UW Has Trio Of Arthur Ashe Scholar Sport Winners
June 02, 2026 | Cross Country, Football, Men's Basketball, Men's Golf, Men's Rowing, Men's Soccer, Men's Tennis, Softball, Women's Basketball, Beach Volleyball, Women's Golf, Gymnastics, Women's Rowing, Women's Soccer, Women's Tennis, Volleyball, Track & Field, Student-Athlete Academic Services
SEATTLE – The University of Washington is excited to celebrate the work of 44 student-athletes, all who have been named 2026 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars, announced by The EDU Ledger. Most impressive of all, Washington has three student-athletes that have been named their respective national sport winners. The Arthur Ashe Sports Scholar awards are one of the most prestigious honors in college athletics, and this is the first time UW has had three different national sport winners.
Inspired by tennis legend Arthur Ashe, Jr.'s commitment to education, the awards honor students who demonstrate a commitment to community service and student leadership in addition to their athletic ability. The Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars have maintained at least a 3.5 cumulative grade point average, are at least sophomores academically, and have been active on their campuses or in their communities.
Thirty-three sports are represented in the awards. Out of those sports, UW has the overall winner in Men's Rowing, Women's Gymnastics, and Women's Tennis. In addition, forty-four Husky student-athletes have been named to the Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar Teams.
Sam Ford is the winner for Men's Rowing. Ford, a native of Bath, England, transferred to UW after his freshman year and is a three-time IRA National Champion in the Varsity 8+ having just helped row the Huskies to a three-peat on May 31. He will earn his degree in Real Estate and boasts a 3.71 cumulative grade point average. Ford is the 2026 MPSF Athlete of the Year. He has earned IRCA Scholar-Athlete honors in 2024 and 2025 and was an IRCA First Team All-American in 2025.
Mary McDonough has been named the Gymnastics winner. McDonough has become one of UW's key veteran athletes during the program's transition into the Big Ten era. The Biology major from Franklin, Tennessee owns a 3.83 GPA and was named a Big Ten Gymnast to Watch this season. McDonough competed at the 2025 NCAA Championships as an individual all-around qualifier for Washington. She owns career-highs of 9.875 on vault, 9.900 on bars, 9.850 on beam, and 9.925 on floor.
The Women's Tennis winner is senior Erika Matsuda. Originally from Yokohoma, Japan, Matsuda spent most of the 2025-26 season at the No. 1 singles spot where she posted an 8-4 record and was 15-8 in doubles. Matsuda became the 11th Husky to participate in both the NCAA Singles and Doubles Championships in the same season on her way to second team All-Big Ten honors. She finished the season ranked No. 87 nationally in singles and No. 84 in doubles. Matsuda maintains a 3.90 GPA and will graduate this month with her degree in Food Systems, Nutrition, and Health. She has also been named to the CSC Academic All-Region Team and is a candidate for Academic All-America.
University of Washington Arthur Ashe Award Recipients
Franck Kepnang, Men's Basketball, 3.68 GPA, First Team
Hannah Stines, Women's Basketball, 3.61 GPA, Second Team
Sarah Wilcock, Women's Beach Volleyball, 3.68 GPA, Second Team
Jonah Coleman, Football, 3.93 GPA, First Team
Jacob Manu, Football, 3.77 GPA, First Team
Ephesians Prysock, Football, 3.91 GPA, First Team
Demond Williams Jr., Football, 3.52 GPA, Third Team
Carmen Lim, Women's Golf, 3.58 GPA, First Team
Chelsea Hallinan, Women's Gymnastics, 3.84 GPA, First Team
Kristin Lin, Women's Gymnastics, 3.75 GPA, First Team
Mary McDonough, Women's Gymnastics, 3.81 GPA, First Team
Caitlin McWilliams, Women's Gymnastics, 3.91 GPA, First Team
Deiah Moody, Women's Gymnastics, 3.72 GPA, First Team
Olivia Oppegard, Women's Gymnastics, 3.59 GPA, Second Team
Sam Ford, Men's Rowing, 3.70 GPA, First Team
Nikita Jacobs, Men's Rowing, 3.64 GPA, First Team
Ryan Smith, Men's Rowing, 3.68 GPA, First Team
Niamh Comerford, Women's Rowing, 3.75 GPA, First Team
Cillian Mullen, Women's Rowing, 3.79 GPA, First Team
