3.863
Heart of the Community Team Award – Men's Golf
Heart of the Community Team Award – Softball
Individual Awards
The Rocket Award (male) – Nathan Leininger (baseball)
The Rocket Award (female) – Eli Enriquez (softball)
Student-Athlete of the Year (male) – Troy Sudbrook (baseball)
Student-Athlete of the Year (female) – Grace Freiberger (women's volleyball)
Chuck Ealey Undefeated Spirit Award – Macy Medors (women's volleyball)
Bleed Blue Award (male) – Charlie Scholvin (baseball)
Bleed Blue Award (female) – Margrett Watt (women's cross country/track & field)
Most Likely to Go Pro (male) – Sonny Wilson (men's basketball)
Most Likely to Go Pro (female) – Patricia Anumgba (women's basketball)
Rising Star Award (male) – Ty O'Brien (baseball)
Rising Star Award (female) – Faith Fedd-Robinson (women's basketball)
The Comedy Captain Award – Will James Jr. (men's basketball)
The Comedy Captain Award – Lizzy Puot (women's basketball)
Mr. Toledo – Troy Sudbrook (baseball)
Ms. Toledo – Grace O'Malley (softball)
Rookie Sensation Award (male) – Leroy Blyden Jr. (men's basketball)
Rookie Sensation Award (female) – Jessica Costlow (women's volleyball)
Heart of the Community Award – Matt Hofer (football)
Behind the Scenes Award – Brad Pierson (assistant athletic director of sports medicine)
Innovator of the Year Award – Ryan Kennedy (baseball)
Einstein Excellence Award – Jone Ibanez (women's tennis)
Champion Maker of the Year Award – Ben Wielgopolski (assistant strength & conditioning coach)
SPECIAL MOMENTS
Play of the Year – Women's Volleyball
Epic Fail Award – Women's Soccer
"I Wish I Could Delete This Photo" Award – Volleyball
TEAM MVPs
Baseball – Charlie Scholvin
Men's Basketball – Sonny Wilson
Women's Basketball – Ella Weaver
Men's Cross Country – Joad Martinho
Women's Cross Country – Karina James
Women's Track & Field – Dorcas Kiptanui
Football – John Alan Richter
Men's Golf – Bence Kotel
Women's Golf – Brooklyn Millard
Women's Rowing – Maggie Merriman
Women's Tennis – Isabella Barretto
Women's Soccer – McKenna Schultz
Softball – Eli Enriquez
Women's Swimming & Diving – Janne Slegers
Women's Volleyball – Grace Freiberger
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A Year of First - Part II
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A Year of Firsts - Part I
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