Buckeye Nation,
Thank you for your support of our Buckeye student-athletes who so proudly don the Scarlet and Gray. It has been a year of change, and I am so proud of the way our student-athletes have carried themselves in and out of competition.
This year we set a school-record of 232 student-athletes that were recognized by the Big Ten Conference with Big Ten Distinguished Scholar Awards, many of whom carried a perfect 4.0 GPA. Most importantly, 94% our 2022 graduates had either accepted a job offer, signed a professional contract or were enrolled in graduate school by the end of May.
In competition, our Buckeyes exhibited excellence. We witnessed four teams capture national championships and 10 teams were crowned conference champions. We also had numerous individual national and conference champions.
We take pride in offering a comprehensive circle of care to our student-athletes, which empowers them to succeed in academics, athletics and life. This could not be done without you. So, thank you! Thank you for your continued support of our great Ohio State student-athletes!
Go Buckeyes!
Eugene Smith
Senior Vice President and Wolfe Foundation Endowed Athletics Director
Champions
Individual Accolades
- Matej Vocel and Robert Cash: 2021 Indoor Tennis Association Doubles National Champions
- Gabriel Feinberg: 2022 Men's Epee National Champion
- C.J. Stroud: Big Ten Conference Graham-George Offensive Player of the Year, Griese-Brees Quarterback of the Year and Thompson-Randle El Freshman of the Year
- Adelaide Aquilla: 2022 NCAA National Champion and collegiate women's shot put record holder
- Nikki Dzurko: Synchronized Swimming Solo National Champion
- Emily Armstrong: Synchronized Swimming Individual High Point Award
- Maxwell Moldovan: U.S. Open (PGA Tour) qualifier and PING All-American
- Katelyn Abeln: Air Pistol NCAA National Champion
- Henry Leverett: Sport, Standard & 3-Event Aggregate Pistol NCAA National Champion
- Tyler Johnson: Big Ten Medal of Honor Recipient
- Izzy Rodriguez: Big Ten Medal of Honor Recipient
- Sophie Jaques: Ohio State Female Athlete of the Year, 2022 Arthur Ashe Jr. Female Sports Scholar of the Year and Women's Ice Hockey National Champion
- Hunter Armstrong: Ohio State Male Athlete of the Year, 50M Backstroke world record holder and 5x 2022 Big Ten Champion
- Bill Dorenkott: Big Ten Women's Swim Coach of the Year
- Kate Sweeney: Rowing Big Ten Coach of the Year
- Karen Dennis: Big Ten Men’s and Women’s Track and Field Coach of the Year
- Donald Anthony, Jr.: Central Collegiate Fencing Conference Men’s Coach of the Year
- Nadine Muzerall: Western Collegiate Hockey Association Coach of the Year
- Holly Vargo Brown: Synchronized Swimming National Collegiate Coach of the Year
Academic Excellence
Of the 788 Buckeye student-athletes who were recognized with Ohio State Scholar-Athlete awards, 52 were highlighted for carrying perfect 4.0 grade-point averages.
In addition, a record 232 Ohio State student-athletes were recognized by the Big Ten Conference with Big Ten Distinguished Scholar Awards.
With help from the Eugene D. Smith Leadership Institute, a record 94% of our 2021-2022 graduates had secured full-time employment, been accepted to graduate school or had signed a professional sports contract by the end of May.
Olympic Update
26 Buckeyes competed in Tokyo at the Summer Olympics in 2021, followed by six Buckeyes who competed in the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.
Some highlights of the Games include...
- Hunter Armstrong won Gold with the United States’ 4×100 men’s medley relay team
- Nichelle Prince earned Gold with Team Canada's women's soccer team
- Kyle Snyder who took Silver in the 97kg men’s freestyle wrestling
- Ilse Paulis and the Netherlands’ women’s lightweight double took home the Bronze
- Emma Maltais and Natalie Spooner who won Gold with Canada's women's ice hockey team
- Jincy Dunne took home Silver with the United States' women's ice hockey team
- Minttu Tuominen won Bronze with Finland's women's ice hockey team
Athletics District Update
Thanks to the generosity and leadership of our capital project supporters, the Ohio State Athletics District continues to grow. This year, the department broke ground on the Ohio State Lacrosse Stadium. The project is completely funded through philanthropic support.
The new stadium will have a capacity of 2,000 and includes a heated and lighted field, press box with broadcast facilities and an indoor shooting room. It will also become a central location for camps, clinics and lacrosse-specific events throughout the year, truly making it a centerpiece for the sport in the state of Ohio. On the current timeline, both the men’s and women’s programs would compete in the stadium for the first time in the winter/spring of 2023.
Community Service
Our Ohio State student-athletes, coaches and athletics staff members continue to have a positive impact on the people of Central Ohio. Through service in organizations such as the 2nd and 7 Foundation and the Mid-Ohio Food Collective, Buckeyes foster the values of generosity and community.
This year, our Buckeyes recorded 3,867 hours of service and volunteered with 45 different organizations.
Circle of Care
The Department of Athletics is committed to providing student-athletes with a comprehensive circle of care. Whether it be through resources or personnel, the department prioritizes the well-being and experiences of our Buckeyes.
“One of the things I’ve always told our student-athletes is that they should never put their heads on their pillows at night worrying about something we can help them with. We have a circle of care around them that is phenomenal and unprecedented.” – Gene Smith, Senior Vice President and Wolfe Foundation Endowed Athletics Director
Circle of Care Highlight
Mental Health
The Department of Athletics services the fastest growing Sport Psychology and Wellness Services department in the country. As our Buckeyes navigated the adversities of being both a student and an athlete throughout the pandemic, these psychologists were more important than ever.
In March of 2022, offensive lineman Harry Miller publicly shared his mental health struggles and his decision to medically retire from football. "Prior to the season last year, I told Coach Day of my intention to kill myself. He immediately had me in touch with Dr. Candice and Dr. Norman, and I received the support I needed," Miller wrote. His words resonated with many and garnered national attention, including an invitation to speak on NBC's TODAY show.
2022 Spring Commencement
194 current and former Ohio State student-athletes received degrees from the University on May 8th. Included among the graduates were Olympians, a Super Bowl champion, All-Americans and national and conference champions.
Four Buckeyes – Jordan Fuller and Carlos Snow from football, baseball’s Tre Gantt and Luisa Schirmer from the women’s volleyball program – were part of the Athletics Department’s degree completion program.