Richie Aman, Men's Soccer, 3.91 GPA, First Team
Jadon Bowton, Men's Soccer, 3.65 GPA, First Team
Charlie Kosakoff, Men's Soccer, 3.76 GPA, First Team
Connor Lofy, Men's Soccer, 3.97 GPA, First Team
Zach Ramsey, Men's Soccer, 3.67 GPA, First Team
Jadyn Holdenried, Women's Soccer, 3.68 GPA, Third Team
Tanner Ijams, Women's Soccer, 3.72 GPA, Fourth Team
Anna Menti, Women's Soccer, 3.61 GPA, Fourth Team
Lucy Newlin, Women's Soccer, 3.98 GPA, First Team
Samiah Shell, Women's Soccer, 3.57 GPA, Third Team
Kolo Suliafu, Women's Soccer, 3.51 GPA, Fourth Team
Alexis DeBoer, Softball, 3.96 GPA, Second Team
Sophi Mazzola, Softball, 3.88 GPA, Second Team
Morgan Reimer, Softball, 3.94 GPA, First Team
Rohan Belday, Men's Tennis, 3.74 GPA, First Team
Reece Carter, Women's Tennis, 3.71 GPA, First Team
Erika Matsuda, Women's Tennis, 3.90 GPA, First Team
Amanda Moll, Women's Track & Field, 3.87, First Team
Hana Moll, Women's Track & Field, 3.86 GPA, First Team
Rhonda Newton, Women's Track & Field, 3.88 GPA, First Team
Saydi Orange, Women's Track & Field, 3.77 GPA, Third Team
Maeve Stiles, Women's Track & Field, 3.82 GPA, Second Team
Anna Terrell, Women's Track & Field, 3.68 GPA, Second Team
Zoria Heard, Women's Volleyball, 3.56 GPA, Third Team
Julia Hunt, Women's Volleyball, 3.69 GPA, Second Team
Overall Sport Winners
Mary McDonough, Women's Gymnastics
Erika Matsuda, Women's Tennis
Sam Ford, Men's Rowing
Inspired by tennis legend Arthur Ashe, Jr.'s commitment to education, the awards honor students who demonstrate a commitment to community service and student leadership in addition to their athletic ability. The Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars have maintained at least a 3.5 cumulative grade point average, are at least sophomores academically, and have been active on their campuses or in their communities.
Thirty-three sports are represented in the awards. Out of those sports, UW has the overall winner in Men's Rowing, Women's Gymnastics, and Women's Tennis. In addition, forty-four Husky student-athletes have been named to the Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar Teams.
Sam Ford is the winner for Men's Rowing. Ford, a native of Bath, England, transferred to UW after his freshman year and is a three-time IRA National Champion in the Varsity 8+ having just helped row the Huskies to a three-peat on May 31. He will earn his degree in Real Estate and boasts a 3.71 cumulative grade point average. Ford is the 2026 MPSF Athlete of the Year. He has earned IRCA Scholar-Athlete honors in 2024 and 2025 and was an IRCA First Team All-American in 2025.
Sport Winner | @UW_Rowing's Sam Ford is our 2026 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar Awards winner for mens crew/rowing. https://t.co/9OgmrFHndX pic.twitter.com/LXcXQgRFFr
— The EDU Ledger (@TheEDULedger) May 18, 2026
Mary McDonough has been named the Gymnastics winner. McDonough has become one of UW's key veteran athletes during the program's transition into the Big Ten era. The Biology major from Franklin, Tennessee owns a 3.83 GPA and was named a Big Ten Gymnast to Watch this season. McDonough competed at the 2025 NCAA Championships as an individual all-around qualifier for Washington. She owns career-highs of 9.875 on vault, 9.900 on bars, 9.850 on beam, and 9.925 on floor.
Sport Winner | @UWGymnastics's Mary McDonough is our 2026 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar Awards winner for women's gymnastics. https://t.co/9OgmrFHndX pic.twitter.com/ZupFXVWeoO
— The EDU Ledger (@TheEDULedger) May 27, 2026
The Women's Tennis winner is senior Erika Matsuda. Originally from Yokohoma, Japan, Matsuda spent most of the 2025-26 season at the No. 1 singles spot where she posted an 8-4 record and was 15-8 in doubles. Matsuda became the 11th Husky to participate in both the NCAA Singles and Doubles Championships in the same season on her way to second team All-Big Ten honors. She finished the season ranked No. 87 nationally in singles and No. 84 in doubles. Matsuda maintains a 3.90 GPA and will graduate this month with her degree in Food Systems, Nutrition, and Health. She has also been named to the CSC Academic All-Region Team and is a candidate for Academic All-America.
