Hawkeye Award Winners Announced at Golden Herkys

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- The University of Iowa Department of Athletics recognized the academic and athletic accomplishments of its student-athletes at the ninth annual Golden Herkys on Tuesday evening at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

The event, which was organized by UI student-athletes, was highlighted by the announcement of senior Stephen Buchanan II (men’s wrestling) and Lucy Olsen (women’s basketball) as Athletes of the Year and Outstanding Newcomers. Redshirt sophomore Austin Busch (men's track & field) and Sydney Affolter (women’s basketball) were named Hawkeyes of the Year, which encompasses the athletics department core values of WIN, GRADUATE, DO IT RIGHT.

After spending three years at the University of Wyoming and two years at the University of Oklahoma, Buchanan (Loyal, Wisconsin) transferred to Iowa for his final year of eligibility. He capped off his career by winning the 2025 197-pound NCAA title, becoming Iowa's first national champion since 2021. A four-time All-American, Buchanan placed second at the 2025 Big Ten Championships, while posting a 26-1 overall record and going 15-0 in dual competition. A 2025 NWCA Scholar All-American, Buchanan tallied 18 wins against ranked opponents and 19 bonus point wins, including six major decisions, nine technical falls, and four falls) in his final collegiate campaign.

After spending her first three seasons at Villanova, Olsen (Collegeville, Pennsylvania) transferred to Iowa where she made an immediate impact. She became the sixth Hawkeye to be drafted into the WNBA since 2019, following Kathleen Doyle, Megan Gustafson, Monika Czinano, Caitlin Clark, and Kate Martin. A unanimous All-Big Ten First-Team selection and Big Ten All-Tournament Team honoree in 2025, Olsen eclipsed 2,000 career points, 500 career rebounds, and 500 career assists in her senior season. Olsen posted 42 career games with 20+ points, including a team-high 12 this season, and became the second Hawkeye since 2009 to record 30+ points, 5+ assists, and 5+ rebounds in a game. She recorded a career-best 12 assists and her first double-double as a Hawkeye against Murray State in the NCAA Tournament, becoming the third Hawkeye since 2009 to register 10+ assists and a double-double in an NCAA Tournament game (Caitlin Clark, Sam Logic).

Busch (Jewell, Iowa) keeps the Hawkeye men's track and field team motivated and displays leadership in the classroom, in the community, and on the competition field. His top performances in the weight throw (69-11 1/2, 21.32 meters), hammer throw (219-1, 66.78 meters), and indoor shot put (65-5 (19.94 meters) rank fourth, fifth, and 10th, respectively, on Iowa's all-time top performers list. He served as an Iowa Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (ISAAC) representative for the 2023-24 school year and served on the executive team as the Co-Community Engagement Chair for 2024-25. Busch also is a leader for Athletes in Action. During the summer of 2024, he represented the University of Iowa at the Big Life trip in Selma, Alabama.

Affolter (Chicago, Illinois) received All-Big Ten honorable mention honors in 2025 after being named to the 2024 Big Ten All-Tournament Team. She scored 742 points and grabbed 641 rebounds during her Hawkeye career. In January she was also named to the 2025 "So You Want To Be A Coach” program by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA).  Off the court, Affolter spent time volunteering with various community organizations, including Habitat for Humanity and Ronald McDonald House.

The Hawkeye women’s basketball team took home an additional two Golden Herkys. Redshirt senior Kylie Feuerbach (Sycamore, Illinois) was named Women’s Breakthrough Athlete of the Year and the team won the Best Moment award for snapping No. 2 USC's 15-game winning streak at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in February.

Feuerbach, who started all 34 games for the Hawkeyes, helped play a pivotal role in Iowa's 23-11 record during the 2024-25 season. Feuerbach led Iowa in steals (43) and averaged 6.4 points per game and 2.1 rebounds per game. She recorded three or more steals in six games and set career highs in three different statistical categories (assists, rebounds, and steals).

