B1G Medal of Honor Finalist Spotlight: Alex Ivanov and Misha Koudinov – Ohio State Buckeyes
4/12/2015 12:00:00 AM | General
April 12, 2015
The winners of the prestigious Medal of Honor will be announced at the annual Scholar-Athlete Dinner Monday. Each member institution in the conference gives the Big Ten Medal of Honor award annually to the male and female student-athletes in the graduating class who have attained the greatest proficiency in both academics and athletics. The Big Ten Conference office established the award in 1914 for men and an additional award for the top female was instituted in 1982. The award includes a $5,000 postgraduate scholarship.
Leading up to the announcement, the 10 finalists (five male, five female) will be featured on OhioStateBuckeyes.com. Read below for a Q&A with men’s gymnast Misha Koudinov and Alex Ivanov of the men’s soccer team.
Alex Ivanov, a native of Strongsville, Ohio, was named the 2014 Senior CLASS Award Winner for men’s soccer. Ivanov, who became the program’s first Academic All-American as a junior, led the Big Ten in saves for two-consecutive seasons with 91 stops. He finished third on Ohio State’s all-time career saves list with 239 stops and fifth in career shutouts with 15. A four-time Ohio State Scholar-Athlete, three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection and two-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar, he earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical and computer engineering. Ivanov was the second Ohio State student-athlete to be honored as a Senior CLASS Award winner.
Looking back at your time at Ohio State, what are some lasting memories you will take with you?
There are many lasting memories at Ohio State I will take with me for the rest of my life. Things that come immediately to mind are graduating and our 15-round penalty kick shootout to beat Akron in the first round of the NCAA tournament last fall. Those first captains’ practices with the soccer team before preseason started and meeting my freshman teammates. Also, living in the dorms freshman year and meeting so many great people not only that year but all 4 and a half years. Athletically, I will never forget starting my first game for the Buckeyes – a late August game vs. Coastal Carolina where it was 98 degrees and super humid but I set a personal best with 11 saves in a double overtime game. I’ll never forget my first shutout either, saving two penalty kicks and then after the game having this little boy come up to me with his dad – so thrilled to meet me and take his picture with me. To beating Michigan twice in one week last fall to all the trips with the team and all the people I met in my classes – the list goes on and on. But most importantly, I take away the perseverance and social skills I learned from Ohio State and how to challenge myself physically and mentally on the athletic playing field and in the classroom.
| Alex Ivanov |
What are some of the challenges that come with balancing athletics and academics, and how do you meet those tests?
The major challenges that come with the balancing act that is college athletics include managing your time and staying organized. If you can stay organized and control the things that are in your control you will be successful. It takes discipline, dedication and hard work and when things get confusing and difficult that is when the learning happens. Learning is suffering. It is also important to have a good support system of people that you can rely on. However, at the end of the day it is important to enjoy your college years and make the most of them and never forget how lucky you are to be at Ohio State – and playing a sport that you love – which always gave me an outlet during my college years and can only help your success.
Why did you choose your particular major? How do you plan to use your education in the future?
I choose electrical engineering because electricity is everywhere and it is such an important part of our daily lives. The way we harness electricity and use it to our advantage is amazing to me and that the field is always changing and evolving is something I’ve always wanted to know everything about. I plan to use my degree to enter the workforce as an engineer.
Why did you choose to become a Buckeye?
I choose to be a Buckeye because of the tradition and sense of community Ohio State offers. I think it is one of the most special communities in the world.
If you could trade places with any teammate for a day, who would it be and why?
Konrad Kucharski. He’s just a goof that has a good attitude about life and has fun with it.
What advice do you have for freshmen, just beginning their collegiate careers?
Quickly get rid of your adolescent fears and explore all the opportunities that come your way. College gives you the unique opportunity to meet people from all walks of life and also learn a lot about yourself. Challenge yourself and take one thing at a time.
Where is your favorite place on campus?
Ohio Stadium.
If you could play any other sport at Ohio State, what would it be and why?
I’d be a kicker or a wide receiver on the football team. I can kick a soccer ball pretty far and I think it would be the best feeling ever to kick a gamewinning field goal for the Buckeyes.
Who is the person you admire the most?
There are so many people that I admire – I can’t list them all here. I’d have to say my brother Ned is one that sticks out. I have looked up to him my whole life and can always turn to him for advice.
What does it mean to you personally to be a Buckeye?
To be a Buckeye means not only that you bleed scarlet and gray and despise *ichigan, but that you’re a good person who works hard and perseveres through tough situations. You never give up, you’re loyal to your school and you’re out to make the world a better place.
Misha Koudinov, from Auckland, New Zealand, was a 2012 All-American on parallel bars and Second Team All-Big Ten selection for the men’s gymnastics team. He served as a team captain in 2013 and helped the Buckeyes to a second-place finish at the Big Ten championships as a senior in 2014. Academically, Koudinov was a three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, four-time OSU Scholar Athlete and two-time CGA Academic All-American. Koudinov is majoring in Japanese at Ohio State.
Looking back at your time at Ohio State, what are some lasting memories you will take with you?
I will never forget the work my teammates and I did in the gym, the struggle we went through during practice and the time we were able to spend together outside of the gym.
| Misha Koudinov |
What are some of the challenges that come with balancing athletics and academics, and how do you meet those tests?
Academics took a good two years to figure out, but thanks to the support given to student-athletes I was able to keep a good GPA. Once I matured and developed a better ability to focus on school it was a matter of maintaining a good schedule and knowing when to rest.
Why did you choose your particular major? How do you plan to use your education in the future?
I was always fascinated by the differences in cultures around the world, and languages were a door way to further exploration. After five years of Chinese in high school I became interested in Japanese and eventually ended up selecting it as my major. The world is becoming more interconnected and language skills open the door to international job markets.
Why did you choose to become a Buckeye?
At first I came to OSU because I had followed the strong gymnastics program since I was a teenager. However, living overseas I had no idea that collegiate sport was so developed in the states. After arriving at OSU there were lots of things to learn and it took me a while to be able to grasp the magnitude of this school.
What advice do you have for freshmen, just beginning their collegiate careers?
Follow your passion, be true to yourself and use the opportunities given to you to become a better human being.
Where is your favorite place on campus?
My favorite place on campus is the Thompson Library, where I spent hours in peace and quiet doing homework and preparing for class.
If you could play any other sport at Ohio State, what would it be and why?
Fencing, because I loved pirates when I was a kid.
Who is the person you admire the most?
I admire my coaches because they achieved results on a global scale, ranging from Olympic and world champions, to making it to the U.S. Olympic trials. This made working with them a great experience because I also aim to compete at such events.
What does it mean to you personally to be a Buckeye?
I feel I’ve grown more than I could have imagined in my time as a Buckeye. Being a Buckeye to me means to grow into my true self. It’s overcoming obstacles and maturing into a better person with the support of friends, staff and the rest of the Ohio State community.
