For the second-consecutive athletics campaign, Ohio State placed second overall in the Directors' Cup standings in 2016-17.
Behind three national championship squads and four more NCAA runner-up teams, the Buckeyes claimed their third runner-up placing in program history and sixth Top 5 finish overall.
🗣 "To place second in the Directors' Cup standings for the second year in a row is a true testament to our outstanding student-athletes comprehensively competing at the highest level in 36 sports. Our leadership from a coaching standpoint certainly is second to none and we could not achieve any of these successes without the unwavering support provided by the athletics department staff and The Ohio State University." - Gene Smith, Senior Vice President and Wolfe Foundation Endowed Athletics Director
🗣 "I think that's why you play the game of football for moments like this because all the training we go through, all the workouts and yelling and screaming, I mean, this is why we play the game for moments like this against your rivals and a great atmosphere for college football and for your teammates." - J.T. Barrett, Jr. Quarterback
🗣 “Never in a million years did I think I would walk out of the competition winning four national titles. The entire day was a dream come true.” - Emma Baranski, 2017 Synchronized Swimming National Athlete of the Year
Men's lacrosse completed the greatest season in program history with a national runner-up finish, pushing No. 1 Maryland to within a tight fourth-quarter game for the third time this season.
🌰FACT: The Buckeyes combined for 12 conference players of the year in eight sports and 72 all-league first team selections overall in 2016-17.
The spring season continued to heat up as softball, rowing and women's golf all competed on the national stage with both rowing and women's golf earning Top 5 status. In addition, rowing claimed its fifth-consecutive B1G title.
🎓 A COMPLETE PROGRAM 🎓
In 2016-17, a record 626 Buckeyes gained OSU Scholar-Athlete status and another 394 set a standard in the conference for Academic All-Big Ten. A total of 375 Ohio State student-athletes earned their degrees in the last academic year as well.
Big Ten Medal of Honor winners Christy Blough (right) and Emma Baranski highlighted the first Scarlet and Graymie Student-Athlete Awards held inside the Schottenstein Center in April.
CoSIDA Academic All-Americans
Sam Hubbard (football), Lindsay Agnew (women’s soccer), Christy Blough (men’s volleyball), Francesca Di Lorenzo (women’s tennis), Eleanor Harvey (fencing) and Kyle Snyder (wrestling)
2017 OHIO STATE ATHLETES OF THE YEAR
THANK YOU TO THE BEST FANS IN THE LAND
Credits:
Columbus Dispatch; AP; USASTI; IOC