Wiles, Anaya Voted Illinois Freshman of the Year – University of Illinois Athletics – Fighting Illini
Illinois Freshman of the Year History
Champaign, ILL. – The University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics (DIA) announced Monday its 2021-22 Freshmen of the Year. Lauren Wiles (softball) and Ashton Anaya (gymnastics) have been named winners of the annual award, presented to the top female and male freshman competing for the Fighting Illini. The recipients were selected by vote of Illinois head coaches and DIA executive staff.
Lauren Wiles made an immediate impact at pitcher for an Illini softball squad that finished third in the Big Ten and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. She earned a spot on the Big Ten All-Freshman Team after appearing in 28 games with 16 starts and leading all conference freshmen in ERA (2.72) and batting average against (.236). She recorded 105.2 innings with 92 strikeouts and won eight games on the season, tossing six complete games.
Wiles is the third softball player to be voted Illinois Female Freshman of the Year since the award began in 1990, joining Rachelle Coriddi (2003) and Pepper Gay (2010).
Ashton Anaya was crowned a Big Ten champion in his first collegiate season, winning the still rings title with a career-high score of 14.375 during the Big Ten Championship event finals. He followed that performance by being named an NCAA Still-Rings All-American after finishing in fourth place at the 2022 NCAA Championships. A first-team All-Big Ten selection, Anaya also won a rings title in a dual meet at Nebraska.
Anaya is the fifth gymnast to be selected Illinois Male Freshman of the Year – all within the last 11 seasons – joining C.J. Maestas (2012), Fred Hartville (2013), Chandler Eggleston (2014) and Alex Diab (2016).