Iowa’s defense stifled USC in the first quarter holding the Trojans to seven percent from the floor (1-14). Iowa led 18-4 at the end of the first quarter. After a turbulent second period, Iowa ended the third quarter making five out of its last six field goals and holding USC scoreless over the last 2:09 to regain the lead, 51-50. In the fourth quarter, Iowa shot 64 percent from the floor (9-14) to seal the victory. Olsen led Iowa with 28 points, shooting 10-of-18 from the field, four assists, and four rebounds. Addi O’Grady reached double figures for the 17th time as a senior.

The Iowa men's wrestling team took home the Golden Herky for the Men's Most Outstanding Team. The Hawkeyes posted a 14-1 record in dual competition, going 7-1 in Big Ten duals. The team placed third at the Big Ten Championships and fourth at the NCAA Championships in 2025, crowning five All-Americans and one NCAA champion.

The soccer team won three Golden Herky Awards - Women's Most Outstanding team, Comeback Athlete (senior Meike Ingles), and Staff-lete (Director of Operations Molly Rygh). The 2024 team advanced to the Sweet 16 for the first time in program history, posting a 15-3-4 record, beating 4 top 25 opponents, and remaining in the top 25 rankings all season. Iowa made its fourth NCAA Tournament appearance since 2019 and fifth in school history. Head Coach Dave DiIanni broke 100 career wins this past season. The team ended the regular season ranked sixth in the Big Ten with 38 goals.

After taking a year off of soccer to give birth to her daughter, Xiah, and dealing with injuries and sickness in the fall of 2023, Ingles (Shelby Township, Michigan) was able to return to competition for the 2024 season. She appeared in 20 games, totaling 1,335 minutes, and scored a team-leading seven goals - including two game-winners, and recorded five assists. Ingles scored the game-winning goal to Iowa to its first ever Sweet 16 and was named Iowa's Co-Offensive player of the Year.

Rygh, who was nominated by the soccer team, recently transitioned to the role of Director of Operations for the Iowa Women's Basketball team. She is also a former Hawkeye rower, as well as a member of the rowing coaching staff. The award is annually presented to the UI Athletics staff member who displays excellence by making the greatest impact on student-athletes and the department.

Senior Kalen Walker (men's track and field) shared the Comeback Athlete Golden Herky with Ingles. A three-time All-American sprinter, Walker (Eddyville, Iowa) recently broke his own 100-meter school record, clocking a 10.06 in that event. He ran the lead leg on Iowa's Big Ten Champion 4x100-meter relay in 2024, and holds Iowa school records in the 60 meters (6.51) and as part of the 4x100-meter relay (38.64). Walker gained national attention during the fall, running a 4.15 40-yard dash in front of a sold-out Kinnick Stadium against Iowa's football game against Northwestern.

Senior Kaleb Johnson (football) was named Men's Breakthrough Athlete. Johnson (Hamilton, Ohio) was a consensus All-American and voted the Ameche-Dayne Big Ten Running Back of the Year last fall. Also a finalist for the Doak Walker Award, and semifinalist for the Maxwell and Walter Camp awards, he rushed for 1,537 yards and 21 touchdowns in 12 games -- the third-most rushing yards in a season in program history. Johnson finished with program records in single-season points (138), total touchdowns (23) and rushing scores (21). He scored at least one touchdown in 12 games -- the longest streak in program history -- and had multiple touchdowns in seven games, which is believed to be a school record. Johnson ranked sixth nationally, averaging 128.1 yards on 20 attempts per game, which included 20 rushes of 20+ yards. He ranked fourth nationally in scoring (11.5), sixth in total touchdowns (23) and 12th in yards per carry (6.4).

Redshirt sophomore Kylie Welker (women's wrestling) won the Golden Herky for Record Breaking Performance. Her undefeated season will go down in history as one of the most dominant in women's college wrestling. Welker (Franklinville, Wisconsin) became a two-time national champion with a season record of 27-0, where she did not give up a single point during the entire season. This is a tremendously difficult task in the sport of wrestling, where your opponent can even earn a point by a shot clock violation or a step out. She had six pins and 21 tech-fall victories, giving her a 100% bonus rate.

The Hawkeye men’s golf and volleyball teams took home the Golden Herkys for top team grade-point average (GPA) for the 2024 spring and fall. The men’s golf team posted a team GPA of 3.15 in the spring, and a 3.33 in the fall. The volleyball team posted a team GPA of 3.74 in the spring and 3.84 in the fall.

