Wake Forest Men’s Soccer Announces 2025 Award Winners
11/27/2025 12:00:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Three Demon Deacons were selected for honors based on achievements on, and off, the pitch.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Wake Forest Men's Soccer announced its 2025 team award recipients, honoring three Demon Deacons who exemplified excellence, growth, leadership and competitive impact throughout the 2025 campaign.
This year's honorees include Cristian Escribano (Walt Chyzowych Award for Leadership and Character), Joel Torbic (Most Improved Player) and Cooper Flax (Most Valuable Player).
Cristian Escribano – Walt Chyzowych Award for Leadership and Character
Graduate defender Cristian Escribano concluded a distinguished five-year career by earning one of the program's most meaningful honors. A four-year starter that eclipsed 70-career matches, Escribano served as a vocal captain and mental anchor on the back line, logging 1,183 minutes across 16 starts in 2025.
Beyond his on-field consistency, totaling over 5,255 career minutes, Escribano embodied the values that define Wake Forest Soccer. His growth, character, professionalism and commitment to elevating teammates made him the clear choice for this year's Walt Chyzowych Award.
Walt Chyzowych served as Wake Forest's head men's soccer coach from 1986 to 1994. Under his leadership, the program earned its first ACC title in 1989, transforming the Demon Deacons into a collegiate powerhouse. His impact resonated nationally through his role as U.S. Soccer Federation Director of Coaching, designing coaching licensure programs, and directing Olympic, World Cup, and youth national teams. Chyzowych's influence lives on as his name is honored at Spry Stadium and across U.S. soccer development programs.
Escribano's leadership, anchored in humility, service, and dedication, reflects the standard Chyzowych established for Wake Forest Soccer.
Joel Torbic – Most Improved Player
Sophomore midfielder Joel Torbic emerged as one of the breakout contributors of the 2025 season, earning the program's Most Improved Player award. After making 16 appearances with two starts, Torbic elevated his presence in the midfield rotation, adding reliability on both sides of the ball and contributed more and more as the season went on.
He more than doubled his total minutes from his freshman year, going from 246 to 538 this campaign.
Torbic's growth was evident in his composure, technical progression, and increased defensive responsibility. His development into a trusted box-to-box option provided Wake Forest with needed depth and versatility throughout the fall and will be a crucial piece going forward.
Cooper Flax – Most Valuable Player (MVP)
For the second consecutive year, senior midfielder Cooper Flax delivered one of the most productive seasons in the ACC, earning the title of Wake Forest's 2025 Most Valuable Player.
Flax led the Demon Deacons with nine goals and seven assists for 25 total points in 17 starts. At the conclusion of Wake Forest's season, he ranked top 10 in the ACC in the three major offensive categories, sitting second in total points, third in goals and sixth in assists.
His dominant performances included a hat trick and career-high seven-point outing against Liberty on Sept. 22, along with multiple multi-goal contributions during ACC play. With 21 career goals and 17 assists, Flax has cemented himself as one of the program's elite midfielders of the modern era.
Flax's consistency, match-winning abilities, and leadership in the attacking third made him indispensable to Wake Forest's identity throughout the season. His performances earned him First Team All-ACC honors.
The 2024 All-American totaled 21 career goals, putting him into a tie for 18th on Wake Forest's all-time scoring list with Geraint Davies (1986-89). He also finished 20th all-time in career points with 59.
This year's honorees include Cristian Escribano (Walt Chyzowych Award for Leadership and Character), Joel Torbic (Most Improved Player) and Cooper Flax (Most Valuable Player).
Cristian Escribano – Walt Chyzowych Award for Leadership and Character
Graduate defender Cristian Escribano concluded a distinguished five-year career by earning one of the program's most meaningful honors. A four-year starter that eclipsed 70-career matches, Escribano served as a vocal captain and mental anchor on the back line, logging 1,183 minutes across 16 starts in 2025.
Beyond his on-field consistency, totaling over 5,255 career minutes, Escribano embodied the values that define Wake Forest Soccer. His growth, character, professionalism and commitment to elevating teammates made him the clear choice for this year's Walt Chyzowych Award.
Walt Chyzowych served as Wake Forest's head men's soccer coach from 1986 to 1994. Under his leadership, the program earned its first ACC title in 1989, transforming the Demon Deacons into a collegiate powerhouse. His impact resonated nationally through his role as U.S. Soccer Federation Director of Coaching, designing coaching licensure programs, and directing Olympic, World Cup, and youth national teams. Chyzowych's influence lives on as his name is honored at Spry Stadium and across U.S. soccer development programs.
Escribano's leadership, anchored in humility, service, and dedication, reflects the standard Chyzowych established for Wake Forest Soccer.
Joel Torbic – Most Improved Player
Sophomore midfielder Joel Torbic emerged as one of the breakout contributors of the 2025 season, earning the program's Most Improved Player award. After making 16 appearances with two starts, Torbic elevated his presence in the midfield rotation, adding reliability on both sides of the ball and contributed more and more as the season went on.
He more than doubled his total minutes from his freshman year, going from 246 to 538 this campaign.
Torbic's growth was evident in his composure, technical progression, and increased defensive responsibility. His development into a trusted box-to-box option provided Wake Forest with needed depth and versatility throughout the fall and will be a crucial piece going forward.
Cooper Flax – Most Valuable Player (MVP)
For the second consecutive year, senior midfielder Cooper Flax delivered one of the most productive seasons in the ACC, earning the title of Wake Forest's 2025 Most Valuable Player.
Flax led the Demon Deacons with nine goals and seven assists for 25 total points in 17 starts. At the conclusion of Wake Forest's season, he ranked top 10 in the ACC in the three major offensive categories, sitting second in total points, third in goals and sixth in assists.
His dominant performances included a hat trick and career-high seven-point outing against Liberty on Sept. 22, along with multiple multi-goal contributions during ACC play. With 21 career goals and 17 assists, Flax has cemented himself as one of the program's elite midfielders of the modern era.
Flax's consistency, match-winning abilities, and leadership in the attacking third made him indispensable to Wake Forest's identity throughout the season. His performances earned him First Team All-ACC honors.
The 2024 All-American totaled 21 career goals, putting him into a tie for 18th on Wake Forest's all-time scoring list with Geraint Davies (1986-89). He also finished 20th all-time in career points with 59.
Players Mentioned
Defender
/ Men's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Men's Soccer
Midfielder
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