EIU Athletic Awards

Rylan Gick from Eastern Illinois softball has been named the Panthers 2026-27 Female Newcomer Athlete of the Year as the athletic department begins announcing its end of year awards for this past academic year.
 
Gick transferred in from Purdue Northwest and made an immediate impact on the Panthers softball program helping the team win its third straight Ohio Valley Conference regular season title while making its second straight NCAA Tournament appearance.  Gick earned second team All-OVC honors with a 12-4 record including an 8-1 record in OVC contests.  Gick's .750 win percentage ranks as the seventh best single season performance in school history.  She ranked third in the conference in wins, strikeouts (91) and innings pitched (118.0).  Gick picked up her first win of the season with a complete game against Louisiana Tech, one of eight complete games during the season.  She had five games with seven or more strikeouts with a season high ten strikeouts against Southern Indiana. 
 
A total of six EIU student-athletes were named candidates for the award with Gick joined by Layla Bonilla (Track & Field), Sophia Buswell (Swimming), Ashlyn Denney (Cross Country / Track & Field), Alanys Nieves (Beach Volleyball) and Ava Stoller (Basketball).
 
EIU will name winners for Male Newcomer Athlete of the Year, Female Athlete of the Year and Male Athlete of the Year later this week with the winners for the EIU AD Award, Male & Female, named next Monday and Tuesday to wrap up the month of June.