2026
Candidates

Meet the players nominated for the 2026 Greenhouse Award

Athlete descriptions were written by those who nominated the player.

Ryan Cleary

Ryan Cleary exemplifies the qualities the Greenhouse Award was created to recognize through his dedication, leadership, and sportsmanship. As president of Creighton Club Quadball, he balances significant administrative responsibilities, challenging coursework, and an internship while still arriving early to every practice and setting the standard through preparation and discipline. Known for studying more film than anyone else on the roster, Ryan approaches the game with a high level of strategic awareness and commitment to improvement. Beyond the pitch, he has played a major role in growing both his team and the sport itself, including organizing outreach efforts like Creighton’s presence at LibraryCon in Omaha. He consistently treats teammates, opponents, and officials with respect, leads through accountability and reliability, and has helped build a positive culture within the program that will have a lasting impact for years to come.

Creighton University

Izzy Ramirez

Since joining the sport, Izzy has quickly developed into an exceptional quadball player through her natural instincts, athleticism, and unmatched dedication to improvement. Drawing from her basketball background, she embraced the sport immediately and committed herself fully to learning and growing every day, becoming impactful enough to play major minutes in a Nationals semifinal less than a year after first picking up a broom. Beyond her talent on the pitch, Izzy consistently uplifts the women around her, creating opportunities for teammates to succeed and celebrating their growth alongside her own. She competes with confidence and intensity while maintaining strong composure, a team-first mentality, and respect for others, making her both an exciting player and a positive influence on her team.

Texas State University

Matan Schwartz

Matan Schwartz has quickly become a cornerstone of the Brandeis program through their leadership, passion, and commitment to excellence. In just their second season, they helped lead a young roster to the program’s best Nationals run while excelling across multiple positions and leading the conference in flag catches. Matan consistently pushes themselves and their teammates to improve through preparation, effort, and accountability, while also fostering a positive and supportive team culture. Their sportsmanship, compassion, and respect for teammates, opponents, and officials alike make them an outstanding representative of both Brandeis and the broader quadball community.

Brandeis University

Sean King

He consistently makes an impact with his excellent shooting, strong passing ability, and willingness to involve everyone on the field. His focus and high game IQ allow him to make smart plays in key moments. He is deeply dedicated to both the team and the sport as a whole, and has been especially helpful with recruitment efforts. He also carries himself with respect toward officials and opponents, representing his team with professionalism and sportsmanship.

Photo: Shirley Lu

UCLA

Sabrina Berry

Sabrina is one of the most dependable and important players in the UVA Quadball program. As one of the team’s primary women on pitch, she consistently plays heavy minutes while maintaining a high level of focus, composure, and execution in the moments that matter most. She combines smart, disciplined play with relentless effort, making a major impact on both offense and defense without forcing the game. Off the field, Sabrina is equally valuable as a captain and leader, helping drive recruitment, build team culture, and create an environment where teammates feel supported and motivated. She competes intensely while always showing respect toward opponents and officials, setting a strong example through her sportsmanship and consistency. Sabrina’s leadership, reliability, and presence are a major reason UVA is able to compete at the level it does.

Photo: Michael E. Mason

UVA

As one of the Ridgebacks’ newest captains, Sohum Sharma has quickly become an impactful leader through his work ethic, intelligence, and passion for the sport. He sets a high standard for effort and preparation while encouraging teammates to push themselves and contribute their perspectives. On the field, Sohum is an exceptional beater whose speed, awareness, communication, and creativity consistently elevate the team’s play. Whether through film study, in-game adjustments, or carefully designed strategies, he is always looking for ways to improve both himself and those around him. Beyond his performance, Sohum is deeply invested in the growth of quadball as a whole, serving as a certified LAR, helping recruit new players, engaging with media opportunities, and building connections across the broader community through MLQ and international competition. He combines competitive intensity with strong sportsmanship, treating opponents, officials, and teammates with respect while helping others better understand the game and its rules. Sohum’s leadership, dedication, and love for quadball have made him an invaluable part of both his team and the wider community.

Photo: Angie Sports

Illini Ridgebacks

Sohum Sharma

Julio Perez

Julio Perez has been a dependable leader and hardworking presence throughout his quadball career, consistently showing dedication both on and off the pitch. After transitioning from beater to chaser this season to fill a team need, he quickly became one of the team’s top scorers and defensive anchors through his preparation, adaptability, and composure in big moments. Even while recovering from a torn ACL and balancing work and school, Julio continued showing up for his teammates and helping build a positive team culture. He competes with intensity while consistently demonstrating strong sportsmanship, accountability, and respect toward teammates, opponents, and officials alike.

Photo: Tori Nutt

CWRUCIO

Zeke Prochaska

He consistently works hard and gives full effort in everything he does. He is disciplined, confident, and dedicated, always showing up to practice ready to work while also staying committed to his academics. Off the field, he is incredibly kind and thoughtful, regularly checking in on players from other teams and genuinely caring about how they are doing beyond the game.

Blue Jay

Valeria Guerra

She is an outstanding leader and an exceptional presence on the pitch. Even after tearing her ACL, she continued showing up to every practice to help, support, and encourage the team. She consistently demonstrates respect toward opponents and officials alike, and always makes an effort to get to know players from other teams, helping foster a stronger and more connected community.

UCLA

Lilly has been an exceptional captain this year, helping teammates learn and grow in the sport while always prioritizing wellbeing and sportsmanship. Despite low roster numbers, they consistently played heavy minutes for the team and led by example through their dedication and positive attitude. They have also been a driving force behind recruitment efforts, regularly tabling at campus events, hosting open practices, and finding new ways to bring people into the sport. Beyond their own team, Lilly has built strong relationships across the quadball community and uses those connections to help improve the experience for everyone involved. Whether interacting with teammates, opponents, or officials, they consistently put the wellbeing of others first and embody the kind of leadership and care that strengthens the sport as a whole.

