Sophie Jaques and Kaleb Romero Receive Big Ten Medal of Honor, 765 Ohio State Athletes Earn Scholar-Athlete Honors

The marquee awards of the night went to Ohio State women’s hockey star Sophie Jaques and wrestler Kaleb Romero, who were named as Ohio State’s recipients of the Big Ten Medal of Honor, which honors each Big Ten school’s male and female athlete who “attained the greatest proficiency in athletics and scholastic work.”

CONGRATS to the Big Ten Medal of Honor Winners@_sophiejaques ~ @OhioStateWHKY @KalebRomero7 ~ @wrestlingbucks #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/6aHtjDqdFP

— Ohio State Buckeyes (@OhioStAthletics) April 11, 2023

Jaques adds the Big Ten Medal of Honor to a full cabinet of awards that includes this year’s Patty Kazmaier Award, which honors the best player in women’s college hockey, and the 2022 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar of the Year award. She concludes her five years at Ohio State as the greatest player in the history of the women’s hockey program after leading the Buckeyes to their first-ever national championship in 2022 and another national championship game appearance this year.

Romero also concludes his Ohio State career with no shortage of accolades after twice earning All-American honors with a sixth-place finish at the NCAA Championships in 2022 and a third-place at the NCAAs in 2023. The 184-pounder went 85-31 during his five seasons at Ohio State, going 27-6 in his final season as a Buckeye.

Jaques won the women’s award over fellow finalists Alessandra Montesano (rowing), Emma Goldean (field hockey), Samantha Hackenbracht (softball), Nikki Dzurko (synchronized swimming) and Adelaide Aquilla (track and field), while Romero won the men’s award from a trio of finalists that also included Jack Myers (lacrosse) and Keagan McLaughlin (soccer).

Those nine athletes were among 765 total Buckeyes who earned scholar-athlete honors for the 2022-23 academic year, recognizing athletes with grade-point averages of at least 3.0.

That list of scholar-athletes, which can be found on Ohio State’s official athletics website, includes 39 Ohio State football players such as quarterbacks Kyle McCord and Devin Brown, running back TreVeyon Henderson, wide receivers Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka and left guard Donovan Jackson, among others.

2022-23 OSU Scholar-Athletes – Football
*Indicates 2022 Academic All-Big Ten Conference honoree

WR David Adolph, Sophomore – Business (1st OSU Scholar-Athlete honor)
WR *Jayden Ballard, Sophomore – Sport Coaching, Rec and Physical Ed (2nd)
RB Chase Brecht, Sophomore – Marketing (1st)
QB Devin Brown, Freshman – Finance (1st)
OL *Quinton Burke, Junior – Zoology (2nd)
LB *Reid Carrico, Sophomore – Construction Systems Management (2nd)
OL Ben Christman, Junior – Sport Industry (1st)
WR *Emeka Egbuka, Sophomore – Marketing (2nd)
OL *Jack Forsman, Sophomore – Accounting  (2nd)
WR Kyion Grayes, Sophomore – Sport Industry (1st)
TE *Patrick Gurd, Junior – Health Sciences (3rd)
WR *Marvin Harrison Jr., Sophomore – Finance (2nd)
TE *Sam Hart, Sophomore – Marketing (2nd)
RB *TreVeyon Henderson, Sophomore – Sport Industry (1st)
TE Zak Herbstreit, Sophomore – Marketing (1st)
OL Carson Hinzman, Freshman – Sport Industry (1st)
OG *Donovan Jackson, Sophomore – Sport Industry (2nd)
WR Xavier Johnson, Graduate – Translational Data Analytics (3rd)
CB *Cameron Kittle, Junior – Constructions Systems Management (2nd)
OL *Trey Leroux, Junior – Finance (3rd)
K Parker Lewis, Junior – Human Development & Family Science (1st)
LS *Max Lomonico, Sophomore – Human Development & Family Science (2nd)
QB Mason Maggs, Sophomore – Biology (1st)
QB *Kyle McCord, Sophomore – Communication (2nd)
DT *Jaden McKenzie, Senior – Human Development & Family Science (3rd)
OL *Zen Michalski, Sophomore – Sport Industry (2nd)
P *Jesse Mirco, Sophomore – Sport Industry (1st)
WR *Joop Mitchell, Sophomore – Finance Consumer and Family Financial Services (1st)
TE *Elias Myers, Senior – Sport Industry (1st)
DT *Bryce Prater – Sophomore – Construction Systems Management (2nd)
DT *Zach Prater – Sophomore – Construction Systems Management (2nd)
QB *Chad Ray, Junior – Health Sciences (1st)
LS *Bradley Robinson, Graduated – Kinesiology / (5th)
PK *Jake Seibert, Junior – Finance (3rd)
LB *Cody Simon, Junior – Finance (3rd)
SAF Sonny Styles, Sophomore – Business
SAF *Kourt Williams, Senior – Communication (2nd)
OC *Toby Wilson, Sophomore – Sport Industry (2nd)

The following Ohio State athletes were awarded postgraduate scholarships at Monday night’s banquet:

• Hannah Moulton (women’s cross country): Leann Grimes-Davidge Award, Varsity O Alumni Society Bill Wentz Postgraduate Scholarship Award
• Zoe Schweitzer (women’s gymnastics): The John Dana Cole Award
• Jack Sampson (spirit program): Pierce Phoenix Award, Woody and Anne Hayes Award
• Brooke Shields (cheerleader): M/I Homes Foundation Award
• Megan McNutt (rower): M/I Homes Foundation Award
• Jay Johnson (men’s swimming): Varsity O Alumni Society Bill Wentz Postgraduate Scholarship Award, Corwin A. Fergus Memorial Award
• Claire Gagliardi (women’s gymnastics): Corwin A. Fergus Memorial Award
• Kayla Fischer (women’s soccer): Corwin A. Fergus Memorial Award
• Nikki Dzurko (synchronized swimming): Corwin A. Fergus Memorial Award
• Ian Mikesell (men’s swimming): Woody and Anne Hayes Award
• Natalie Quinn (dance): Woody and Anne Hayes Award
• Ashley Turner (women’s lacrosse): Woody and Anne Hayes Award
• Emily Vatne (women’s soccer): Woody and Anne Hayes Award

More details on each of those awards can be found in Ohio State’s news release on the banquet.

The women’s hockey team was recognized for posting the top grade-point average among large teams, while the women’s tennis team posted the best GPA among teams with smaller rosters. Baseball was honored for the most improved GPA among large-roster teams while rifle had the most improved GPA among teams with smaller rosters.