Photo by: Rob Moseley/GoDucks.com
O Show Nominees: Freshman of the Year
05/26/26 | General
The UO athletic department will hold its annual awards banquet on Tuesday, June 2.
On Tuesday, June 2, the UO athletic department will stage the annual O Show, a traditional end-of-year celebration of the accomplishments of Oregon student-athletes both in athletics and academics.
Nominations for the various awards to be handed out Tuesday were made through the coaching staffs and academic advisors of all teams, with the award winners selected through a vote of student-athletes and department staff. There are also awards for coaches, faculty and support staff who go above and beyond to provide an exceptional student-athlete experience.
Due to the timing of the show, accomplishments from the beginning of May 2025 through the end of April 2026 are considered for the honors.
In the days leading up to the show, we'll preview some of the awards to be handed out Tuesday.
Today's category: Freshman of the Year.
And the nominees are …
DIANA CHEROTICH, Cross Country/Track & Field
Named the 2025 Big Ten Women's Cross Country Freshman of the Year after winning the Big Ten individual title and finishing second at the NCAA West Regional. Helped Oregon to a third-place team finish at the NCAA Cross Country Championships — the program's first top-three national finish since 2018. Set the Oregon school record in the 10,000 meters in her collegiate debut at 31:45.22 and broke the Big Ten Outdoor Championships meet record in the 10K by more than 41 seconds.
ALANAH CLEMENTE, Volleyball
Named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year after a standout debut season at opposite hitter for the Ducks. Earned multiple Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors during conference play and emerged as one of the top first-year frontcourt players in the country.
BRANDON FINNEY JR., Football
Named the Defensive MVP of the 2025 Orange Bowl after intercepting two passes and recovering a fumble in Oregon's 23-0 College Football Playoff quarterfinal win over Texas Tech. Started all 15 games as a true freshman and finished with 42 tackles, three interceptions and seven pass breakups while posting the lowest passer rating allowed in coverage of any FBS freshman per Pro Football Focus at 42.3.
LIISA-MARIA LUSTI, Track & Field
Named the 2026 Big Ten Indoor Freshman of the Year and won the NCAA Indoor pentathlon title with a school-record 4,498 points. Became just the second Duck ever to win the NCAA pentathlon crown, and the first since Brianne Theisen-Eaton in 2012. The Tallinn, Estonia, native moved into a tie for No. 15 in the all-time collegiate performers list and recorded a personal-best 6.63m/21-9 in the long jump, which ranks No. 3 in UO indoor history and No. 3 all-time in collegiate pentathlons.
BEN SMITH, Track & Field
Named the 2026 Big Ten Indoor Freshman of the Year after climbing to No. 2 in the NCAA in the shot put. Finished fourth at the NCAA Indoor Championships with a personal-best 20.37m/66-10 — the first 20-meter throw of his collegiate career and an indoor school record. Combined with teammate Kobe Lawrence to score 13 points for the UO men in Fayetteville.
Nominations for the various awards to be handed out Tuesday were made through the coaching staffs and academic advisors of all teams, with the award winners selected through a vote of student-athletes and department staff. There are also awards for coaches, faculty and support staff who go above and beyond to provide an exceptional student-athlete experience.
Due to the timing of the show, accomplishments from the beginning of May 2025 through the end of April 2026 are considered for the honors.
In the days leading up to the show, we'll preview some of the awards to be handed out Tuesday.
Today's category: Freshman of the Year.
And the nominees are …
DIANA CHEROTICH, Cross Country/Track & Field
Named the 2025 Big Ten Women's Cross Country Freshman of the Year after winning the Big Ten individual title and finishing second at the NCAA West Regional. Helped Oregon to a third-place team finish at the NCAA Cross Country Championships — the program's first top-three national finish since 2018. Set the Oregon school record in the 10,000 meters in her collegiate debut at 31:45.22 and broke the Big Ten Outdoor Championships meet record in the 10K by more than 41 seconds.
ALANAH CLEMENTE, Volleyball
Named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year after a standout debut season at opposite hitter for the Ducks. Earned multiple Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors during conference play and emerged as one of the top first-year frontcourt players in the country.
BRANDON FINNEY JR., Football
Named the Defensive MVP of the 2025 Orange Bowl after intercepting two passes and recovering a fumble in Oregon's 23-0 College Football Playoff quarterfinal win over Texas Tech. Started all 15 games as a true freshman and finished with 42 tackles, three interceptions and seven pass breakups while posting the lowest passer rating allowed in coverage of any FBS freshman per Pro Football Focus at 42.3.
LIISA-MARIA LUSTI, Track & Field
Named the 2026 Big Ten Indoor Freshman of the Year and won the NCAA Indoor pentathlon title with a school-record 4,498 points. Became just the second Duck ever to win the NCAA pentathlon crown, and the first since Brianne Theisen-Eaton in 2012. The Tallinn, Estonia, native moved into a tie for No. 15 in the all-time collegiate performers list and recorded a personal-best 6.63m/21-9 in the long jump, which ranks No. 3 in UO indoor history and No. 3 all-time in collegiate pentathlons.
BEN SMITH, Track & Field
Named the 2026 Big Ten Indoor Freshman of the Year after climbing to No. 2 in the NCAA in the shot put. Finished fourth at the NCAA Indoor Championships with a personal-best 20.37m/66-10 — the first 20-meter throw of his collegiate career and an indoor school record. Combined with teammate Kobe Lawrence to score 13 points for the UO men in Fayetteville.
Duck Insider 5-26-26
Tuesday, May 26
Drew Smith | 2026 NCAA Baseball Selection Show
Monday, May 25
Mark Wasikowski | 2026 NCAA Baseball Selection Show
Monday, May 25
Will Sanford | 2026 NCAA Baseball Selection Show
Monday, May 25
