ST. LOUIS - The Elite 18 Award Program was established by the Missouri Valley Conference in the fall of 2010 to honor the highest achievement in academics and athletics by a student-athlete in each MVC-sponsored sport. Modeled after the NCAA Elite 90 Academic Recognition Award Program, the MVC Elite 18 award is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average competing at the finals site at each of the MVC’s 18 team championships.
The selection process varies for each sport, and winners are chosen from a list of qualifying student-athletes at each of the 11 MVC institutions. For the team sports of soccer, volleyball, basketball, tennis, baseball and softball, the winner will be chosen from the two teams participating in the championship game or match. For cross country, golf, swimming and diving, and track and field, the winners will be chosen from nominated student-athletes who have met a athletic performance threshold (for instance, in cross country, the eligible student-athletes must have finished among the top 10 at the championship meet).
The recipients were honored during a ceremony at the conclusion of the championship.
2025-26 Elite 18 Award Winners
Women's Cross Country - Nora Brady, Illinois State (Nursing; 4.00 GPA)
Men's Cross Country - Michael Rebello, Bradley (Nutrition & Dietetics; 4.00 GPA)
Women's Soccer - Hannah Gryzik, UIC (Marketing; 4.00 GPA)
Men's Soccer - Christian Shannon, Western Michigan (Business Analytics; 3.98 GPA)
Volleyball - Bliss Beck, Drake (Psychology; 4.00 GPA)
Women's Swimming & Diving - Molly Kroeger, UIC (Biomedical Engineering; 4.00 GPA)
Men's Swimming & Diving - Alex Cimera, Southern Illinois (Aviation Management; 4.00 GPA)
Women's Indoor Track & Field - Olivia Marshall, Indiana State (Communication Sciences & Disorders; 4.00 GPA)
Men's Indoor Track & Field - David Russell, Northern Iowa (Kinesiology & Exercise Science; 4.00 GPA)
Men's Basketball - Sam Silverstein, UIC (Non-Degree Seeking; 4.00 GPA)
Women's Basketball - Haven Ford, Murray State (Health & Physical Education; 4.00 GPA)
Women's Golf - Chloe Tarkany, Belmont (Finance; 4.00 GPA)
Tennis - Silvia Pomarolli, Illinois State (Psychology; 3.97 GPA)
Men's Golf - Daniil Romashkin, Evansville (Finance; 3.88 GPA)
Softball - Raylee Roby, Murray State (Speech & Language Pathology; 4.00 GPA)
Women's Outdoor Track & Field - Olivia Marshall, Indiana State (Communication Sciences & Disorders; 4.00 GPA)
Men's Outdoor Track & Field - David Russell, Northern Iowa (Kinesiology & Exercise Science; 4.00 GPA)
Baseball - Thomas Curry, UIC (Acocunting; 3.90 GPA)