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Photo by: Sam Janicki
Wrestling Hands Out Team Awards at Annual Banquet
5/4/2026 11:58:00 AM | Wrestling
MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota wrestling team honored its 2025-26 squad, which finished ninth at the NCAA Championships, at its end-of-season awards banquet last weekend.
The national champion at 184 pounds, Max McEnelly was named winner of the J Robinson Outstanding Wrestler Award. McEnelly was also one of three to be recognized with the All-American Award.
McEnelly finished the season with a 24-2 record, including a 15-1 record in duals, a perfect 8-0 mark during the Big Ten regular season and a 15-2 record versus ranked competition. Twelve of his 24 victories were by tech fall and two more came by major decision. He became the 19th different Gopher to win a national title, and it was the 25th individual championship overall in program history. McEnelly was the first Gopher to win a national title at 184 pounds, and he captured the first title overall for the program since Gable Steveson went back-to-back at heavyweight in 2021-22.
Koy Hopke and Charlie Millard, who both competed in their first NCAA Championships, were recognized as the team's co-Freshmen of the Year.
Hopke, who finished seventh at the Big Ten Championships, went 23-11 on the year with an 8-5 dual record and 4-4 mark in the Big Ten. A two-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week, he led the Gophers in matches versus ranked opponents (21) and shutout victories (8), and tied for the team lead in overall matches wrestled (34) and Big Ten dual matches wrestled (8). Among his notable wins were top-10 victories over eventual All-American Christian Carroll of Wyoming at the Soldier Salute, as well as Wyatt Voelker of Northern Iowa at the National Duals. Off the mat, Hopke was an NWCA Scholar All-American and Academic All-Big Ten honoree.
Millard, an eighth-place finisher at Big Tens, started every dual at 157 pounds and posted a 20-11 record overall with a 10-6 mark in duals and 5-3 Big Ten record. On the team, he was second in dual team points scored (45) and third in dual team points scored in B1G matches (26). Millard had a pair of top-10 wins on the season, knocking off then-No. 9 Gavin Drexler of North Dakota State in a dual matchup, as well as a decision over then-No. 8 Vinny Zerban of Iowa State in the opening round of NCAAs. Like Hopke, Millard was also an NWCA Scholar All-American and Academic All-Big Ten honoree.
Redshirt senior Vance VomBaur was presented with the Verne Gagne "Leadership Award" for the second year in a row. VomBaur was 23-8 on the season with an 11-4 record in duals and 7-1 mark in the Big Ten. After a fourth-place finish at Big Tens, VomBaur qualified for his third straight NCAA Championships. He led Minnesota and tied for third nationally in wins by major decision (9). An Academic All-Big Ten honoree, VomBaur also tied for the team lead in bonus point wins (15) and was second on the roster in Big Ten dual wins (7), Big Ten win percentage (.875, 7-1) and dual team points scored in B1G matches (29).
Sixth-year senior Andrew Sparks earned the Most Improved Award for the second straight season, while also picking up his first All-American Award for his fifth-place finish at 165 pounds. The All-America honors were the first of his career and the first at the weight for a Gopher since 2014, while his finish was the best by a Gopher at 165 pounds since 2004. He ended the year with a 26-8 record, including 11-3 in duals and 5-2 in Big Ten action. Sparks tied for the team lead in total matches wrestled on the season (34) and overall wins (26). The only Gopher to compete at five NCAA Championships, Sparks finished tied for 51st in program history with 94 career wins. He was also an NWCA Scholar All-American and Academic All-Big Ten honoree.
Also taking home the All-American Award was senior Jore Volk, who placed seventh at 125 pounds. The seventh-place result equaled the best of Volk's career, also claiming seventh in 2024 while at Wyoming. He finished this season with a 26-7 record, including a 12-4 dual record, 6-2 mark in the Big Ten and a spot in the finals at the Big Ten Championships. An NWCA Scholar All-American, Volk tied for the team lead in overall wins (26), dual matches wrestled (16) and Big Ten dual matches wrestled (8), was second on the roster in overall win percentage (.788, 26-7), dual wins (12), ranked wins (13) and win percentage against ranked opponents (.722, 13-5), and tied for second in matches against ranked opponents (18) and shutout wins (5).
Redshirt sophomore Rhett Koenig was touted as the Most Dedicated. Moving up to 149 pounds after two seasons at 141, he went 19-11 on the year and made his dual debut. Koenig ranked third on the team in wins by fall (4) and tied for fifth on the roster in shutout wins (2). An NWCA Scholar All-American and Academic All-Big Ten honoree, Koenig won titles at the Bison Open and Jackrabbits Open while also placing fourth at the Kent State Open, sixth at the Southeast Open and seventh at the Cyclone Open.
