Indiana University Athletics
Lillard & Vincic Named 2025-26 Jackie Robinson Award Winners
11/19/2025 12:00:00 PM | General, Wrestling, Track and Field
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. ––– The Big Ten Conference on Wednesday announced the 36 student-athletes selected as campus winners of the 2025-26 Jackie Robinson Community & Impact Award presented by Discover. Now in its second year, the honor was created to recognize Big Ten student-athletes who strive to have a positive impact within their community in addition to excellence in competition.
Indiana's two campus winners were Tyler Lillard (Wrestling) and Kristina Vincic (Track and Field).
Lillard, a redshirt junior from Aurora, Ohio, is a two-time NCAA Qualifier at 165 lbs. for the Hoosiers. He is currently 5-0 on the season and is ranked No. 23 nationally at his weight class. Last year, Lillard took first place at 165 lbs. in the Ken Kraft Midlands Championships, becoming the first Hoosier to win in an individual title at the tournament since 2024. He owns a 60-30 record since he joined the Hoosiers in 2022.
Vincic is a junior from Pickering, Ontario, Canada and ranks in the top 20 in several school records across the indoor and outdoor seasons. In 2024, Vincic competed as the first leg of the current school record time for the indoor 4 x 400m relay, placing fourth at the Big Ten Indoor Championship. She has since competed in quartets that rank second and third in the school's all-time list in the same event.
From the collection of 36 local winners, two overall conference honorees will be selected and announced in the spring of 2026.
In recognition of their achievement and as an expression of the conference's appreciation, each of the 36 campus winners will receive a medal bearing the likeness of Jackie Robinson and the logo of the Big Ten Conference.
Dillan Fontus of Maryland Football and Nanea Estrella, a member of the Iowa Women's Wrestling team, were named the inaugural national winners last spring. Both will be hosted in Indianapolis next month and recognized on the field during the 2025 Discover Big Ten Football Championship Game at Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday, December 6 (8 pm ET; FOX).
Jackie Robinson was a standout student-athlete at UCLA, where he was the school's first four-sport letter winner, excelling in football, basketball, track and field, and baseball. Beyond his athletic prowess, he continues to be recognized and honored for his contributions off the field: integrating Major League Baseball and his lifelong commitment to social justice. He is the embodiment of the Big Ten's mission to develop strong student leaders, and we honor his legacy and core values of courage, determination, teamwork, persistence, integrity, citizenship, justice, commitment, and excellence. As Jackie famously said, "A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives."
Indiana's two campus winners were Tyler Lillard (Wrestling) and Kristina Vincic (Track and Field).
Lillard, a redshirt junior from Aurora, Ohio, is a two-time NCAA Qualifier at 165 lbs. for the Hoosiers. He is currently 5-0 on the season and is ranked No. 23 nationally at his weight class. Last year, Lillard took first place at 165 lbs. in the Ken Kraft Midlands Championships, becoming the first Hoosier to win in an individual title at the tournament since 2024. He owns a 60-30 record since he joined the Hoosiers in 2022.
Vincic is a junior from Pickering, Ontario, Canada and ranks in the top 20 in several school records across the indoor and outdoor seasons. In 2024, Vincic competed as the first leg of the current school record time for the indoor 4 x 400m relay, placing fourth at the Big Ten Indoor Championship. She has since competed in quartets that rank second and third in the school's all-time list in the same event.
From the collection of 36 local winners, two overall conference honorees will be selected and announced in the spring of 2026.
| Institution | Name | Sport |
| Illinois | TJ Griffin | Football |
| Illinois | Tali Joelson | Gymnastics |
| Indiana | Tyler Lillard | Wrestling |
| Indiana | Kristina Vincic | Track & Field |
| Iowa | Ava Bayless | Wrestling |
| Iowa | Will Ryan | Cross Country | Track & Field |
| Maryland | Joey Schneck | Wrestling |
| Maryland | Madeline Komoroski | Gymnastics |
| Michigan | Kevin Kearns | Lacrosse |
| Michigan | Zoë Bormet | Field Hockey |
| Michigan State | Maddie Lawlor | Field Hockey |
| Michigan State | Jalen Thompson | Football |
| Minnesota | Charlie Sutherland | Baseball |
| Minnesota | Niamya (Nia) Holloway | Basketball |
| Nebraska | Katelyn Caneda | Softball |
| Nebraska | Michael Booker III | Football |
| Northwestern | Kansas Robinson | Softball |
| Northwestern | Najee Story | Football |
| Ohio State | Caleb Downs | Football |
| Ohio State | Makenna Webster | Ice Hockey | Field Hockey |
| Oregon | Matt Bedford | Football |
| Oregon | Blessyn McMorris | Acrobatics & Tumbling |
| Penn State | Nick Dawkins | Football |
| Penn State | Elise DeWan | Field Hockey |
| Purdue | Devin Mockobee | Football |
| Purdue | Emma Bailey | Softball |
| Rutgers | Jude Essuman | Soccer |
| Rutgers | Caitlin Collins | Lacrosse |
| UCLA | Jordan Robinson | Football | Track & Field |
| UCLA | Karson Gordon | Football |
| USC | Maribel Flores | Soccer |
| USC | Robert Gref | Diving |
| Washington | Franck Kepnang | Basketball |
| Washington | Rhonda Newton | Track & Field |
| Wisconsin | Rico Hallman | Football |
| Wisconsin | Erin Connolly | Soccer |
In recognition of their achievement and as an expression of the conference's appreciation, each of the 36 campus winners will receive a medal bearing the likeness of Jackie Robinson and the logo of the Big Ten Conference.
Dillan Fontus of Maryland Football and Nanea Estrella, a member of the Iowa Women's Wrestling team, were named the inaugural national winners last spring. Both will be hosted in Indianapolis next month and recognized on the field during the 2025 Discover Big Ten Football Championship Game at Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday, December 6 (8 pm ET; FOX).
Jackie Robinson was a standout student-athlete at UCLA, where he was the school's first four-sport letter winner, excelling in football, basketball, track and field, and baseball. Beyond his athletic prowess, he continues to be recognized and honored for his contributions off the field: integrating Major League Baseball and his lifelong commitment to social justice. He is the embodiment of the Big Ten's mission to develop strong student leaders, and we honor his legacy and core values of courage, determination, teamwork, persistence, integrity, citizenship, justice, commitment, and excellence. As Jackie famously said, "A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives."
Players Mentioned
/ Wrestling
Sprints
/ Track and FieldIUBB Postgame Press Conference
Saturday, December 06
IUWBB Highlights vs. Western Michigan
Thursday, December 04
FB: Under the Hood with Indiana Football - Big Ten Championship (Ohio State)
Thursday, December 04
FB: Isaiah Jones Media Availability (12/2/25)
Wednesday, December 03