OSU Athletics
OSU Athletes of the Year Named
From OSU Press ReleasesWrestler J Jaggers and basketball player Jantel Lavender have been named the men's and women's athletes of the year by the OSU department of athletics.
J Jaggers
OSU Male Athlete of the YearJaggers, a Northfield, Ohio, native who won his second-consecutive NCAA title as a senior in 2009, is the first wrestler to earn the honor in the 28-year history of the award.
Before making his debut as the volunteer assistant coach of the Ohio State wrestling team next season, Jaggers will be known for leaving an impressive imprint on the two-time national runner-up Buckeyes. In 2009, the All-American joined an exceptional class of wrestling Buckeyes as the 141-pound national champion in back-to-back seasons in 2008 and 2009. He joins Tommy Rowlands, a 2002 and 2004 heavyweight champion and Kevin Randleman, the 177-pound champion in 1992 and 1993 in the elite group.
Ending his senior campaign with a 28-7 ledger, Jaggers completed his career with a remarkable 108-33 record as a three-time All-American and four-time NCAA qualifier.
After winning his first national championship in dramatic fashion where he held on for the title with 16 seconds left despite suffering a severe ankle injury, Jaggers successfully defended his title this past spring, proving “you don’t just stumble on two national championships.”
The 2008 Greater Cleveland Athletic Sports Commission Collegiate Athlete of the Year, Jaggers is a three-time National Wrestling Coaches Association All-Academic and two-time Academic All-Big Ten Team selection, as well as a three-time Ohio State Scholar-Athlete. He earned his bachelor’s degree in communication at the end of winter quarter. Jaggers is considering continuing his training in hopes of making the 2012 Olympic Team.
Jaggers moves on to the ballot for the Big Ten’s Jesse Owens Athlete of the Year award.
Jantel Lavender
OSU Female Athlete of the YearWomen’s basketball sophomore Jantel Lavender was named the Buckeyes’ female athlete of the year Monday.
Lavender is a sophomore center on the women's basketball team. Her honor marks the ninth time a women’s basketball player has earned the accolade and the third time in the last four years.
In 2008-09 Lavender enjoyed a record-breaking season on her way to earning State Farm/WBCA Coaches and USBWA All-America honors, the fourth WBCA All-American at Ohio State in the past five years. She led the Buckeyes to a 29-6 record (tying for the third-most wins in Division I), a record-tying fifth straight Big Ten regular season championship and a berth in the NCAA Sweet 16. The Cleveland, Ohio, native was the Big Ten Player of the Year for a second-consecutive season, becoming the sixth player in Big Ten women’s basketball history to earn the award in back-to-back seasons. Lavender became only the second player in conference history to complete the statistical triple crown, leading the conference in points (20.0), rebounds (9.9) and a shooting percentage (.549) in conference games while averaging 20.8 points and 10.7 rebounds with 24 double-doubles and a .541 shooting percentage in all games played.
The only Division I player to rank in the Top 20 in scoring, rebounding and field goal percentage, Lavender set a Big Ten single-season record with 374 rebounds and was named the 2009 Big Ten Tournament Most Outstanding Player, setting a single tournament record with 41 rebounds in the three wins over Illinois, Iowa and Purdue as the Buckeyes took home the tournament trophy. Lavender scored in double-figures each game and has done so in all 66 career contests, the longest active streak in Division I. Lavender led the Buckeyes in scoring in 28 of 35 games and led the Big Ten with 21 games of 20 or more points.
Lavender moves on to the ballot for the Suzy Favor Big Ten Female Athlete of the Year award.
Ohio State Male Athletes of the Year
1983 Cathy Kratzert Golf
1984 Sarah Josephson Synchronized Swimming
1985 Yvette Angel Basketball
1986 Tracey Hall Basketball
1987 Karen LaFace Diving
1988 Bridgette Tate Track/Field
1989 Nikita Lowry Basketball
1990 Susan Gottlieb Swimming
1991 Holly O'Leary Volleyball
1992 Leisa Wissler Volleyball
1993 Audrey Burcy Basketball
1994 Katie Smith Basketball
1995 # Laura Davis Volleyball
1996 Katie Smith Basketball
1997 Amy Langhals Golf
1998 Vanessa Wouters Volleyball
1999 Dominque Calloway Track/Field
2000 Donica Merriman Track/Field
2001 Donica Merriman Track/Field
2002 Anna Smith Softball
2003 Stacey Gordon Volleyball
2004 Allison Hanna Golf
2005 Stacey Gordon Volleyball
2006 Jessica Davenport Basketball
2007 Jessica Davenport Basketball
2008 Teresa Meyer Pistol
2009 Jantel Lavender Basketball# Recipient of the Big Ten Suzy Favor Award
1982 Art Schlichter Football
1983 Chris Perry Golf
1984 John Frank Football
1985 Robert Playter Gymnastics
1986 Mike Lanese Football
1987 Butch Reynolds Track/Field
1988 Chris Spielman Football
1989 Joe Greene Track/Field
1990 Mike Rancanelli Gymnastics
1991 Jim Jackson Basketball
1992 Jim Jackson Basketball
1993 Chris Nelloms Track/Field
1994 Chris Sanders Track/Field
1995 Blaine Wilson Gymnastics
1996 * Eddie George Football
1997 * Blaine Wilson Gymnastics
1998 Hugo Boisvert Hockey
1999 Scoonie Penn Basketball
2000 Jamie Natalie Gymnastics
2001 Jamie Natalie Gymnastics
2002 Raj Bhavsar Gymnastics
2003 Craig Krenzel Football
2004 Dan Taylor Track/Field
2005 Mike Nugent Football
2006 A.J. Hawk Football
2007 Troy Smith Football
2008 Andras Horanyi Fencing
2009 J Jaggers Wrestling
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