The Virginia Athletics Department celebrated its annual Hoos Choice Awards this week. The end-of-year banquet honors athletes, teams, and performances from across the UVA sports landscape.

In order to hold the banquet at the end of the spring academic semester, the Hoos Choice Awards currently recognize the period from one award year to the next. That meant this year’s honors were for the time period from April 2024-March 2025. Gretchen Walsh claimed the IMP Award as the top female athlete, while Connor Shellenberger received the WINA Award as the top male athlete.

Walsh is an easy choice this year after she completed an incredible run through the NCAA Championship on the heels of Olympics success. Ultimately, she captured 7 NCAA titles in 2025 as the Hoos won their fifth straight National Championship. She finished he career a perfect 16 for 16 in NCAA relay races over four years.

Shellenberger finished his four-year career as the program’s only four-time first-team All-American. He is UVA’s all-time assists and points record holder. In 2024, he was named the most outstanding attackman in men’s lacrosse after posting 32 goals and 52 assists in his final season.

The Hoos Choice Awards celebrate a lot of other things too, though. For the UVA women’s sports Play of the Year, the swimming and diving team took home the honor. The quartet of Claire Curzan, Alex Walsh, Gretchen Walsh, and Maxine Parker clocked a 1:31.10 in the 200 Medley Relay to win the race and set a new American and NCAA record in the event. Check it out.

On the men’s side, another NCAA Championship relay received the recognition. The indoor track quartet of Wes Porter, Alex Sherman, Conor Murphy, and Gary Martin teamed up for the Distance Medley Relay and won the first NCAA title in program history for the event. They set the meet record and facility record in a time of 9:15.12. Check it out.

The Comeback of the Year went to the women’s lacrosse team. Facing ACC rival Duke, Virginia trailed 6-0 at the end of the first quarter and 9-4 at halftime. The Hoos rallied with a big second half, outscoring the Blue Devils 10-1 in the third quarter on the way to a 16-11 win. Check it out.

Other award winners included the top rookies (Rafael Jódar/men’s tennis and Anna Moesch/women’s swimming). the Bus Male Memorial Award for dedication and devotion to Virginia Athletics (sport psychologist Jason Freeman), the Craig Fielder Memorial Award for overcoming adversity (Nick Hamilton/wrestling), and the Marlee Morgan Service Award in recognition of a student manager (Anne Brown/football).

The team awards for the night (some spring sports have not announced team awards yet for this year) follow.

  • Baseball – Billy Word Memorial Award – TBD
  • Men’s Basketball – Sidney Young Memorial Award – Taine Murray
  • Women’s Basketball – Coach’s Award for Excellence – Kymora Johnson
  • Men’s Cross Country – Coach’s Award for Excellence – Gary Martin
  • Women’s Cross Country – Coach’s Award for Excellence – Margot Appleton
  • Field Hockey – Coach’s Award for Excellence – Lauren Kenah
  • Football – John Acree Memorial Award – Jonas Sanker
  • Men’s Golf – F. Dixon Brooke Memorial Award – Deven Patel
  • Women’s Golf – William E. Eacho Memorial Award – Rebecca Skoler
  • Men’s Lacrosse – Henry Gaver Memorial Award – Noah Chizmar
  • Women’s Lacrosse – Coach’s Award for Excellence – Abby Manalang
  • Rowing – Coach’s Award for Excellence – Jenna Hajji
  • Men’s Soccer – Stanley Lerner Memorial Award – Umberto Pelà
  • Women’s Soccer – Coach’s Award for Excellence – Elaine Rouse
  • Softball – Coach’s Award for Excellence – TBD
  • Men’s Squash – Coach’s Award for Excellence – Evan Hajek
  • Women’s Squash – Coach’s Award for Excellence – Maureen Foley
  • Men’s Swimming & Diving – Brooke Maury Memorial Award – Peter Thompson
  • Women’s Swimming & Diving – Diane Montgomery Greene Memorial Award – Ella Bathurst
  • Men’s Tennis – Norton Pritchett Memorial Award – James Hopper
  • Women’s Tennis – Coach’s Award for Excellence – Sara Ziodato
  • Men’s Track & Field – Henry Cummings Memorial Award – TBD
  • Women’s Track & Field – Z Society – The Lou Onesty Memorial Award – TBD
  • Men’s Indoor Track & Field – Coach’s Award for Excellence – Wes Porter
  • Women’s Indoor Track & Field – Coach’s Award for Excellence – Margot Appleton
  • Volleyball – Coach’s Award for Excellence – Milan Gomillion
  • Wrestling – David Senft Memorial Award – Dylan Cedeno

Fan(s) Of The Week

Go Hoos!

Virginia Cavaliers

Student Fan(s) Of The Week

Front row seats at Scott Stadium.

Virginia Cavaliers

Feature Photo Of The Week

Kelly Ayer and the Virginia softball team finished the regular season 36-16, including a sterling 26-2 at home.

Virginia Cavaliers Kelly Ayer