Athletics: Jatsek, Coconis Named Outstanding Sportsmanship Award Winners – Ohio State Buckeyes
6/4/2008 12:00:00 AM | General
Student-athletes recognized for their distinguished sportsmanship, behavior and citizenship
COLUMBUS, Ohio The Big Ten Conference today recognized seniors Veronica Jatsek (women’s track & field) and Kyle Coconis (men’s golf) as Ohio State’s recipients of the Big Ten’s Outstanding Sportsmanship Awards. A total of 22 Big Ten student-athletes were chosen, two from each of the 11 member schools.
These individuals were chosen from a group of 275 student-athletes honored throughout the academic year who displayed positive sportsmanship.
Jatsek, a senior from Walton Hills, Ohio, recently qualified for the 2008 NCAA Track & Field Championships in the hammer throw by virtue of her third-place finish last weekend (198 feet, 11 inches). She will be looking to earn the fourth All-America honor of her career and her second of the season. She also will be looking to become the first thrower in Ohio State history to earn All-America honors in four-consecutive NCAA championships. Jatsek holds the Big Ten championship meet record in the hammer throw and two of the top three tosses in Ohio State history. Jatsek recorded a season-best toss of 205 feet, 8 1/2 inches this season, which currently ranks 14th in the nation and third in Ohio State history.
A native of Zanesville, Ohio, Coconis, a co-captain, tallied nine rounds under par this season, including a career-low 68 four times during his senior campaign. He entered the season having played in just two events during his previous four seasons and this year led the Buckeyes throughout the season with eight Top 20 finishes. At the team’s awards banquet, he received the award for low stroke average (73.15) while playing in all 34 rounds. He had his best performance last fall at the Landfall Tradition, placing second overall with a 4-under par 212 (71-68-73).
One member of each varsity sports team on every campus was chosen by his or her institution as a Sportsmanship Award honoree. From each university’s list, two Outstanding Sportsmanship Award winners were then selected. All of the Sportsmanship Award honorees have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. In addition, theses student-athletes must be in good academic standing and must have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting.
The 22 Outstanding Sportsmanship Award winners include 14 Academic All-Big Ten honorees and eight All-Big Ten selections from the 2007-08 season.
2008 Outstanding Sportsmanship Award Winners
Illinois
J Leman, Sr., Football
Shannon McDonnell, Sr., Women’s Soccer
Indiana
Andrew Means, Jr., Baseball
Vera Neuenswander, So., Women’s Track & Field
Iowa
Bart van Monsjou, Sr., Men’s Tennis
Brittany Keyes, Sr., Rowing
Michigan
Michael Parke, Sr., Men’s Soccer
Krista Clement, Sr., Women’s Basketball
Michigan State
Drew Neitzel, Sr., Men’s Basketball
Alisa Wulff, Sr., Women’s Basketball
Minnesota
Amir Pinnix, Sr., Football
Kelly Roysland, Sr., Volleyball
Northwestern
Tonjua (T.J.) Jones, Sr., Football
Christy Finch, Sr., Lacrosse
Ohio State
Kyle Coconis, Sr., Men’s Golf
Veronica Jatsek, Sr., Women’s Track & Field
Penn State
Mike Walker, Sr., Men’s Basketball
Melissa Walbridge, Sr., Volleyball
Purdue
Jaycen Taylor, Jr., Football
Brooke Beier, Sr., Women’s Tennis
Wisconsin
Luke Swan, Sr., Football
Audra Jeffers, Jr., Volleyball
