Horizon League Announces 2026 Indoor #HLTF Sportsmanship Award Winners
Matt St. Charles
INDIANAPOLIS (March 20, 2026) – The Horizon League revealed our 2026 Indoor #HLTF Sportsmanship Award winners on Friday, voted on by the League’s head coaches.
Detroit Mercy’s Joshua Neary was named the Men’s Sportsmanship Award recipient while Meredith Goff of Northern Kentucky and Bella Hodges of Purdue Fort Wayne were selected as the Women’s Sportsmanship Award winners.
Dig Deeper:
- “Josh is the absolute definition of this award,” proclaims Detroit Mercy head coach Guy Murray, “He is a great guy who is always talking and congratulating, not only his teammates but also his opponents.”
- Neary is also a member of SAAC.
- “Team captain Goff is our program’s cheerleader for every event,” exclaims Northern Kentucky head coach Steve Kruse, “Hardly ever at team camp she is either warming up for one of her many events for the Norse or feverishly cheering another event group to go faster, jump higher or throw further. Meredith, a senior, will be not only difficult to replace as an athlete but also as the spark plug that keeps the Norse engine running at capacity.”
- Goff maintains her positivity and leadership after battling through injuries in her career.
- “Bella represents everything we hop college athletics will develop in a student-athlete,” remarks Purdue Fort Wayne head coach Aaron Combs. “Before every race this season, Bella made a point to wish the women on the starting line good luck. After races, she is consistently among the first to congratulate competitors, regardless of her own result.”
- Hodges has also faced adversity through injuries, without allowing those setbacks affect her attitude.
- The Sportsmanship Award recognizes student-athletes who have distinguished themselves through demonstrated acts of sportsmanship and ethical behavior. Sportsmanship is defined as behavior exhibited during competition by student-athletes based on values, respect and integrity.
2026 Horizon League Indoor Track and Field Sportsmanship Award Winners
Men’s Sportsmanship Award: Joshua Neary, Detroit Mercy
Women’s Sportsmanship Awards: Meredith Goff, Northern Kentucky and Bella Hodges, Purdue Fort Wayne
Men’s Sportsmanship Award Finalists
Joshua Neary, Detroit Mercy*
Luke Shappell, IU Indianapolis
Josh Cygan, Milwaukee
Colton O’Hara, Northern Kentucky
Anthony Hancock, Oakland
Hunter Thompson, Wright State
Women’s Sportsmanship Award Finalists
Gabriela Gashaj, Detroit Mercy
Sarah Madi-Bouabre, IU Indianapolis
Olivia VanZeeland, Milwaukee
Meredith Goff, Northern Kentucky*
Genna Golab, Oakland
Bella Hodges, Purdue Fort Wayne*
Lylla Kovacs, Wright State