The Farm Report: June 9

Ryann Neushul was recognized with the most prestigious honor of her career on Saturday night, named the 2025 Peter J. Cutino Award recipient in a ceremony at The Olympic Club of San Francisco.

Presented annually to the most outstanding female collegiate water polo player in the nation as voted by Division I coaches, Neushul is the eighth player in school history to win the award. The Cardinal has been awarded 11 Cutino Award honors overall, with other honorees including Aria Fischer (2023), Makenzie Fischer (2019, 2022), Kiley Neushul (2012, 2015), Annika Dries (2011, 2014), Melissa Seidemann (2013), Jackie Frank (2003) and Brenda Villa (2002).

Neushul, who last month closed out a unique seven-year career which began as a freshman in 2019, became Stanford’s first four-time NCAA champion in school history (2019, 2022-23, 2025) following the Cardinal’s 11-7 victory over USC in the NCAA final on May 11.

Congrats to Ryann Neushul, Stanford’s eighth all-time Peter J. Cutino Award winner!

➡️ https://t.co/xPHDueizc2#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/sCnPMDEWFD

— Stanford Women’s Water Polo (@Stanfordh2opolo) June 8, 2025

Anne Walker has been named the Golfweek Women’s College Coach of the Year, as announced on Thursday morning. This is the first time a Stanford women’s golf coach has won the award.

The Margot and Mitch Milias Director of Women’s Golf for the last 13 seasons, Walker is a four-time conference coach of the year recipient and a three-time WGCA coach of the year winner. This is her first time winning this annual award from Golfweek, which has been presented since 1999.

Stanford has won seven tournaments this year, tied for the most in a single season under Walker, including the team’s seventh NCAA Regional win since 2016. The Cardinal was just the second team in NCAA history to not suffer a defeat in stroke play, culminating in leading the field at the NCAA Championship by 21 strokes to enter match play as the top seed. Stanford also had six individual winners this season, and the ACC and WGCA Freshman of the Year in Meja Örtengren.

 

Stanford sophomore Henry McFadden qualified for the World Aquatics Championships by placing fourth in the 200-meter freestyle at the U.S. Championships on Wednesday at the Indiana University Natatorium.

McFadden clinched a spot on the U.S. team in the 800 free relay that will compete in Singapore on July 27-August 3. Racing out of Lane 7, McFadden was timed in 1:45.22 for his second personal best of the day, following his 1:46.13 in the prelims.

McFadden is a six-time All-American and the 2025 Atlantic Coast Conference champion in the 200-yard freestyle. He holds school records in the 200y free, 400 free relay, and 800 free relay.

Incoming freshman Hailee Swain has been invited to the 2025 USA Women’s U19 National Team trials at the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.

A total of 27 players are expected to participate in the trials beginning on June 18 to select a 12-member team that will compete at the FIBA U19 Women’s World Cup from July 12-20 in Brno, Czechia.

Swain has won a pair of gold medals playing for the United States, the first at the 2023 FIBA U16 Women's Americas Championship, where she averaged 10.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 2.5 steals, and at last summer’s FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup, where she put up 10.7 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists in seven games.

Stanford football is going back to its roots as it continues to forge a bold new future.

In a historic and unprecedented move, a powerhouse group of Cardinal legends has united to launch Stanford Football Alumni United (SFAU) — a dynamic coalition of former players and leaders committed to working with the Stanford football front office and with Stanford Athletics to restore Stanford football to national prominence.  Founded by a passionate and deeply invested group of former players, SFAU is driven by the unwavering belief that Stanford can — and will — be a national contender once again. SFAU’s objective is to support the team and players through alumni engagement, mentorship, career development, and marketing.

Among its founding members are some of the most iconic names in Cardinal history: Christian McCaffrey, John Lynch, Richard Sherman, Tyler Gaffney, Chuck Evans, David Bergeron, Darran Baird, Bo McNally, and James Carlos McFall — a mix of NFL stars, Super Bowl champions, business leaders, and culture carriers determined to power Stanford’s resurgence.

Some of the best former Cardinal have come together to form Stanford Football Alumni United, a dynamic coalition to support the team and players through alumni engagement, mentorship, career development, and marketing.

📖 https://t.co/dWiyzZ2S0g#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/bnKxk6yCdZ

— Stanford Football (@StanfordFball) June 6, 2025

Stanford University will welcome back Katie Ledecky, a former student-athlete and the most decorated U.S. female Olympian of all time, as the Commencement 2025 speaker in June.

“Katie’s story reflects the spirit of Stanford. As a scholar, an athlete, a teammate, and a trailblazer, she models the power of staying curious and collaborative in pursuit of excellence,” said Stanford President Jonathan Levin. “Her accomplishments in the pool and beyond are a testament to her extraordinary drive and determination. She is an ideal speaker to encourage our graduates to redefine what is possible.” 

Ledecky, a 14-time Olympics medalist who graduated in 2020 with a major in psychology and a minor in political science, will address graduates and guests at the university’s 134th Commencement ceremony, which begins at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, June 15, in Stanford Stadium.