In his last season with the Gophers, redshirt senior Jager Eisch was recognized as the Teammate of the Year. Eisch spent most of the season at 149 pounds before dropping to 141 in an exhibition match victory in the regular season finale and then down to 133 as he made his first career appearance at the Big Ten Championships. Overall, Eisch was 12-11 on the year to match his career-high in wins. During the year, he won the Kent State Open and Bison Open. Eisch ranked fourth on the roster with four shutout victories and tied for fifth in wins by pin (2).
Redshirt sophomore Ethan Riddle posted a GPA of 4.0 to garner the Upperclassmen Academic Award for the second year in a row. A first-year starter at 174 pounds, Riddle went 16-11 on the season with an 8-7 dual mark and 4-4 record in conference matchups. In addition to being one of eight Gophers to start all eight Big Ten duals this season, Riddle tied for second on the roster in matches against ranked opponents (18) and tied for fourth in dual matches wrestled (15). He was also an NWCA Scholar All-American and Academic All-Big Ten honoree.
True freshman Brett Swenson was honored with the Fraser Dean "Most Courageous" Award. A two-time high school state champion from Arden Hills, Minn., Swenson missed the entire 2025-26 season due to injury.
The Most Falls Award went to redshirt senior Bennett Tabor for the second straight season. Seven of his 13 wins came via pin this year.
With a 4.0 GPA, Joey Muhlstein took home the Freshman Academic Award. Muhlstein spent much of the season training with the Gopher Wrestling Club before being added to the roster late in the year.
In addition, Hopke, Koenig, Millard, Riddle, Volk, Chris Cannon, Dawson Johnson and Gavin Nelson all received recognition as first-year letterwinners.
A full list of all the honorees can be found below.
The national champion at 184 pounds, Max McEnelly was named winner of the J Robinson Outstanding Wrestler Award. McEnelly was also one of three to be recognized with the All-American Award.
McEnelly finished the season with a 24-2 record, including a 15-1 record in duals, a perfect 8-0 mark during the Big Ten regular season and a 15-2 record versus ranked competition. Twelve of his 24 victories were by tech fall and two more came by major decision. He became the 19th different Gopher to win a national title, and it was the 25th individual championship overall in program history. McEnelly was the first Gopher to win a national title at 184 pounds, and he captured the first title overall for the program since Gable Steveson went back-to-back at heavyweight in 2021-22.
Koy Hopke and Charlie Millard, who both competed in their first NCAA Championships, were recognized as the team's co-Freshmen of the Year.
Hopke, who finished seventh at the Big Ten Championships, went 23-11 on the year with an 8-5 dual record and 4-4 mark in the Big Ten. A two-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week, he led the Gophers in matches versus ranked opponents (21) and shutout victories (8), and tied for the team lead in overall matches wrestled (34) and Big Ten dual matches wrestled (8). Among his notable wins were top-10 victories over eventual All-American Christian Carroll of Wyoming at the Soldier Salute, as well as Wyatt Voelker of Northern Iowa at the National Duals. Off the mat, Hopke was an NWCA Scholar All-American and Academic All-Big Ten honoree.
Millard, an eighth-place finisher at Big Tens, started every dual at 157 pounds and posted a 20-11 record overall with a 10-6 mark in duals and 5-3 Big Ten record. On the team, he was second in dual team points scored (45) and third in dual team points scored in B1G matches (26). Millard had a pair of top-10 wins on the season, knocking off then-No. 9 Gavin Drexler of North Dakota State in a dual matchup, as well as a decision over then-No. 8 Vinny Zerban of Iowa State in the opening round of NCAAs. Like Hopke, Millard was also an NWCA Scholar All-American and Academic All-Big Ten honoree.
Redshirt senior Vance VomBaur was presented with the Verne Gagne "Leadership Award" for the second year in a row. VomBaur was 23-8 on the season with an 11-4 record in duals and 7-1 mark in the Big Ten. After a fourth-place finish at Big Tens, VomBaur qualified for his third straight NCAA Championships. He led Minnesota and tied for third nationally in wins by major decision (9). An Academic All-Big Ten honoree, VomBaur also tied for the team lead in bonus point wins (15) and was second on the roster in Big Ten dual wins (7), Big Ten win percentage (.875, 7-1) and dual team points scored in B1G matches (29).
Sixth-year senior Andrew Sparks earned the Most Improved Award for the second straight season, while also picking up his first All-American Award for his fifth-place finish at 165 pounds. The All-America honors were the first of his career and the first at the weight for a Gopher since 2014, while his finish was the best by a Gopher at 165 pounds since 2004. He ended the year with a 26-8 record, including 11-3 in duals and 5-2 in Big Ten action. Sparks tied for the team lead in total matches wrestled on the season (34) and overall wins (26). The only Gopher to compete at five NCAA Championships, Sparks finished tied for 51st in program history with 94 career wins. He was also an NWCA Scholar All-American and Academic All-Big Ten honoree.
