William Smith soccer midfielder Ruth Hotaling was voted the 2025-26 Liberty League Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Commissioner Tracy King announced today. Hotaling is the 11th student-athlete from Hobart and William Smith to be named the conference's scholar-athlete of the year.

"I am excited to announce that Ruth Hotaling and Jared Fiske have been selected as the Liberty League Scholar-Athletes of the Year," said King. "Ruth and Jared represent the very best of the Liberty League and intercollegiate athletics – individuals who have achieved at elite levels academically and athletically while emerging as leaders on their campuses. Both have earned national recognition for athletic and academic success and are individuals of great character. It is only fitting that we recognize the dedication and commitment that they have demonstrated to their academic and athletic pursuits over the past four years."
 
The Liberty League Scholar-Athlete of the Year award is presented annually to one female and one male student-athlete who demonstrates excellence in academics, athletics and service/leadership throughout their time as a student-athlete.
 
Since the award was first presented in 2013, the Herons have won seven times. Hotaling is the fourth William Smith soccer player to win the award, joining Olivia Zitoli '14, Madeline Buckley '15 and Julia Keogh '21. Cross country runner Emily D'Addario '13, swimmer Caroline Conboy '17 and lacrosse player Mekayla Montgomery '21 also won the award representing the Herons. On the Hobart side, hockey players Luke Aquaro '25 and Artem Buzoverya '24, tennis' Walker Anderson '21 and basketball's Richie Bonney '14 won the award.
 
The Liberty League Offensive Player of the Year, Hotaling, started all 17 matches this season. She led the Herons and the Liberty League with 12 goals and 25 points, accounting for 32 percent of William Smith's goals. Hotaling produced three multi-goal games, scoring twice against DeSales, Clarkson and Skidmore. Her team-leading four game-winning goals guided the Herons to an 11-3-3 overall record.
 
In addition to being named the conference's player of the year, Hotaling was named a third team All-American by United Soccer Coaches. She was also a first team All-Region and All-Liberty League selection. Hotaling was awarded the 2026 Winn-Seeley Award, which is presented to a William Smith senior athlete for achievements in service, leadership, athletics and academics.
 
A four-year starter, Hotaling played in 83 career games for William Smith, racking up 77 points on 26 goals and 25 assists. She finished 19th on William Smith's career points list and seventh on the assists list. Hotaling was a two-time All-American and a three-time All-Liberty League selection. She was named to the NCAA All-Tournament Team following her junior season, when the Herons played in the national championship match.
 
Hotaling graduated summa cum laude in May with a bachelor's degree in music and mathematics. In December, she was named a College Sports Communicators Academic All-American. Hotaling is a two-time United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-American and a three-time Liberty League All-Academic selection. A dean's list student, she also won HWS' Richard Seth Abramson Intense Musical Study Award, the Catherine Adele Rippley '35 Prize in Mathematics, the Glenn M. Lee Prize in Mathematics and the Robert M. Steele '60 Music Award.
 
Hotaling was a three-year member of the soccer team's leadership council and served on the HWS Student-Athlete Advisory Committee during her sophomore year.  In the HWS community, Hotaling volunteered during the annual HWS Day of Service. In addition, she served as a teaching fellow for the mathematics department and was a music study table mentor. Hotaling was also an ambassador for the HWS Center for Global Education.
 
Hotaling spent the spring of her junior year in Copenhagen, where she volunteered at Bethesda – Internationalt Kristnet Center. There she organized and taught English classes on a weekly basis to the international residents of Copenhagen.
 
In the fall, Hotaling will be attending the University of Stirling in Scotland, pursuing a master's degree in mathematics and data science.