William Smith soccer standout Ruth Hotaling has been named the 2025-26 Liberty League Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year, recognizing her achievements in academics, athletics and leadership.
The award, announced by Liberty League Commissioner Tracy King, is presented annually to one female and one male student-athlete who demonstrate excellence in the classroom, in competition and through service during their collegiate careers.
Hotaling is the 11th Hobart and William Smith student-athlete to receive the conference’s top academic honor and the seventh William Smith student-athlete to earn the award since it was established in 2013. She is also the fourth William Smith soccer player to receive the recognition.
On the field, Hotaling capped an outstanding senior season by earning Liberty League Offensive Player of the Year honors after leading the conference with 12 goals and 25 points. She started all 17 matches, scored four game-winning goals and helped lead the Herons to an 11-3-3 record.
She also earned United Soccer Coaches Third Team All-America honors and was selected to the All-Region and All-Liberty League first teams. Earlier this year, Hotaling received William Smith’s Winn-Seeley Award, which recognizes excellence in leadership, service, athletics and academics.
During her four-year career, Hotaling appeared in 83 matches, recording 26 goals and 25 assists for 77 career points. She finished 19th in program history in career points and seventh in assists. A two-time All-American and three-time All-Liberty League selection, she also helped lead the Herons to the NCAA Division III national championship match during her junior season.
Hotaling graduated summa cum laude in May with bachelor’s degrees in music and mathematics. She was named a College Sports Communicators Academic All-American, earned United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-America honors twice and was a three-time Liberty League All-Academic selection.
Beyond athletics, Hotaling served on the soccer team’s leadership council, participated in the Hobart and William Smith Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, worked as a mathematics teaching fellow and music study mentor, and volunteered during the annual HWS Day of Service. She also studied abroad in Copenhagen, where she taught English classes to international residents.
This fall, Hotaling will attend the University of Stirling in Scotland to pursue a master’s degree in mathematics and data science.
