Johansson, Cohen take Top Honors at “A Night at the Lied”

Lincoln – Nebraska Athletics celebrated its top achievers on the field, in the classroom and in the community with the annual “A Night at the Lied” Monday evening.  The event highlights the accomplishments of Husker student-athletes over the past year, culminating with the presentation of the Most Outstanding Female and Male Student-Athletes.

Seniors Axelina Johansson (Women’s Track and Field) and Asher Cohen (Men’s Gymnastics) won the most coveted awards at the 36th annual event, as they were selected as the 2026 Most Outstanding Female and Male Student-Athlete.  To be considered for the award, student-athletes must have a cumulative GPA of 3.30 or better, performed with distinction in a varsity sport, demonstrated a commitment to service and leadership, and acted in a manner that has brought credit to the student-athlete, the institution and intercollegiate athletics.

Johansson is wrapping up one of the most decorated careers in Husker track history, as she is a three-time NCAA Champion, an Olympian and a 2026 Indoor World Championships medalist.  She is seeking her fourth NCAA title in the shot put this spring after winning NCAA titles in 2023 (outdoors), 2025 (indoors) and 2026 (indoors) and has also medaled three other times at the NCAA meet. A six-time All-American, she is a five-time Big Ten champion and was named Field Athlete of the Year in both 2023 (outdoors) and 2026 (indoors). She placed 10th in the shot put at the 2024 Paris Olympics and finished third at the 2026 Indoor World Championships last month.  Her accomplishments in the classroom are just as impressive, as Johansson is working on a master’s degree in journalism and mass communication after graduating with a degree in advertising and public relations in 2025. She is a three-time Academic All-American, earning first-team honors in 2024 and 2025, a three-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar and a three-time USTFCCCA All-Academic team member. She is a member of the Tom Osborne Citizenship team, a team captain and involved with the Lead N Leadership group.

Cohen has been one of the nation’s top gymnasts for the Huskers, who placed fourth at the 2026 NCAA Championships last week. He earned All-America honors for the third straight year, winning a national title on the still rings with a score of 14.50. He became the first Husker to win an event since 1999 and the first NU gymnast to win the still rings title since the late Jim Hartung in 1982. He qualified for six NCAA Individual Finals in his career on the still rings and parallel bars. A two-time All-Big Ten selection, he was the Big Ten Champion on still rings earlier this month. In the classroom, Cohen is a two-time Academic All-American, a three-time CGA Scholar-Athlete and two-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar. A member of the Chi Alpha Sigma Honor Society, he has been named to the NU Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll in each of the past seven semesters. Earlier Monday, he was also named an Outstanding Scholar, honoring student-athletes who will graduate with a 3.90 or higher GPA, as he will graduate with a degree in biological sciences next month. He is also a four-time Tom Osborne Citizenship team member who is active in the Huskers Life Skills program including Matt Talbot Soup Kitchen, Husker Heroes and No Filter Outreach Abroad.

Nebraska Athletic Director Troy Dannen announced that Johansson and Cohen will be Nebraska’s Big Ten Medal of Honor recipients in 2026. The conference's most exclusive award was the first of its kind in intercollegiate athletics to recognize academic and athletic excellence. The Big Ten Medal of Honor was first awarded in 1915 to one student from the graduating class of each university who had "attained the greatest proficiency in athletics and scholastic work."

Jordyn Frahm (Softball) earned Female Athlete of the Year for her impact over the last year of competition dating back to the end of the 2025 season. The reigning NFCA Player of the Year and first-team All-American, Frahm has led the Huskers to a 40-6 record and a No. 2 national ranking heading into this weekend’s action. The two-way standout is hitting .423 with 17 homers, 45 RBI and 49 runs scored. She leads the Huskers in average, runs scored, homers, RBI, triples (four), walks (24), on-base percentage (.522), slugging percentage (.879) and stolen bases (six). She ranks in the top 10 in the Big Ten in numerous categories, including batting average, hits, homers, slugging percentage and total bases.  In the circle, she has a 15-4 record with a 1.30 ERA and nine saves in 31 appearances, including 15 starts. She has struck out 174 in 119.2 innings and is holding opponents to a .198 average. Frahm leads the nation in saves and ranks in the top-10 nationally in ERA, shutouts and strikeout-to-walk ratio. Last season, she carried the Huskers to their first NCAA Super Regional since 2014, as she hit .485 with eight homers and 14 RBI in NU’s final 12 games while also going 7-3 with a 1.38 ERA in that stretch. For her efforts, she was the Big Ten Player and Pitcher of the Year in 2025.

