ELSAH, IL – Five standout senior athletes were honored by the Principia College Athletic Department this weekend during graduation festivities.
Taylor Brown,
Francisco Alessio, and
Nana Koranteng are the 2026 recipients of the Howard L. Mitchell Award, while
Hannah Myers and
Zach Proctor are the 2026 recipients of the Corde & Willard Hanzlik Award.
The
Howard L. Mitchell Award recognizes the highest standard of achievement in Principia's intercollegiate athletic program, and it is presented annually to senior athletes with superior ability that have performed at the highest level in their sport.
Taylor Brown was a four-year member and three-year captain of the women's basketball team. She had an incredible career leading the program to unprecedented success. The team never had a losing season during her time at Principia, and they accomplished two big program firsts: winning the conference tournament her junior year and the conference regular season title her senior year. Taylor was voted All-Conference all four years and finished #4 in program history with 1393 points scored. She also finished #1 all-time in minutes played, #2 in assists and free throw percentage, as well as top 10 in many other statistical categories, on top of earning Academic All-Conference and All-District honors her senior year.
Francisco Alessio was a four-year member and four-year captain of the rugby team. Fran excelled in one of the most demanding positions in rugby, #8, which requires constant involvement in both attack and defense. Though defensive stats are not recorded in rugby, he is widely regarded as one of the most productive defensive players in program history whose work rate, physicality, and consistency set him apart. Fran was a central figure in leading the program to a Division II National Championship and promotion to Division I. He earned individual recognition at both the conference and national levels, including All-American honors his freshman year, as well as Scholastic All-American honors three times.
Nana Koranteng was a four-year member of both the men's soccer and track & field teams. Nana's accomplishments in track & field place him among the top athletes in program history. His school record in the triple jump earned him both Second Team All-American and Academic All-American honors, while his athletic versatility has been on full display since his freshman year when he won SLIAC Newcomer of the Year. This spring, Nana tied the men's SLIAC record of having won gold medals in six different disciplines during his indoor and outdoor track & field career. He also showcased his dedication as a striker on the soccer team, helping the team reach the conference semifinals his last two seasons.
The
Corde & Willard Hanzlik Award is presented annually to senior athletes who have contributed significantly to Principia's intercollegiate athletic program. Those chosen for this award are examples of the highest character, both in practice and competition as well as in the classroom and social settings. They demonstrate the qualities of discipline, perseverance, sportsmanship, living the Golden Rule, leadership, and teamwork. They play an invaluable role in the development and success of the team that they were a part of, and they stand out as role models for their teammates and other athletes.
Hannah Myers was a two-year member of both the women's basketball and track & field teams. Though she transferred in her junior year from Fontbonne, Hannah has certainly made her mark on Principia. As a starter on the basketball team, she scored the conference championship-winning buzzer beater her junior year, and then led the SLIAC in three-point shooting her senior year to help the team win a regular season title. Hannah also set the program record for most threes in a season and was top 7 in the conference in points, rebounds, and steals her senior year. On the track & field team, she has set six school records, won five event championships, and was just named SLIAC Outdoor Field Athlete of the Year. On top of her athletic excellence, Hannah has earned both Academic All-American honors in track and Academic All-District honors in basketball.
Zach Proctor was a four-year member and two-year captain of both the men's cross country and track & field teams. Zach has been one of the most consistent and dependable runners in the conference throughout his excellent distance career. He earned All-SLIAC honors in three of his cross country seasons, and he medaled in track every year, including an individual title in the 3000 meters his senior year. He steadily improved every season and is now top 10 all-time in the program's deep history of both the 5000 meters and 10,000 meters. Zach also earned Academic All-Conference honors every season and developed into a leader on the team, helping push teammates in both practice and competition while setting the example for a culture of accountability and support.
Senior soccer player,
Michael Wanda, also received this year's
Charles F. Buckwalter Award for the highest grade point average of the graduating athletes who completed four years of a single sport.
Congratulations to our award winners and the entire Class of 2026!