The Hawkeye women's swimming and diving team won the Hawkeye Life Challenge Golden Herky team award, with the most average hours recorded in all five Hawkeye Live pillars (Academic Success, Leadership, Career Development, Health & Well-Being, Community Engagement), per capita for the team. Junior Will Ryan (men's cross country/men's track and field) won the Hawkeye Life Challenge Golden Herky individual award for the most recorded hours (122).

The Golden Herkys also served as an induction ceremony for the newly formed student-athlete honor society - Chi Alpha Sigma. A total of 60 student-athletes comprised of Hawkeye juniors or seniors with a 3.5 cumulative grade-point average at the University of Iowa were inducted. It also served as a venue to recognize Iowa's 2025 B1G Jackie Robinson Community and Impact Award nominees Nanea Estrella (women's wrestling) and Will Ryan (men's cross country/men's track and field).

Estrella (Makawao, Hawaii), who was selected as the inaugural female winner of the award by the Big Ten Conference in April, spearheaded an online donation drive in to help support the people of Lahaina after one the deadliest wildfire in U.S. history leveled the town in August of 2023. Though Estrella was not born in Lahaina, it was her second home as she went to high school at Lahainaluna. She organized a toy/sports equipment drive and a virtual food drive for the Maui Food Bank to help the residents of Lahaina. Her efforts raised over $5,000 for the Maui Food Bank and sent countless toys and sports equipment to families who lost everything.

Ryan (Waukee, Iowa) has dedicated over 100 hours to volunteering, with much of his time spent at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital. His commitment to making a difference extends far beyond athletics, leaving a lasting impact on both his team and the broader community.

The Big Ten Jackie Robinson Award recognizes student-athletes whose significant community service contributions align with Jackie Robinson's legacy of courage, determination, teamwork, persistence, integrity, citizenship, justice, commitment, and excellence. Each of the 18 Big Ten member institutions nominated one female and one male student-athlete who serves their campus communities and has demonstrated impact, collaboration and teamwork, consistency, commitment, visibility, and advocacy. The Big Ten selected one male and one female award winner from the 36 nominations with Estrella being chosen as the female award winner. All other nominees will receive individual awards for their community service efforts.

2025 GOLDEN HERKY AWARD WINNERS
MEN’S ATHLETE OF THE YEAR -- Stephen Buchanan II (Men’s Wrestling)
WOMEN’S ATHLETE OF THE YEAR -- Lucy Olsen (Women’s Basketball)
MEN’S HAWKEYE OF THE YEAR -- Austin Busch (Men's Track & Field)
WOMEN’S HAWKEYE OF THE YEAR -- Sydney Affolter (Women’s Basketball)
MEN’S OUTSTANDING NEWCOMER -- Stephen Buchanan (Men’s Wrestling)
WOMEN’S OUTSTANDING NEWCOMER -- Lucy Olsen (Women’s Basketball)
MEN’S BREAKTHROUGH ATHLETE -- Kaleb Johnson (Football)
WOMEN’S BREAKTHROUGH ATHLETE -- Kylie Feuerbach (Women's Basketball)
MEN’S OUTSTANDING TEAM -- Men's Wrestling
WOMEN’S OUTSTANDING TEAM -- Soccer
RECORD BREAKING PERFORMANCE -- Kylie Welker (Women's Wrestling)
BEST MOMENT -- Women’s Basketball beats #2 USC
COMEBACK ATHLETE: Kalen Walker (Men's Track & Field), Meike Ingles (Soccer)
SPRING & FALL 2024 MEN’S TEAM GPA -- Men’s Golf
SPRING & FALL 2024 WOMEN’S TEAM GPA -- Volleyball
HAWKEYE LIFE CHALLENGE (TEAM) -- Women's Swimming & Diving
HAWKEYE LIFE CHALLENGE (INDIVIDUAL) -- Will Ryan (Men's Cross Country, Track & Field)
STAFF-LETE -- Molly Rygh (Director of Operations, Soccer)
BEST DRESSED -- Natalie Harris (Women's Track & Field), Drew Thelwell (Men's Basketball)