New Braunfels, Texas – Howard Payne's Blaine Onick and Mary Hardin-Baylor's Ava Jolley have been selected as the 2025-26 Fred Jacoby Sportsmanship Athletes of the Year, the American Southwest Conference announced Monday.
The award winners were chosen by a vote of the conference's Directors of Athletics from a ballot consisting of each sport's Sportsmanship Athlete of the Year recipients. Individual sport honorees are selected and announced in conjunction with their respective All-Conference awards.
The American Southwest Conference Fred Jacoby Sportsmanship Award honors each year a male and female student-athlete who best display attributes of sportsmanship, leadership, citizenship and academic integrity in his or her athletic, academic and life pursuits. The conference Directors of Athletics present the annual awards.
Onick, a senior golfer from Howard Payne was selected as the 2025-26 ASC Men’s Golf Sportsmanship Athlete of the Year in a vote by his peers at the golf championship.Onick came to Howard Payne as a freshman and is known as a leader for the Yellow Jackets golf team. "Blaine consistently demonstrates respect, integrity, and positivity both on and off the golf course. He sets a high standard for how teammates and competitors should conduct themselves, offering encouragement, support, and a gracious attitude in every situation,” said head coach Morgan Lucas. “His humility in victory and composure in challenging moments make him a role model for his peers. Blaine’s dedication to fostering a positive team culture and representing our program with character and honor makes him an outstanding selection for this award.”
Jolley, a sophomore for the Cru, was selected as the 2025-26 ASC Softball Sportsmanship Athlete of the Year. The nursing student from Kingwood, Texas is known as a competitor who embraces challenges, playing multiple positions throughout the year and showing humility through challenges. “Her positive attitude and encouragement uplifted teammates and set a powerful example for others to follow.” said head coach Melissa Mojica. “Ava has always shown respect to opponents, officials, and coaches at all times.”
2025-26 Fred Jacoby Sportsmanship Award Nominees
Men
| Brock Calvillo |
Sr. |
Hardin-Simmons |
Baseball |
| Silas Davis |
Jr. |
Hardin-Simmons |
Basketball |
| Noah Gasque |
Jr. |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
Football |
| Jack Helsley |
Sr. |
Hardin-Simmons |
Football |
| Jesus Mendoza |
Sr. |
Howard Payne |
Football |
| Elijah Sims |
Sr. |
East Texas Baptist |
Football |
| Blaine Onick* |
Sr. |
Howard Payne |
Golf |
| Jacob Balkcom |
Sr. |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
Soccer |
| Joseph Friederich |
Sr. |
Hardin-Simmons |
Soccer |
| Benjamin Beaudin |
Fr. |
Howard Payne |
Tennis |
| Sam Black |
Sr. |
East Texas Baptist |
Tennis |
| Brandon Curiel |
Sr. |
Hardin-Simmons |
Tennis |
| Alec Rule |
Sr. |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
Tennis |
Women
| Kate Buchanan |
Jr. |
Howard Payne |
Basketball |
| Ruthie Valdez |
Fr. |
Hardin-Simmons |
Cross Country |
| Aly Navarro |
Gr. |
Hardin-Simmons |
Golf |
| Taylor Garrett |
Sr. |
Hardin-Simmons |
Soccer |
| Ava Jolley* |
So. |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
Softball |
| Nina Delafuente |
Sr. |
Howard Payne |
Tennis |
| Brenna Gordon |
Sr. |
Hardin-Simmons |
Tennis |
| Breanna Taylor |
Fr. |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
Tennis |
| Monique Ybarra |
Jr. |
East Texas Baptist |
Tennis |
| Addy Cunningham |
Jr. |
Hardin-Simmons |
Volleyball |
Fred Jacoby Sportsmanship Athletes of the Year
| Year |
Men |
Women |
| 1999-00 |
Joe Fox, Austin |
Courtney Shires, Mississippi College |
| 2000-01 |
Michael Kawazoe, Austin |
Sarah Birge, Austin |
| 2001-02 |
Phil Kaiser, Ozarks |
Lindsey Brotherton, Schreiner |
| 2002-03 |
Preston Meyer, Mary Hardin-Baylor |
Julie Richardson, Ozarks |
| 2003-04 |
Cody Brotherton, McMurry |
Lyndsay Llewellyn, McMurry |
| 2004-05 |
Drew McMaster, Howard Payne |
Katie DeDeaux, Mississippi College |
| 2005-06 |
Kyle Shipp, Mary Hardin-Baylor |
Bethany Harris, Mississippi College |
| 2006-07 |
Ryan Potter, LeTourneau |
Michelle Heckmann, Concordia Texas |
| 2007-08 |
Tyler Winford, Mississippi College |
Lindsey Peters, UT Tyler |
| 2008-09 |
Ty Palmer, Texas Lutheran |
Krissy Seaman, UT Dallas |
| 2009-10 |
David Ashlock, UT Tyler (co) |
Kristen Chapman, LeTourneau |
|
Sam Walker, Hardin-Simmons (co) |
|
| 2010-11 |
Ryan Yezak, East Texas Baptist |
Whitney Wyly, UT Tyler |
| 2011-12 |
Collin Janssen, Concordia Texas |
Hannah Langley, Mississippi College |
| 2012-13 |
Marcus Bobb, Ozarks |
Jennifer Cooper, Mississippi College |
| 2013-14 |
Zakk Revelle, Sul Ross State |
Samantha Guerrero, Howard Payne |
| 2014-15 |
Andrew Cummings, Ozarks (tri) |
Jordana Andrews, Ozarks |
|
Matt Weaver, Ozarks (tri) |
|
|
Isaiah Minick, Mary Hardin-Baylor (tri) |
|
| 2015-16 |
Xavier Scarlett, LeTourneau (co) |
Cheyenne Dowdey, Mary Hardin-Baylor |
|
Seth Walters, LeTourneau (co) |
|
| 2016-17 |
Conner Combs, East Texas Baptist |
Alisa Wilson, LeTourneau |
| 2017-18 |
Caleb Thomasson, Sul Ross State |
Abby Weaver, East Texas Baptist |
| 2018-19 |
Beau Billings, East Texas Baptist |
Marlee Blackwell, Belhaven (co) |
|
|
Mullika Seekhieo, East Texas Baptist (co) |
| 2020-21 |
Kaden Treybig, Mary Hardin-Baylor |
Rachel Kahler, UT Dallas |
| 2021-22 |
Justin Moore, LeTourneau |
Suzuka Nishino, UT Dallas |
| 2022-23 |
Justin Ardis, UT Dallas |
Aubrianna Salazar, Hardin-Simmons |
| 2023-24 |
Anthony Browning, Hardin-Simmons |
Bridgette Fly, McMurry |
| 2024-25 |
Will Bartoszek, Hardin-Simmons |
Mary-Kate Mark, East Texas Baptist |
| 2025-26 |
Blaine Onick, Howard Payne |
Ava Jolley, Mary Hardin-Baylor |