Findlay, Ohio-  The University of Findlay athletic department has announced their annual Male and Female Athlete of the Year winners for the 2025-26 season. Swimmer Emily Mears-Bentley was named the Sharon G. Milligan Female Athlete of the Year while football standout Sam Weihrauch has been named the James D. Houdeshell Male Athlete of the year.

Sharon G. Milligan Female Athlete of the Year - Emily Mears-Bentley (Leicester, England)

The most decorated female swimmer in program history, Emily Mears-Bentley wrapped up her outstanding career at Findlay with a season for the record books. Mears-Bentley became the first female in program history to win a national title, winning the 200 butterfly in Evansville, Indiana back in March. This performance, paired with six other first team all-America finishes, helped lead the Oilers to a seventh-place finish at the National Championship, the highest finish in program history. 

Throughout the year, she continued to rewrite the Findlay record book, setting program records in the 100 freestyle, 200 freestyle, 50 butterfly, 100 butterfly, 200 butterfly, 200 individual medley, 200 medley relay, and 400 freestyle relay. Her excellence extended beyond the pool as she was named the 2026 G-MAC Swimmer of the Year for the fourth consecutive season, the CSC Academic All-America Team Member of the Year, a First Team CSC Academic All-American, and a CSCAA Scholar All-American.

James D. Houdeshell Male Athlete of the Year – Sam Weihrauch (Findlay, Ohio)

A native of Findlay, Ohio, Sam Weihrauch was a dominant force on the gridiron this past fall, leading one of the top defenses in the country with one of the best defensive seasons by a linebacker in program history. Weihrauch started all 12 games and made 80 tackles, including 45 solo stops, while recording 17.5 tackles for loss, the most by a Findlay player since 2007 and the highest single-season total by a linebacker in the program's NCAA era. Weihrauch's disruption on defense made him the clear leader on a unit that allowed just 57.4 rush yards per game during the regular season, second-fewest in the country, and was also top-five in DII in total defense (249.7), scoring defense (12.2), and fourth down conversion defense (.267).

His outstanding season earned him recognition as the 2025 G-MAC Defensive Player of the Year, First Team All-G-MAC, D2CCA All-Region, and all-American honors from the D2CCA, the Don Hansen Football Committee, and D2Football.com. He also excelled in the classroom, earning CSC Academic All-District honors.

About Sharon G. Milligan
About James D. Houdeshell