Findlay, Ohio- The University of Findlay athletic department announced the winners of the 2026 Mancuso Awards, given annually during the University of Findlay Symposium for Scholarship and Creativity. The two winners of the Mancuso Award are men's track and field athlete Alex Mutchler and volleyball athlete Emma White. 

The Mancuso Award is named after, and sponsored by, Iggy Mancuso, a 1945 graduate and highly successful wrestling coach from 1948 to 1958. The award is intended to bring distinction and honor to the careers of the top female and male athlete each year while encompassing factors such as academic achievement, contribution to the university and community, sportsmanship, integrity and humility, and athletic ability.

"Alex Mutchler and Emma White represent everything we strive for at the University of Findlay- elite performance, consistency at the highest level, and a true commitment to excellence in the classroom and in the community. We are incredibly proud of the legacies they leave behind and the standard they have set for future Oilers," said Jim Givens, Athletic Director at the University of Findlay.

Alex Mutchler arrived at the University of Findlay from Bucyrus, Ohio, and has developed into one of the premier pole vaulters in program history. A three-time All-American, Mutchler most recently earned First Team All-American honors with a fourth-place finish at the NCAA Division II Indoor National Championship. Beyond his athletic achievements, Mutchler has excelled in the classroom, maintaining a 3.89 GPA while pursuing his MBA. He has been named to the Dean's List four times and has been highly engaged on campus through his involvement with the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, Campus Ministry, Oiler 10, and as both an undergraduate and graduate representative to the Board of Trustees. During the 2024–25 academic year, Mutchler also participated in the prestigious NCAA Postgraduate Internship Program in Indianapolis, where he worked in Event Marketing and Corporate Relations, contributing to the execution of several major NCAA events, including the Men's Basketball Final Four and the Division I Women's Volleyball Championship.

Emma White, a native of nearby Tiffin, Ohio, made an immediate impact at Findlay and quickly established herself as one of the top players in the conference and the nation. Over the course of her career, she etched her name throughout the program's record book, ranking among the top ten in multiple categories, including assists, aces, and digs. In her senior season, White was named Great Midwest Athletic Conference Player of the Year, becoming the first setter in conference history to receive the honor. A four-time First Team All-GMAC selection and two-time NCAA Division II All-American, she helped lead the Oilers to two NCAA Tournament appearances. White also excelled academically, graduating with a 3.99 GPA and earning Academic All-American honors. She was actively involved in the University of Findlay's Ohio Student Education Association and dedicated time to tutoring elementary students in the Findlay and Tiffin communities. White will graduate with a degree in primary education and intervention, along with a minor in business.