The inaugural Scarlet and Graymies were held on Tuesday at the Schottenstein Center, during which several awards were handed out highlighting the past year in Ohio State athletics.
The student-athletes, coaches, and staff members in attendance for the award show celebrated national champions, Big Ten champions, record breakers, and many other successes had by the Buckeyes over the last year. In addition to the awards, which were voted on entirely by student-athletes, the winners of the Big Ten Medal of Honor were announced: Christy Blough of men’s volleyball and Emma Baranski of synchronized swimming.
“I’m just so honored to win this award,” Baranski said on her recognition. “It was my dream to come to Ohio State ever since I was little. To win this award is a dream come true and something I never thought would happen.”
“I’m not a big fan of individual awards like this because recognizing one person who has benefited from the culmination of other’s hard work doesn’t seem that fair,” Blough said. “Thank you to my coaches for getting every ounce of ability out of my body. Thank you to my teammates for the endless camaraderie. Thank you to my family for making the man I am. And finally, thank you to Ohio State.”
Once all the attendees were seated, Senior Vice President and Wolfe Foundation Endowed Athletics Director Gene Smith made some opening remarks, saying: “Tonight is about taking some time to recognize some performances on and off the field this year. Congratulations to everyone on a great year.”
Ohio State football and men’s basketball play-by-play announcer Paul Keels served as emcee, and former men’s basketball All-American Scoonie Penn was in attendance as well to interview some of the award winners.
Among the award winners were some of the biggest and best moments from the last year. A couple national championship-winning teams were awarded Best Men’s Team and Best Women’s Team; the Buckeyes’ men’s volleyball team was awarded the former after winning the second national title in program history in 2016, while synchronized swimming’s 30th national championship earned it the title of Best Women’s Team. Men’s volleyball also won for Most Outstanding Season, the national title last year serving as the cherry on top of a 31-3 campaign which the Buckeyes ended on a 23-match winning streak. Ohio State’s thrilling double overtime victory over Michigan earned the football team the Best TTUN Win award.
A full list of nominees and winners can be seen below:
NOT TOP TEN PLAY
Men’s Gymnastics
Women’s Diving
Women’s Ice Hockey
BEST PLAY
Field Hockey
Men’s Dive
Softball
CELEBRATION
Men’s Soccer
Women’s Basketball
Baseball
COMEBACK
Women’s Soccer
Rowing
Rifle
UPSET
Men’s Lax
Women’s Volleyball
Men’s Ice Hockey
OUTSTANDING SEASON
Women’s Tennis
Men’s Volleyball
Pistol
Baseball
Wrestling
BEST MEN’S TEAM
Gymnastics
Volleyball
Swimming
BEST WOMEN’S TEAM
Swimming
Synchro
Soccer
BEST TEAM UP NORTH WIN
Women’s Tennis
Men’s Ice Hockey
Football
Women’s Gymnastics
Men’s Soccer
News courtesy of Ohio State Athletics.
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