Stephenson, Truscott Named U-M's Recipients of Big Ten Outstanding Sportsmanship Award
7/31/2025 3:00:00 PM | Baseball, Field Hockey, Football, General, Men's Basketball, Men's Cross Country, Men's Golf, Men's Gymnastics, Ice Hockey, Men's Lacrosse, Men's Soccer, Men's Swimming & Diving, Men's Tennis, Men's Track & Field, Softball, Women's Basketball, Women's Cross Country, Women's Golf, Women's Gymnastics, Women's Lacrosse, Rowing, Women's Soccer, Women's Swimming & Diving, Women's Tennis, Women's Track & Field, Volleyball, Water Polo, Wrestling
• Michigan Big Ten Sportsmanship Recipients
ROSEMONT, Ill. -- University of Michigan softball sophomore Ella Stephenson and ice hockey graduate student Jacob Truscott were named U-M's Outstanding Sportsmanship Award winners for the 2024-25 academic year by the Big Ten Conference on Thursday (July 31).
Stephenson started all 60 games in right field this season and ranked among the Wolverines' offensive leaders, posting a career-best .338 batting average with 35 runs, 66 hits -- including 10 doubles and nine homers -- and 42 RBI. She demonstrated a continued propensity for delivering clutch hits, most notably driving in a sixth-inning run against No. 9 UCLA in the Big Ten Tournament championship game (May 10), recording a walk-off RBI single in the eighth inning against Michigan State (March 29) and the go-ahead home run in the top of the seventh at USF (Feb. 21).
She was honored with the team's Maize and Blue Award, voted by her coaches as exemplifying a passion for Michigan softball and her teammates, as well as Michigan Athletics' Sophomore Leader and Best Award, given annually to the top sophomore student-athlete who demonstrates Michigan's Leaders and Best qualities both academically and athletically.
Over the second semester and throughout the 2025 season, Stephenson conducted an independent research project centered around self-compassion and, as a means of collecting data, conducted interviews and workshops with teammates in an effort to help them become less critical of themselves. An Academic All-Big Ten honoree, Stephenson is pursuing a major in movement science through Michigan's School of Kinesiology.
Stephenson is the fourth representative from the softball program to garner the Big Ten Outstanding Sportsmanship Award since the honor was introduced in 2002-03, joining Becky Marx (2006), Teddi Ewing (2009) and Dorian Shaw (2011).
The winner of the 2024-25 Derek Hines Unsung Hero Award and a nominee for the Hockey Humanitarian Award, Truscott earned his second straight Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.
A two-year captain and five-year letterwinner on the Michigan ice hockey team, Truscott led the program to three consecutive Frozen Fours and back-to-back Big Ten Tournament appearances. He graduated with a bachelor's in applied exercise science and a graduate certificate in Real Estate. A native of Port Huron, Mich., Truscott skated in 166 games for the Wolverines and had 70 points with a +44 on-ice rating and 201 blocked shots -- the fifth most in school history.
During his time at Michigan, Truscott earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors, four Academic All-Big Ten accolades and was the 2024 recipient of the Rachael Townsend Leadership Award. A leader on and off the ice, Truscott partnered with alum Zach Werenski of the Columbus Blue Jackets to identify local non-profit organizations to receive the tickets to home hockey games. After every game, Truscott and a few teammates visit with, take pictures, and sign autographs for the guests of the suite. Some of the organizations impacted included The Ronald McDonald House, Mott Children's Hospital, Ele's Place, The VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Metro Detroit Sled Hockey program and the Ann Arbor YMCA.
Truscott is the team leader with Team Impact as well. He has been instrumental in establishing the program as it exists within hockey at Michigan. To date, Michigan Hockey has had the privilege of having two Team Impact members: Kellen and Conner. Truscott has consciously worked to create opportunities for his teammates and Team Impact teammates to connect.
2024-25 Michigan Big Ten Sportsmanship Award Winners
Baseball: Cole Caruso
Men's Basketball: Nimari Burnett
Women's Basketball: Jordan Hobbs
Men's Cross Country: Jack Spamer
Women's Cross Country: Jadyn Zdanavage
Field Hockey: Lindsey Stagg
Football: Max Bredeson
Men's Golf: Ben Hoagland
Women's Golf: Lauren Sung
Men's Gymnastics: Paul Juda
Women's Gymnastics: Reyna Guggino
Ice Hockey: Jacob Truscott
Men's Lacrosse: John Morgan
Women's Lacrosse: Megan Minturn
Rowing: Ally Blomquist
Men's Soccer: Ethan Wood
Women's Soccer: Stephanie Sparkowski
Softball: Ella Stephenson
Men's Swimming and Diving: Connor Hunt
Women's Swimming and Diving: Kathryn Shanley
Men's Tennis: Alex Cairo
Women's Tennis: Lily Jones
Men's Indoor Track and Field: John McNeil
Women's Indoor Track and Field: Amare Harlan
Men's Outdoor Track and Field: Nolan Clark
Women's Outdoor Track and Field: Clare McNamara
Volleyball: Brooke Allison Jacobs
Water Polo: Kasey Umlauf
Wrestling: Joseph Walker
Players Mentioned
