WKU Athletics holds 2026 TOPSY Awards

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – WKU Athletics hosted the ninth-annual TOPSY Award show on Thursday evening. The event was hosted by men’s golf student-athlete Reed Richey and women’s soccer student-athlete Amanda Simpson.

WKU Athletics distributed 28 awards in total relating to academics, community service and/or athletic performance.

Most awards are nominated and voted upon by student-athletes, coaches and staff while some are selected specifically by administration or the TOPSYs committee.

Four major awards highlighted the end of the evening. The John O. Oldham Student-Athlete of the Year Award is given to the male and female with the statistically best on-field/court performance of the 2025-26 school year. Men’s Basketball’s Teagan Moore and Volleyball’s Callie Bauer were honored with the prestigious award for their accomplishments on the court.

Women’s soccer was awarded Best Overall Team Performance for its 2025 season. The Hilltoppers were the CUSA Regular Season champion after going undefeated in conference play with a 6-0-2 record.

Callahan Wiegandt of WKU Volleyball was awarded the Phillip Hatchett Hilltopper Spirit Award. The award is given to a student-athlete that represents the Hilltopper spirit in every way possible. They have a positive impact in their community while also pulling the best out of their teammates and self. Past recipients of the award include Billy Tom Sargent (2019, Men’s Golf), Emma Kowalkowski (2020, Volleyball), Taylor Davis (2021, Softball), Audrey Griffin (2022, Track & Field), Luke Frampton (2023, Men’s Basketball), Tyler “Fluff” Olden (2024, Men’s Basketball) and Cal Higgins (2025, Baseball).

The Big Red Legacy Award is given to a four-year student-athlete who exemplified excellence, commitment, and pride throughout a distinguished career at WKU. Football’s Marshall Jackson was the 2026 winner. The Brent Chumbley Hilltopper GRIT Award, which is given to a Cross Country or Track and Field athlete who shows grit, resilience, integrity and tenacity, was awarded to Kam Horton.

Baseball’s Camden Ross was given the Mr. Hilltopper award and Women’s Soccer’s Amanda Simpson was named Ms. Hilltopper.

Cross Country/Track and Field earned the Team Community Outreach Award for their dedicated service to the community. Golfer Averi Cline was the Female Community Outreach Award winner for the fourth year in a row while Henry Fisher of Track and Field took home the Male Community Outreach Award.

Volleyball’s Travis Hudson earned Head Coach of the Year.

All award recipients from the 2026 TOPSY Awards are listed below.

2025-26 TOPSY Awards

Men’s Scholar Team of the Year – Men’s Golf

Women’s Scholar Team of the Year – Women’s Tennis

Male Scholar Athlete of the Year – Rowen Wilkinson, Cross Country/Track and Field

Female Scholar Athlete of the Year – Averi Cline, Women’s Golf

Male Graduate Scholar Athlete of the Year – Austin Haller, Baseball

Female Graduate Scholar Athlete of the Year – Jenna Blanton, Softball

Team Community Outreach Award – Track and Field

Male Community Outreach Award – Henry Fisher, Track and Field

Female Community Outreach Award – Averi Cline, Women’s Golf

Best Male Record-Breaking Performance – Baseball (no-hitter)

Best Female Record-Breaking Performance – Softball (best start in program history)

Male Rooke of the Year – Rodney Tisdale, Jr., Football

Female Rookie of the Year – Kaira Knox, Volleyball

Newcomer of the Year – Trinity Rowe, Women’s Basketball

Head Coach of the Year – Travis Hudson, Volleyball

Staff Member of the Year – Gianna Pellizzon (Student-Athlete Development/NIL) and Lee Ann Sowell (Business Operations)

Best Comeback Award – Teagan Moore, Men’s Basketball

Best Upset Award – Volleyball vs. Indiana

Big Red Legacy Award – Marshall Jackson, Football

Mr. Hilltopper Award – Camden Ross, Baseball

Ms. Hilltopper Award – Amanda Simpson, Soccer

Phillip Hatchett Hilltopper Spirit Award – Callahan Wiegandt, Volleyball

Brent Chumbley Hilltopper GRIT Award – Kam Horton, Track and Field

John O. Oldham Student Athlete of the Year – Teagan Moore, Men’s Basketball

John O. Oldham Student Athlete of the Year – Callie Bauer, Volleyball

Overall Team Performance – Women’s Soccer