Emmett Johnson (Football) earned Male Athlete of the Year after putting together one of the best seasons by a Husker running back in recent memory. Johnson became the first Husker football player to earn first-team All-America honors since 2011, as he rushed for 1,451 yards and 12 touchdowns while also catching a team-high 46 passes. A semifinalist for the Maxwell and Doak Walker awards, Johnson led the nation with 151.8 all-purpose yards per game while his 120.9 rushing yards led the Big Ten and ranked fourth nationally. A first-team All-Big Ten pick, he was the Ameche-Dayne Running Back of the Year and the first Husker running back since 1983 to earn first-team All-America honors. He rushed for a career-high 217 yards against Iowa and became the first Husker to have 100 yards rushing and receiving yards in the same game in program history with his performance in a win at UCLA. He was selected in the fifth round of last weekend’s NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs.

Alexis Jensen (Softball) was chosen as the Female Rookie Athlete of the Year for her role in helping the Huskers to their best start in school history, as Nebraska enter the week with a 40-6 record and a No. 2 ranking. She is 19-2 with a 2.57 ERA, fanning 174 over 119.2 innings of work. She leads the Huskers in wins and ranks in the top 10 in the Big Ten in wins, ERA, innings and hits allowed per seven innings. Jensen earned National Freshman of the Week after earning a pair of wins against No. 7 UCLA and is a two-time conference weekly honoree this season.  She has also made significant contributions to the Husker offense, hitting .333 in 27 games with five homers and 15 RBI, as nine of her 22 hits have been for extra bases.

Braden Frager (Men’s Basketball) was tabbed as the Male Rookie Athlete of the Year after helping the program to its best season in program history. Frager was the Big Ten’s Sixth Man of the Year and an all-freshman team selection as he averaged 11.8 points and 3.8 rebounds per game. He finished ranking in NU’s all-time freshman top five list in points (391, fourth), 3-pointers (57, second) and scoring average (11.5, fifth). Frager had 20 double-figure games, including six games of at least 20 points. A three-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week, Frager averaged 14.7 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists in Nebraska's three NCAA Tournament games, including the go-ahead basket with 2.2 seconds remaining in NU’s second-round win over Vanderbilt.

A total of 15 student-athletes received the Outstanding Scholar Award, which is presented to individuals who have graduated in the previous year or are up for graduation and have better than a 3.90 cumulative GPA. The list of honorees includes Kathryn Bowman (Bowling), Hillevi Carlsson (Women's Track & Field), Asher Cohen (Men's Gymnastics), Alina Felix (Softball), Alea Hardie (Women's Track & Field/Cross Country), Max Herman (Men's Track & Field), Camilla Johannessen (Rifle), Gena Jorgenson (Swimming & Diving), Arden Louchheim (Women's Golf), Brynna McQuillen (Women's Track & Field/Cross Country), Hamish Murray (Men's Golf), JoJo Randby (Swimming & Diving), Seth Schnakenberg (Men's Track & Field), Grant Wasserman (Men's Track & Field/Cross Country) and Tyus Wilson (Men's Track & Field).

The Herman Team GPA Award highlights academic performance in the classroom over the previous two completed semesters. The men’s and women’s cross country teams under the direction of Coach Megan Elliott swept the team awards, marking the first time since 2009 and the third time overall that cross country won both team awards. The Husker men won for the second straight season and a record 13^th time with a team GPA of 3.858, the highest team GPA in the 32-year history of the award, while the Husker women won for a 12^th time with a 3.826 GPA, the highest women’s team GPA in the event’s history.

