UIndy’s Schmidt, Buttz Declare GLVC Scharf Paragon Award

INDIANAPOLIS – Indianapolis graduate pupil swimmer Celina Schmidt, in addition to Maryville redshirt-senior wrestler Cole Ritter and UIndy senior soccer participant Ryne Buttz, earned the 2026 Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) Richard F. Scharf Paragon Award because the league’s feminine and co-male athletes of the yr, the Conference workplace introduced Tuesday.

The awards are bestowed yearly by the GLVC to at least one male and one feminine student-athlete who show tutorial excellence, athletic means and achievement, character, and management. This yr, for the fourth time in league historical past, there was a tie in voting for the boys’s award. The accolade is called in honor of the previous GLVC Commissioner, in addition to coach and director of athletics at Saint Joseph’s College.

 

Schmidt, Ritter, and Buttz might be formally acknowledged Tuesday, May 19, on the GLVC Awards Reception in Brentwood, Missouri.

 

Schmidt is the eighth feminine student-athlete from Indianapolis to win the GLVC’s most prestigious honor, whereas she and Buttz turned the thirteenth and 14th Greyhounds total to obtain the award.

 

During her four-year profession at UIndy, Schmidt established herself as one of many prime swimmers in program historical past, gathering 23 All-America (19 First Team) honors, together with two nationwide titles and a number of runner-up finishes. She was the 2024 Division II nationwide champion within the 100 and 200 breaststroke and recorded second-place performances within the 200 IM (2024) and 400 IM (2026) and as a part of the 200 and 400 medley relay groups (2023). Schmidt holds essentially the most GLVC Swimmer of the Week accolades in league historical past with eight and helped UIndy to 2 convention championships (2023, 2026) and a quartet of top-six nationwide finishes, highlighted by putting runner as much as spherical out her freshman season (2023). In GLVC Championship competitors, she collected six gold medals and one silver in 2026 alone, whereas capturing gold for one occasion in each 2023 (200 medley relay) and 2024 (200 breast). Schmidt additionally holds the varsity data in three occasions, sits prime 10 in 4 different occasions, and is tied for essentially the most All-American First Team honors in program historical past.

 

In the classroom, Schmidt was equally dominant, carrying a 3.82 GPA into her last semester in pursuit of a grasp’s diploma in enterprise administration. She obtained Academic All-GLVC honors 4 instances, CSCAA Scholar All-America First Team 4 instances, and CSC Academic All-American thrice (together with two First Team alternatives). The Berlin, Germany native additionally appeared on the Dean’s List twice.

 

UIndy professor Pam Howard had this to say about Schmidt: “Celina represents the type of student-athlete who not only excels individually but also positively influences those around her. She is an excellent representative of the University of Indianapolis and embodies the academic excellence, leadership, and character that this award celebrates.”

 

Ritter is the second male student-athlete from Maryville to garner the GLVC’s premier accolade, becoming a member of fellow wrestler Nate Rodriguez who gained in 2016-17.

 

A four-year starter for the Maryville males’s wrestling crew, Ritter claimed the Division II 174-lb nationwide title in 2025 and earned All-America honors thrice. He secured All-GLVC honors 4 instances whereas serving to the Saints to a GLVC title in 2024 and ninth-place end at DII Nationals in 2025. The Adrian, Missouri product accomplished his profession with a 110-40 file, highlighted by his 35-7 marketing campaign in 2025 that included 21 victories with bonus factors. Ritter additionally served as crew captain for 2 years.

 

While pursuing his bachelor’s and grasp’s diploma in enterprise administration, Ritter was named to the Academic All-GLVC and National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Academic All-America groups 4 instances (2023-26). He carried a 3.867 GPA into his last semester within the MBA program. Outside the classroom, Ritter has volunteered a number of instances on the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation, together with attending the Athletic Prevention Programming and Leadership Education (APPLE) convention – the premier nationwide convention designed to forestall substance misuse and promote well being inside school athletics.

 

Maryville school athletics consultant Michael Kiener stated, “Mr. Ritter is a person who leads by example and is a perfect representation of an NCAA Division II student-athlete. He is well-liked by his peers and has tremendous dedication to his academics and his sport.”

 

Buttz is the sixth male from UIndy to assert the GLVC’s prime student-athlete honor, as he and Schmidt turn into the thirteenth and 14th Greyhounds total to gather the accolade.

 

A four-year starter for the UIndy soccer crew, Buttz was an anchor for the Greyhounds’ offensive line. He is one among eight gamers in program historical past to garner 4 consecutive All-GLVC nods, gathering First Team honors in 2023, 2024, and 2025 and Second Team recognition in 2022. Buttz was named crew captain for his senior season and earned quite a few nationwide honors, together with American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) All-America First Team, D2Football.com Elite 100 First Team, College Football Network All-America First Team, and D2CCA All-America Second Team. He helped lead UIndy to four-straight GLVC championships and NCAA Division II playoff appearances, ending his profession with a powerful 28-1 convention file and 41 consecutive begins. During that span, the Greyhounds constantly ranked among the many nation’s greatest in scoring offense, whole offense, and effectivity metrics, together with ending second in Division II in each scoring and whole offense in 2025.

Academically, Buttz excelled within the classroom the place he carried a 3.781 GPA in train science. The 2025 CSC Academic All-America First Team honoree was additionally honored with the GLVC Football Scholar-Athlete of the Year award (2025), CSC Academic All-District recognition (2024-25), and garnered membership to the National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society in 2025. Buttz was energetic in service and group engagement all through his collegiate profession, volunteering with the soccer program for Special Olympics occasions in 2023, 2024, and 2025. He contributed time to native youth training initiatives, together with visiting an elementary college twice to learn to college students and aiding at one other college’s end-of-year area day. Buttz additionally usually volunteered at his house church, serving as a greeter and usher, serving to within the kids’s middle, and aiding with espresso service.

 

UIndy offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Thomas Gerhard confirmed excessive reward for Buttz: “Ryne, without reservation, has made a lasting impact on our program and will be greatly missed within our locker room and on campus. He is one of the most focused, driven, and dependable student-athletes I have been around and had the privilege of coaching.”