Also taking home the All-American Award was senior Jore Volk, who placed seventh at 125 pounds. The seventh-place result equaled the best of Volk's career, also claiming seventh in 2024 while at Wyoming. He finished this season with a 26-7 record, including a 12-4 dual record, 6-2 mark in the Big Ten and a spot in the finals at the Big Ten Championships. An NWCA Scholar All-American, Volk tied for the team lead in overall wins (26), dual matches wrestled (16) and Big Ten dual matches wrestled (8), was second on the roster in overall win percentage (.788, 26-7), dual wins (12), ranked wins (13) and win percentage against ranked opponents (.722, 13-5), and tied for second in matches against ranked opponents (18) and shutout wins (5).
Redshirt sophomore Rhett Koenig was touted as the Most Dedicated. Moving up to 149 pounds after two seasons at 141, he went 19-11 on the year and made his dual debut. Koenig ranked third on the team in wins by fall (4) and tied for fifth on the roster in shutout wins (2). An NWCA Scholar All-American and Academic All-Big Ten honoree, Koenig won titles at the Bison Open and Jackrabbits Open while also placing fourth at the Kent State Open, sixth at the Southeast Open and seventh at the Cyclone Open.
In his last season with the Gophers, redshirt senior Jager Eisch was recognized as the Teammate of the Year. Eisch spent most of the season at 149 pounds before dropping to 141 in an exhibition match victory in the regular season finale and then down to 133 as he made his first career appearance at the Big Ten Championships. Overall, Eisch was 12-11 on the year to match his career-high in wins. During the year, he won the Kent State Open and Bison Open. Eisch ranked fourth on the roster with four shutout victories and tied for fifth in wins by pin (2).
Redshirt sophomore Ethan Riddle posted a GPA of 4.0 to garner the Upperclassmen Academic Award for the second year in a row. A first-year starter at 174 pounds, Riddle went 16-11 on the season with an 8-7 dual mark and 4-4 record in conference matchups. In addition to being one of eight Gophers to start all eight Big Ten duals this season, Riddle tied for second on the roster in matches against ranked opponents (18) and tied for fourth in dual matches wrestled (15). He was also an NWCA Scholar All-American and Academic All-Big Ten honoree.
True freshman Brett Swenson was honored with the Fraser Dean "Most Courageous" Award. A two-time high school state champion from Arden Hills, Minn., Swenson missed the entire 2025-26 season due to injury.
The Most Falls Award went to redshirt senior Bennett Tabor for the second straight season. Seven of his 13 wins came via pin this year.
With a 4.0 GPA, Joey Muhlstein took home the Freshman Academic Award. Muhlstein spent much of the season training with the Gopher Wrestling Club before being added to the roster late in the year.
In addition, Hopke, Koenig, Millard, Riddle, Volk, Chris Cannon, Dawson Johnson and Gavin Nelson all received recognition as first-year letterwinners.
A full list of all the honorees can be found below.
J Robinson Outstanding Wrestler
Max McEnelly
Freshman of the Year
Koy Hopke and Charlie Millard
All-American Award
Max McEnelly, Andrew Sparks and Jore Volk
Verne Gagne Leadership Award
Vance VomBaur
Most Improved
Andrew Sparks
Most Dedicated
Rhett Koenig
Fraser Dean Most Courageous
Brett Swenson
Most Falls
Bennett Tabor
Teammate of the Year
Jager Eisch
Upperclassmen Academic Award
Ethan Riddle
Freshman Academic Award
Joey Muhlstein
First-Year Letterwinners
Chris Cannon, Koy Hopke, Dawson Johnson, Rhett Koenig, Charlie Millard, Gavin Nelson, Ethan Riddle and Jore Volk
Max McEnelly
Freshman of the Year
Koy Hopke and Charlie Millard
All-American Award
Max McEnelly, Andrew Sparks and Jore Volk
Verne Gagne Leadership Award
Vance VomBaur
Most Improved
Andrew Sparks
Most Dedicated
Rhett Koenig
Fraser Dean Most Courageous
Brett Swenson
Most Falls
Bennett Tabor
Teammate of the Year
Jager Eisch
Upperclassmen Academic Award
Ethan Riddle
Freshman Academic Award
Joey Muhlstein
First-Year Letterwinners
Chris Cannon, Koy Hopke, Dawson Johnson, Rhett Koenig, Charlie Millard, Gavin Nelson, Ethan Riddle and Jore Volk
Jore Volk Reflects on Minnesota Return
Tuesday, April 07
2026 Senior Salute
Thursday, April 02
Cinematic Recap: Max McEnelly Wins Title
Monday, March 23
Press Conference: Max McEnelly
Monday, March 23