Thornton, Gray Named Outstanding Sportsmanship Award Winners

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Big Ten has recognized Sportsmanship Award winners for all sports and two Outstanding Sportsmanship Award winners from each campus. For Ohio State, Bruce Thornton of the men's basketball team was the men's overall winner, with Chance Gray of the women's basketball team honored with the women's award.

Thornton is the only four-time captain in program history and became the school's all-time leading scorer this season. The Big Ten Medal of Honor recipient was also the winner of The Eugene D. Smith Award, which was established to honor a student-athlete who embodies the mission of The Eugene D. Smith Leadership Institute by exhibiting the highest level of character and leadership.

Gray helped lead Ohio State to a 54-15 record and two NCAA Tournament appearances in her two seasons with the Scarlet and Gray. She was a two-time CSC Academic All-District selection and a Kay Yow Servant Leader, which honors student-athletes who put others first—on their teams, on campus and in their communities. Gray, alongside her two sisters, co-founded the Where2Next Foundation, which is a charity that focuses on traumatic brain injury support, youth mentorship, AAU basketball and community-driven events.

One member of each varsity sports team on every campus was chosen by his or her institution as a Sportsmanship Award honoree and two Outstanding Sportsmanship Award winners were then selected from each institution. All of the Sportsmanship Award winners have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. In addition, these honorees must be in good academic standing and must have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting.

2025-26 Ohio State Big Ten Sportsmanship Award Winners
*Outstanding Sportsmanship Award winner for Ohio State

Artistic Swimming - Charlotte Gray
Baseball - Noah Furcht
*Men's Basketball - Bruce Thornton
*Women's Basketball - Chance Gray
Men's Cross Country - Kevin Agnew
Women's Cross Country - Katie Castelli
Men's Fencing – Matthew Bulau
Women's Fencing – Natalia Botello
Field Hockey - Victoria Kutz
Football - Sonny Styles
Men's Golf - Topher Reed
Women's Golf - Sophie Eppelstun
Men's Gymnastics - Jesse Pakele
Women's Gymnastics - Kaitlyn Grimes
Men's Hockey - James Hong
Women's Hockey -Sloane Matthews
Men's Indoor Track & Field - Edidiong Udo
Women's Indoor Track & Field - Aniya Mosley
Men's Lacrosse - Griffin Liedel
Women's Lacrosse - Zoe Coleman
Men's Outdoor Track & Field - Nazzio John
Women's Outdoor Track & Field - Laila Campbell
Men's Pistol - Marcus Klemp
Women's Pistol - Leah Mueller
Men's Rifle - John Hamilton
Women's Rifle - Lillian Warren
Rowing - Ava Semeniuk
Men's Soccer - Luciano Pechota
Women's Soccer - Sophia Louder
Softball - Skylar Limon
Men's Swimming & Diving - Evan Fentress
Women's Swimming & Diving - Jessica Eden
Men's Tennis - JP Day
Women's Tennis - Megan Basil
Men's Volleyball - Drew Hudson
Women's Volleyball - Kamiah Gibson
Wrestling - Jesse Mendez

Departments

Media

More

University

Information

Athletic Facilities

Athletics

The Team Shop

Get In The Game

Purchase Tickets

Purchase Tickets

Ticket Office

Resources

Schedules