OXFORD, Ohio — Dakota Wesleyan Baseball athlete Landon Ruesink has been named a Co-Captain for the 2026 Lou Gehrig Community Impact Team.
Since 1955, Phi Delta Theta International Fraternity has presented the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award to the Major League Baseball player who best exemplifies the spirit and character of Lou Gehrig, both on and off the field. Created to memorialize beloved Phi Delta Theta member Lou Gehrig following his death from ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease), the award is housed in the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York. Through the growing impact of the award, Phi Delta Theta recognizes some of the best men in baseball while positively impacting the ALS community.
To further Lou Gehrig's legacy and his storied baseball career that began at the collegiate level at Columbia University, Phi Delta Theta, in partnership with the Live Like Lou Foundation, introduced the Lou Gehrig Community Impact Team in 2024 to annually recognize the giving character and community impact of collegiate baseball players.
Phi Delta Theta and the Live Like Lou Foundation are proud to announce the 2026 Lou Gehrig Community Impact Team. Honorees were nominated by their schools, and the team was selected based on outstanding achievements in three key areas:
- Demonstrating a substantial commitment to their community through service and philanthropy.
- Embodying the generous spirit and character of Lou Gehrig.
- Making remarkable contributions to the success of their respective teams.
Following the selection of the 2026 team, two players tied for the highest number of votes by the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award Voting Committee and have been named Co-Captains. Zion Rose, of NCAA Division I Louisville, and Ruesink will have the opportunity to collaborate with Phi Delta Theta and the Live Like Lou Foundation to organize an on-field ceremony dedicated to honoring them and contributing monies to support a family affected by ALS in their local communities.
As a result of a tremendous response that resulted from the call for nominations, Phi Delta Theta and Live Like Lou have named the Lou Gehrig Community Impact Team, an honorable mention team, and an Honorary Captain to recognize an individual associated with college baseball who has made a lasting impact on the ALS community.
Ruesink is a standout dual-sport student-athlete at Dakota Wesleyan University, where he has been a four-year starter in both football and baseball while maintaining a perfect 4.0 GPA as an accounting major. His remarkable balance of academic excellence, athletic achievement, and community impact earned him the NAIA's prestigious A.O. Duer Award, the association's highest national honor recognizing scholarship, character, and service.
On the field, Landon served as the Tigers' everyday shortstop in 2025, anchoring the defense and hitting in the top half of the lineup. He posted a .284 batting average and a .380 on-base percentage, ranking among the team leaders in both categories, and led the team in quality at-bats during conference play. He reached base safely in nearly 20 consecutive at-bats and played a pivotal role in helping the Tigers reach their first conference tournament in six seasons. On the gridiron, he excelled as an all-conference defensive back and special teams contributor.
Beyond athletics, Landon has dedicated extensive time to South Dakota Special Olympics, Habitat for Humanity, and his local food pantry. During severe flooding in Mitchell, he volunteered countless hours filling sandbags and assisting families with cleanup efforts. He also officiates youth sports and supports athletic clinics, mentoring the next generation. Through every commitment, Landon exemplifies servant leadership and a relentless drive to make a positive impact.
Read the rest of the official release from the Phi Delta Theta International Fraternity here.