Marquette University

Lilly Parrott

Mimi Baldwin

Mimi Baldwin has been a foundational part of the Creighton Quadball program from the moment she stepped onto the pitch, quickly establishing herself as a high-level player, leader, and role model. A standout college female chaser and member of the USNTDA, Mimi combines elite skill with remarkable consistency, strong field awareness, and a calm, team-first presence that elevates everyone around her. Despite balancing a demanding academic schedule as an honors student, she consistently dedicates herself to improving through film study, training, and preparation. Beyond her on-field impact, Mimi has become a key leader within the program as a captain, playing coach, and future president, helping recruit players, grow the sport in the Omaha community, and support both the Creighton and Blue Jay teams. She also embodies exceptional sportsmanship, competing with intensity while always treating opponents, officials, and teammates with respect, humility, and positivity. Mimi’s leadership, dedication, and character have made her one of the most important figures in Creighton Quadball’s continued success.

Photo: Mary Kimball

Creighton University

Joey Beh

Joey has been the driving force behind UVA Quadball this season, both as one of the top beaters in college quadball and as the team’s unquestioned leader. Originally transitioning from chaser to beater to fill a team need, he developed into an elite player whose speed, intelligence, and control of the game consistently shape outcomes at the highest level. In UVA’s biggest moments, including Regionals, Joey carried an enormous workload and set the tone through his toughness, composure, and ability to stay focused under intense physical pressure. Off the field, he has been the foundation of the program, organizing practices, managing team operations, and building a culture of accountability and competitiveness that teammates rally around. Despite playing with emotion and intensity, Joey consistently treats opponents, officials, and teammates with respect, representing UVA and the sport with a balance of passion, leadership, and sportsmanship that makes him invaluable to the program.

UVA

As a longtime captain of the Ridgebacks, Veronica has been the foundation of the team through every challenge and success. She leads with positivity, inclusivity, and an unmatched work ethic, consistently encouraging teammates to contribute while pushing herself to “leave it all on the field” every practice and game. Veronica’s leadership extends far beyond gameplay, from organizing practices and managing team logistics to helping shape strategy and team culture. She has also made a major impact on the broader quadball community through recruitment, relationships across the Midwest and MLQ scenes, service on the USQ Gameplay Committee, and becoming one of the few college players to earn HR certification. As both a captain and referee, she models respect for opponents and officials while helping teammates better understand the rules and spirit of the game. Veronica’s dedication, leadership, and care for those around her have made her one of the most influential and respected members of the Ridgebacks program and the quadball community as a whole.

Photo: Marcos Sandoval

Illini Ridgebacks

Veronica Hoffman

Zach Donofrio

Zach has been a key leader for BU Quadball through his elite play, strong work ethic, and commitment to the team’s success. As captain, he helped keep BU competitive through major roster turnover, using his high game IQ, composure, and leadership to guide the team to a Division I Nationals berth. Off the field, Zach supports teammates through one-on-one training, contributes to the broader quadball community through officiating, MQC stats work, and the Off-broom podcast, and consistently promotes a welcoming and respectful environment. His sportsmanship, leadership, and dedication to growing the sport make him an invaluable part of both BU and the wider community.

Boston University

Jack Fortin

Jack has been a cornerstone of UVMQ for the past four seasons through his leadership, positivity, and unwavering dedication to the sport. As a former president and longtime player coach, he has invested countless hours into preparing the team through strategy, film review, individual support, and practice planning, always focusing on building confidence and improving team morale. On the pitch, Jack leads through communication, composure, and an emphasis on safety, competition, and sportsmanship, helping teammates stay focused and respectful in high-pressure moments. Beyond his impact on UVMQ, he has consistently stepped up for the broader quadball community through officiating, stat taking, volunteering, and mentoring others, often filling roles few others were willing to take. Jack’s positivity, respect for opponents and officials, and genuine love for the game have made him not only an exceptional leader for UVMQ, but also a highly respected member of the wider quadball community.

University of Vermont

Vivian Cox

Vivian Cox has been a driving force behind Case Western Quadball through her leadership, dedication, and sportsmanship. A four-year member of the team, former Vice President, and two-year Club President, Vivian has helped grow the program through fundraising, event organization, recruitment, and mentorship while also creating resources that will benefit future leadership for years to come. On the pitch, she is an impactful and intelligent player whose defensive instincts, offensive pressure, and vocal leadership elevate the entire team. She consistently supports teammates, teaches newer players, and inspires others through her energy and work ethic. Vivian also embodies exceptional sportsmanship, always treating opponents, teammates, and officials with respect, prioritizing honesty and fairness, and carrying herself with humility regardless of the outcome of a game.

Photo: Vida Barzdukas

CWRUCIO

David is an exceptional athlete and leader whose impact on quadball extends far beyond his individual talent. He holds himself to an incredibly high standard and elevates those around him through constant communication, leadership, and a willingness to share his knowledge of the game. Even when heavily targeted by opposing defenses, he remains composed and facilitates offense at a high level. Over the past four years, David has worked tirelessly to grow and sustain quadball in San Marcos, helping recruit and retain players while building a stronger local community around the sport. His resilience, positive mindset, and commitment to continuous improvement have made him not only a standout player, but also a respected leader who consistently promotes sportsmanship, accountability, and respect for everyone involved in the game.

Texas State University

David Avila