Sophie Jaques and James Trotter are Ohio State’s Athletes of the Year.
Ohio State named its Patty Kazmaier Award-winning women’s hockey star and its national championship-winning men’s tennis ace as its Athletes of the Year on Wednesday, putting both of them on the ballot for the Big Ten Athlete of the Year award.
Jaques, who was also Ohio State’s female recipient of the Big Ten Medal of Honor this year, is Ohio State’s Female Athlete of the Year for the second year in a row after becoming the first player in Ohio State history and just the second defenseman ever to win the Patty Kazmaier Award, women’s hockey’s version of the Heisman Trophy. Jaques also won WCHA Player of the Year and Defender of the Year honors while leading Ohio State to its first WCHA regular-season title, a program-record 33 wins and a berth in the national championship game for the second straight season.
— Ohio State Women's Hockey (@OhioStateWHKY) June 28, 2023
Congrats @_sophiejaques on earning the honor for the second straight year!#GoBucks | https://t.co/aIyPt6dJtN pic.twitter.com/wUqDfS4ZeN
She’s the first Buckeye to win the school’s Female Athlete of the Year honor twice since rower Catherine Shields won the award in both 2013-14 and 2015-16. She’s the first Ohio State athlete of either gender to win Athlete of the Year honors in back-to-back seasons since wrestler Kyle Snyder was Ohio State’s Male Athlete of the Year in 2015-16 and 2016-17.
Trotter is Ohio State’s Male Athlete of the Year after a spectacular senior season in which he posted a 29-1 singles record – the best among all Division I players – and paired with Andrew Lutschaunig to win the NCAA doubles championship. Also named as the MVP of the Big Ten Tournament and the ITA National Most Improved Senior, Trotter led Ohio State men’s tennis to a 17th consecutive regular-season Big Ten title, a Big Ten Tournament championship and a 34-3 overall record as Ohio State made a run to the final of the NCAA team tournament.
Ohio State Male Athlete of the Year -- James Trotter!!
— Ohio State M Tennis (@OhioStateMTEN) June 28, 2023
What a year for Jimbo! pic.twitter.com/oDN9R3zshT
He’s just the second tennis player ever to win Ohio State’s Male Athlete of the Year award, joining Blaz Rola in 2012-13.
