NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Yale University Athletics is proud to recognize and celebrate Mark Winhoffer as the 2020-21 winner of the William Neely Mallory Award, the most prestigious athletic award given to a senior male at Yale.
 
The Mallory Award is given to the senior men's sport student-athlete who on the field of play and in life at Yale best represents the highest ideals of American sportsmanship and Yale tradition.
 
The award was conferred on Sunday, May 23, as part of Class Day, a Yale College celebration and tradition that dates back to the 19^th century.
 
"We are so proud of Mark's achievements in men's soccer, in the classroom, in the community and overseas," stated Victoria M. "Vicky Chun, Thomas A. Beckett Director of Athletics. "He led his team from a rebuilding program to the top 25 nationally during his tenure. Mark always saw the big picture of bringing that same sense of excellence to academics while also giving back to others."
 
Winhoffer of South Elgin, Ill., and a member of Jonathan Edwards College at Yale, enjoyed an outstanding career for the Bulldogs. In 2019, he was selected as the Ivy League Offensive Player of the Year and was a United Soccer Coaches All-Northeast Region first team selection. In addition, he was named first team All-Ivy and All-ECAC. Winhoffer finished as the Ivy League leader with 23 points (6 goals, 11 assists). His 11 assists were sixth in the nation and one shy of Craig Yacks' school record set in 1997. Winhoffer helped the Bulldogs win their first outright Ivy League championship since 1991 and earn a berth to the NCAA Tournament. 
 
As a senior when Yale's season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he still earned Preseason All-America honors from College Soccer News and was selected as one of 30 candidates for the national Senior Class Award, which focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities. In addition, he served as team captain, remaining enrolled to lead his team.
 
"What stands out most to me about Mark is his unwavering persistence and confidence in his pursuit to be great. He didn't make an immediate impact on the field early in his career, but he finished as one of the best players in program history," said Kylie Stannard, 5k Corral Head Coach of Yale Men's Soccer. "He epitomizes the type of young men we want in our program and we are thrilled for him to receive this award." 
 
Winhoffer, an economics major, is a two-time Academic All-Ivy selection. He also has been active in the community in New Haven and in the Philippines where he lived for five years before coming to Yale. At Yale, he has been a volunteer for the Mandi Schwartz Marrow Donor Drive and been a member of Yale's Leadership Council for three years. Winhoffer also has served as a spokesperson for College Admissions Mentors for Peers (CAMP) in the Philippines. CAMP is a student-led organization that helps Filipinos get into American colleges either through sports or education.
 
Away from Yale, Winhoffer captained the Philippine national team in 2019 AFFu22 tournament in Cambodia. He also participated in the College Combine Invitational and trained with New England Revolution II.
 
Winhoffer has used his experience with the Philippines National Team to help Filipino soccer players try to achieve their dreams of playing in the United States through multiple podcasts such as Across the Line and Partially Pinoy. Winhoffer also has assisted in gift drives during the Christmas season for Philippine General Hospital.
 
Winhoffer is the fourth men's soccer player to win the Mallory Award which began after the 1954 season and is the first to earn the honor since Rob Bonta in 1993.