Life Skills presented the Sam Foltz 27 Hero Leadership Award on Sunday. This award, named in honor of the late Husker punter Sam Foltz, was presented to 27 student-athletes across all sports who exhibit strong leadership qualities, commitment to service and ability to encourage/empower peers.  The Life Skills program also named five winners across all sports of its most prestigious individual award - the Heart & Soul Award. The 2026 Heart & Soul winners were Michael Booker III (Football), Katelyn Caneda (Softball), Jagger Condomitti (Wrestling), Callin Hake (Women's Basketball) and Camilla Johannessen (Rifle) for their extensive work in the community during the course of their college careers.

Life Skills also honored the members of the Tom Osborne Citizenship Team, as a total of 396 student-athletes were recognized. Special recognition went to 18 programs who had 100 percent of their roster honored this year, including men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s gymnastics, men’s and women’s tennis, beach volleyball, bowling, rifle, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, volleyball and wrestling.

Overall, a total of 344 Huskers earned academic medallions at “A Night at the Lied”. Gold medallions (127) were presented to those for earning highest academic honors (3.750-4.000 grade-point average). Silver medallions (87) were awarded to those capturing high honors (3.500-3.749 GPA), while bronze medallions (130) were presented to student-athletes with honors (3.000-3.499 GPA).

“A Night at the Lied” Winners for 2026

Most Outstanding Female Student-Athlete & Big Ten Medal of Honor: Axelina Johansson, Women's Track & Field

Most Outstanding Male Student-Athlete & Big Ten Medal of Honor: Asher Cohen, Men’s Gymnastics

Female Athlete of the Year: Jordyn Frahm, Softball

Male Athlete of the Year: Emmett Johnson, Football

Female Rookie Athlete of the Year: Alexis Jensen, Softball

Male Rookie Athlete of the Year: Braden Frager, Men’s Basketball

Women’s Herman Team GPA Award: Cross Country (3.826 GPA)

Men’s Herman Team GPA Award: Cross Country (3.858 GPA)

Outstanding Scholar Awards (15): Kathryn Bowman, Bowling; Hillevi Carlsson, Women's Track & Field; Asher Cohen, Men's Gymnastics; Alina Felix, Softball; Alea Hardie, Women's Track & Field/Cross Country; Max Herman, Men's Track & Field; Camilla Johannessen, Rifle; Gena Jorgenson, Swimming & Diving; Arden Louchheim, Women's Golf; Brynna McQuillen, Women's Track & Field/Cross Country; Hamish Murray, Men's Golf; JoJo Randby, Swimming & Diving; Seth Schnakenberg, Men's Track & Field; Grant Wasserman, Men's Track & Field/Cross Country; Tyus Wilson, Men's Track & Field

Heart & Soul Awards (5): Michael Booker III, Football; Katelyn Caneda, Softball; Jagger Condomitti, Wrestling; Callin Hake, Women's Basketball; Camilla Johannessen, Rifle

Sam Foltz 27 Hero Leadership Award (27): James Ackerman, Men's Golf; Mackenzie Bream, Women's Golf; Desiree Buchert, Bowling; Sage Burbach, Women's Track & Field; Emmerson Cope, Softball; Bariborve Deebom, Women's Track & Field; Ashriel Dixon, Men's Track & Field; Zoie Ecord,  Women's Cross Country; Aidan Flege, Football; Emalee Frost, Women's Gymnastics; Alexa Gobel, Soccer; Ryan Harrahill, Baseball; Donovan Jones, Football; Gena Jorgenson, Swimming & Diving; Tyler Knaak, Football; Arden Louchheim, Women's Golf; Jillian Martin, Bowling; Rienk Mast, Men's Basketball; Evan McDermott, Men’s Golf; Kael Miedema, Men's Track & Field; Hayes Miller, Football; Yuzu Miyoshi, Women's Tennis; Chase Mondi, Men's Gymnastics; Pierce Mooberry, Football; Skyler Pierce, Volleyball; Natalie Potts, Women's Basketball;  Isabel Sikon, Women's Gymnastics