Former Ohio State wrestler Kyle Snyder capped off his amateur career by receiving one of the most prestigious awards in amateur sports on Tuesday night, when he was named as the winner of the 88th AAU Sullivan Award.
Snyder is just the fourth wrestler ever to win the award, joining John Smith (1990), Bruce Baumgartner (1995) and Rulon Gardner (2000).
The Sullivan Award has been presented annually since 1930 to the most outstanding amateur athlete in the United States.
A 2016 Olympic gold medalist and two-time world champion, Snyder capped off his Ohio State career last month by winning his third consecutive NCAA heavyweight championship. He and fellow Buckeye wrestling alumnus Logan Stieber represented Team USA earlier this month at the Freestyle Wrestling World Cup, helping win the team gold at that tournament for the first time in 15 years.
Snyder was previously a finalist for the Sullivan Award in 2017 after his successful Olympic campaign and a second consecutive NCAA heavyweight title.
“This is a great award," Snyder said in his acceptance speech. "I have been blessed in my life and my career. There is nothing I love more than wrestling.”
Snyder is the second Ohio State athlete in four years to win the award. Ezekiel Elliott won the 85th Sullivan Award after leading the football Buckeyes to a national championship in 2014.
