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LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – The UNLV Athletics Department announced that women’s soccer standout and local product Trinity Buchanan was named winner of this year’s Bill Ireland Award, which was handed out at Monday’s Welcome Back event at the Cox Pavilion.
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 America First Credit Union. UNLV won the overall competition (27-21) for the second consecutive season and for the ninth time in the award’s 12-year history
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.
Buchanan, then a true freshman midfielder out of Coronado High School in Henderson, put away a header from 13 yards out off a corner kick that would end up being the game-winning goal in the 1-0 final over the Wolf Pack in Reno on October 26. The season-ending victory meant the Rebels finished with a program-record road win percentage (.700) with a 6-2-2 mark away from Las Vegas. Buchanan, who was a two-time winner of the Mountain West Freshman of the Week honor, started all 20 games as a rookie and led the team with 25 shots on goal, six goals and 13 points. She is the third women’s soccer player to win the Ireland Award, joining Lily Sender in 2017 and Jenn Wolfe in 2014.
Other finalists for UNLV’s Ireland Award this year, who led their teams to wins over their rivals to the north, were Ricky White III of football, Desi-Rae Young of women’s basketball, Sofia Morales of softball, Toa Yokoyama of women’s golf and Blanka Bokros of women’s swimming & diving.
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
2024 – Trinity Buchanan, Women’s Soccer
2023 – Johnathan Baldwin, Football
2022 – Bryce Hamilton, Men’s Basketball
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
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