Contact: Brock Reisler, Assistant Executive Director, breisler@midwestconference.org
 
OSHKOSH, Wisconsin – Ripon College senior and Red Hawks men's soccer member Connor Handrick has been named the 2025-26 Roy W. LeClere Award winner, as announced by the Midwest Conference (MWC) this Wednesday, Nov 19.
 
Presented annually to the male MWC student-athlete posting the highest grade point average during their junior year, the Roy W. LeClere Award is paired with the Ruth Peterson Award, presented to the female MWC student-athlete with the same criteria. Handrick’s achievement marks the fourth LeClere Award honor for Ripon College since the award’s inception in 1983, and third in the last five years, following Matt Seeber (2024-25) of cross country and track and field and Cormac Madigan (2021-22) of football and baseball. Jason Smith, a cross country and track and field athlete, was Ripon’s first recipient in 2010-11.
 
Double majoring in Exercise Science - Sports Management and Finance, Handrick carries a 4.0 GPA while acting as treasurer to both the PEK Honors Fraternity for Exercise Science & Pre-Health Majors and the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). Handrick also holds membership in both the Laurel Society Honors Fraternity and the Chi Alpha Sigma National College Athlete Honors Society.
 
A three year member of Red Hawks men’s soccer as a defender, Handrick scored two goals for Ripon while helping the program post a 29-17-10 record during his career, including 17 shutouts. After helping the team to its first MWC Tournament berth since 2022, Handrick was also named the 2025-26 Midwest Conference Elite 20 Award winner for men’s soccer, an award given to the postseason participant with the highest GPA in their sport.
 
Handrick is a two-time MWC Academic All-Conference recipient and a one time CSC Academic All-District honoree.
 
Roy W. LeClere was a devoted collegiate sports enthusiast whose passion for the MWC inspired friends and colleagues to establish the award in his memory.