Wisconsin seniors selected for prestigious award for athletics and scholastic excellence
MADISON, Wis. — Two of the University of Wisconsin’s exemplary student-athletes have received the Big Ten Conference’s highest distinction.
Volleyball setter Sydney Hilley and men’s hockey forward Linus Weissbach were named as Wisconsin’s recipients of the Big Ten Medal of Honor. The awards were presented as part of the 2021 Buckinghams, UW Athletics’ annual awards show and student-athlete showcase. This year’s Buckinghams were presented online live via YouTube and social media.
The conference’s most prestigious award, the Big Ten Medal of Honor was first awarded in 1915 to one student-athlete from the graduating class of each university who had “attained the greatest proficiency in athletics and scholastic work.”
The conference’s exclusive award was the first of its kind in intercollegiate athletics to recognize academic and athletic excellence. Only one male and one female student-athlete now receive this award per Big Ten institution.
Hilley is a four-time All-American, including two first-team honors. The 6-foot setter aided the Badgers to two Big Ten Conference championships and four NCAA Sweet 16-or better tournament appearances, including a runner-up finish in 2019 and a final four appearance in 2020-21. A two-time Big Ten Setter of the year, Hilley ranks fourth on the UW all-time record list with 4,680 assists and fifth in assists per set with 11.76. She also ranks third in consecutive matches started (108), fourth in consecutive sets played (378) and fifth in career double-doubles (38).
The Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, native was also a four-time All-Big Ten selection, including three first-team honors. A 2019 College Sports Information Directors of American (CoSIDA) first-team Academic All-American, Hilley is also a three-time Academic All-Big Ten pick. Hilley served as a three-time team captain and was also an 11-time Big Ten Setter of the Week and two-time Big Ten Player of the Week. Hilley graduated in December of 2020 with degrees in genetics and genomics. She is currently a graduate student in applied biotechnology.
Weissbach, a 2021 Second-Team All-American, helped the Badgers to the 2021 Big Ten regular-season championship and UW’s first NCAA tournament appearance in seven seasons. Hockey Commissioners’ Association National Player of the Month in November, he ended up third in the nation in scoring with 41 points in 31 games, including second-best in the nation with 29 assists. Second in the Big Ten in scoring, he added second-team All-Big Ten to his resume that began with 2018 Big Ten All-Rookie Team honors.
The three-time Academic All-Big Ten skater finished his Badger career 51st in school history with 114 points and as the second to eclipse 100 career points since 2014. The Gothenberg, Sweden, native also became the sixth UW men’s hockey player and the first since 1998 to win the award. Posting at least 22 points in each of his four seasons, Weissbach graduated this May with a degree in communication arts and Scandinavian studies. Following the hockey season, he signed an NHL contract with the Buffalo Sabres, but postponed his career until the fall so he could complete his degree in person.