University of Washington Arthur Ashe Award Recipients
Franck Kepnang, Men's Basketball, 3.68 GPA, First Team
Hannah Stines, Women's Basketball, 3.61 GPA, Second Team
Sarah Wilcock, Women's Beach Volleyball, 3.68 GPA, Second Team
Jonah Coleman, Football, 3.93 GPA, First Team
Jacob Manu, Football, 3.77 GPA, First Team
Ephesians Prysock, Football, 3.91 GPA, First Team
Demond Williams Jr., Football, 3.52 GPA, Third Team
Carmen Lim, Women's Golf, 3.58 GPA, First Team
Chelsea Hallinan, Women's Gymnastics, 3.84 GPA, First Team
Kristin Lin, Women's Gymnastics, 3.75 GPA, First Team
Mary McDonough, Women's Gymnastics, 3.81 GPA, First Team
Caitlin McWilliams, Women's Gymnastics, 3.91 GPA, First Team
Deiah Moody, Women's Gymnastics, 3.72 GPA, First Team
Olivia Oppegard, Women's Gymnastics, 3.59 GPA, Second Team
Sam Ford, Men's Rowing, 3.70 GPA, First Team
Nikita Jacobs, Men's Rowing, 3.64 GPA, First Team
Ryan Smith, Men's Rowing, 3.68 GPA, First Team
Niamh Comerford, Women's Rowing, 3.75 GPA, First Team
Cillian Mullen, Women's Rowing, 3.79 GPA, First Team
Richie Aman, Men's Soccer, 3.91 GPA, First Team
Jadon Bowton, Men's Soccer, 3.65 GPA, First Team
Charlie Kosakoff, Men's Soccer, 3.76 GPA, First Team
Connor Lofy, Men's Soccer, 3.97 GPA, First Team
Zach Ramsey, Men's Soccer, 3.67 GPA, First Team
Jadyn Holdenried, Women's Soccer, 3.68 GPA, Third Team
Tanner Ijams, Women's Soccer, 3.72 GPA, Fourth Team
Anna Menti, Women's Soccer, 3.61 GPA, Fourth Team
Lucy Newlin, Women's Soccer, 3.98 GPA, First Team
Samiah Shell, Women's Soccer, 3.57 GPA, Third Team
Kolo Suliafu, Women's Soccer, 3.51 GPA, Fourth Team
Alexis DeBoer, Softball, 3.96 GPA, Second Team
Sophi Mazzola, Softball, 3.88 GPA, Second Team
Morgan Reimer, Softball, 3.94 GPA, First Team
Rohan Belday, Men's Tennis, 3.74 GPA, First Team
Reece Carter, Women's Tennis, 3.71 GPA, First Team
Erika Matsuda, Women's Tennis, 3.90 GPA, First Team
Amanda Moll, Women's Track & Field, 3.87, First Team
Hana Moll, Women's Track & Field, 3.86 GPA, First Team
Rhonda Newton, Women's Track & Field, 3.88 GPA, First Team
Saydi Orange, Women's Track & Field, 3.77 GPA, Third Team
Maeve Stiles, Women's Track & Field, 3.82 GPA, Second Team
Anna Terrell, Women's Track & Field, 3.68 GPA, Second Team
Zoria Heard, Women's Volleyball, 3.56 GPA, Third Team
Julia Hunt, Women's Volleyball, 3.69 GPA, Second Team
Overall Sport Winners
Mary McDonough, Women's Gymnastics
Erika Matsuda, Women's Tennis
Sam Ford, Men's Rowing
Players Mentioned
M
/ Men's Soccer
/ Men's Tennis
GK
/ Men's Soccer
/ Women's Tennis
RB
/ Football
/ Women's Rowing
INF
/ Softball
/ Men's Rowing
/ Gymnastics
L
/ Beach Volleyball
MF
/ Women's Soccer
MB
/ Volleyball
GK
/ Women's Soccer
COX
/ Men's Rowing
C
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Soccer
/ Women's Golf
/ Gymnastics
M
/ Men's Soccer
LB
/ Football
/ Women's Tennis
OF
/ Softball
/ Gymnastics
/ Gymnastics
MF/D
/ Women's Soccer
PV
/ Track & Field
PV
/ Track & Field
/ Gymnastics
/ Women's Rowing
MF
/ Women's Soccer
Spr
/ Track & Field
/ Gymnastics
Thr
/ Track & Field
CB
/ Football
M
/ Men's Soccer
P
/ Softball
MF
/ Women's Soccer
/ Men's Rowing
Dist
/ Track & Field
G
/ Women's Basketball
D
/ Women's Soccer
Spr
/ Track & Field
/ Beach Volleyball
QB
/ FootballWomen's rowing has won the NCAA first eights petite final!
Tuesday, June 02
Women's rowing has won the NCAA second eights petite final, placing the Huskies 7th overall.
Tuesday, June 02
Washington women's rowing has won the bronze medal in the fours at NCAA Championships!
Tuesday, June 02
Washington Women's Varsity 4+ Wins Bronze | 2026 NCAA Championship Highlights
Monday, June 01
