LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) -- The UNLV Athletics Department announced Wednesday that Kristina Schneider has become the first Rebel swimmer to win the Bill Ireland Award.

The honor is given annually to a student-athlete who shines brightest in their respective sport while competing against UNR as part of the Silver State Series presented by IBEW Local 401 and Nevada Donor Network.
 
The Ireland honoree, selected through a vote by members of the UNLV Athletics Strategic Communications department, must come from a Rebel team that won its competition vs. the Wolf Pack during the year, have made a significant impact on that outcome and also be in good academic standing.
 
Schneider, a junior from Baia Maare, Romania, swam the anchor leg of the title-clinching 400 free relay in February. With her team trailing UNR by .50 seconds on the final exchange, Schneider made a late push on the final 100 yards with a lightning-quick 48.74 split to take first in the event along with teammates Julia Filippova, Lauren Smith and Malia Fernandez. The performance in the final event not only pushed the Rebels ahead of the Wolf Pack in the standings but also earned UNLV its first women's swimming league championship in 16 years.
 
Earlier in the night, Schneider etched her name in program history with her individual 100 free victory to become the first UNLV swimmer to sweep the 50 free and 100 free at the annual conference event.
 
Other nominees for UNLV's Ireland Award this year, who led their teams to earning three points, were men's tennis player Alex Kobelt, women's tennis player Zita Kovacs, track standout Cassondra Hall, and volleyball star Mariena Hayden.

The award is named in honor of Mr. Bill Ireland, who was deeply tied to the history of the Wolf Pack and Rebels athletics programs. A 1952 graduate of the University of Nevada, Reno, Ireland was the Wolf Pack's first baseball coach (1961-67). After his time at UNR, he went on to UNLV where he became the Rebels first football coach (1968-72) and later served as athletics director (1973-80). Ireland is also credited with helping create the famed rivalry trophy the Fremont Cannon.

UNLV BILL IRELAND AWARD WINNERS
2021 – Kristina Schneider, Swimming & Diving
2020 – Kenyon Oblad, Football
2019 – Armani Rogers, Football
2018 -- Janine Petmecky, Softball
2017 – Lily Sender, Women's Soccer
2016 – Ryan McAleenan, Football
2015 – Janine Petmecky, Softball
2014 – Jenn Wolfe, Women's Soccer
2013 – Buddy Borden, Baseball