SUMMER 2017 HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE 2016 17 SEASON SUMMER 2017 1
A MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS When you think of Ohio State Athletics many notable images come to mind. You can see the band marching down the north tunnel at Ohio Stadium; Brutus running across the floor at The Schottenstein Center; athletes raising trophies around the country; Jesse Owens sprinting out of the starting blocks. These images are lasting symbols of the memories we all share with Buckeye Nation. Here at Ohio State, we proudly share some of the most prominent sights in all of sport. Just think of the drum major high-stepping across the field as he leads a senior band member to dot the I in Script Ohio. Traditions, like these, are shared by all who hold Ohio State closely to their heart. These impactful images, these memories, are what we strive to create each day. We strive to give our student-athletes every opportunity to accomplish their dreams and create lasting memories. Student-athletes proudly represent the lineage of Ohio State supporters and athletes who have come before them, and a nationwide community that cheers them on today. As a University, a Department, and as a community, we rally around our Buckeyes to help lift them up and allow them to reach their fullest potential. As we begin the 2017-18 seasons, our student-athletes are working tirelessly to create more memorable images of success to carry on our tradition of excellence. Their efforts are made possible in large part by your continued support of Ohio State Athletics. The memories and successes that they share would not be possible without people like you. In this edition of Seasons Pass, we have featured some memorable images from this past season, highlighting a few of the astounding accomplishments of our Buckeye student-athletes. Thank you for all that you do for Ohio State Athletics. GO BUCKS! Gene Smith Vice President & Wolfe Foundation Endowed Athletics Director SENIOR ASSOCIATE ATHLETICS DIRECTOR, EXTERNAL RELATIONS & STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS Diana Sabau EDITOR Kyle Kuhlman ASSISTANT EDITORS Athletics Communications Staff CREATIVE DIRECTOR / DESIGN Andy DeVito PHOTOGRAPHY Kirk Irwin, Jay LaPrete, Walt Middleton, Ohio State Athletics PRINTING The Ohio State University - UniPrint Columbus, Ohio VIEW ONLINE go.osu.edu/seasonspassmagazine Seasons Pass is the official publication of The Ohio State University Department of Athletics. 2 SEASONS PASS SUMMER 2017 1
CAP TOSSING TIME A record-setting Ohio State graduation class included 165 current and former student-athletes in May 2017, filing into The Shoe to receive an OSU diploma. 2 SEASONS PASS SUMMER 2017 3
DRESS GOOD, PLAY GOOD Brutus looking fresh during the Buckeye Walk, a tradition in which Ohio State football players and staff walk through the crowd offering up high fives and handshakes en route to Skull Session at St. John Arena. FINAL FOUR RUN The Buckeyes had plenty to get excited about in 2016-17, including advancement into the NCAA Women s Tennis Semifinals following postseason victories over Buffalo, Notre Dame, South Carolina and Texas Tech. 4 SEASONS PASS SUMMER 2017 5
STANDING ROOM ONLY Nearly 5,000 fans crammed into Buckeye Field for a three-game series against that team up north, capped off by a 5-0 shutout in favor of Oho State in the series finale witnessed by the largest crowd in OSU Softball history. 6 SEASONS PASS SUMMER 2017 7
SCARLET AND GRAYMIES The inaugural Scarlet and Graymies award show was held at the Schottenstein Center in late April, serving as an evening to celebrate the past calendar year s biggest Athletics accomplishments. 8 SEASONS PASS SUMMER 2017 9
WOLSTEIN LEADERSHIP ACADEMY BACK-TO-BACK-TO-BACK-TO-BACK-TO-BACK Ohio State chased down Michigan at the 2017 Big Ten Rowing Championships to capture a fifth straight conference crown. The Buckeyes trailed by eight points entering the final race before storming back to overcome the Wolverines by a lone point (180-179). 10 SEASONS PASS SUMMER 2017 11
NIFTY FIFTY Ohio State Athletics hosted the 50th-annual Scholar-Athlete Dinner at the Ohio Union in late March, honoring a school-record 626 OSU Scholar-Athletes. 12 SEASONS PASS SUMMER 2017 13
BUCKEYES TAKE A SHOT AT THE SCHOTT More than 15,000 fans piled into the Schottenstein Center to watch the country s toptwo wrestling squads, Ohio State and Penn State, go to battle. The massive crowd more than doubled Ohio State s previous record of 6,558 set in 2015. 14 SEASONS PASS SUMMER 2017 15
CALM BEFORE THE STORM Lacrosse student-athletes can be seen here moments before opening the NCAA Tournament opener at home in Ohio Stadium. The Buckeyes would go on to make an NCAA Finals appearance two weeks later. 16 SEASONS PASS SUMMER 2017 17
DIVE RIGHT IN Colin Zeng garnered All-America recognition again as a sophomore in 2017, encoring his 2016 platform diving NCAA national championship. 18 SEASONS PASS SUMMER 2017 19
BUCKEYES CONTINUE PARTNERING WITH SOLES4SOULS Ohio State Athletics sponsored two more service trips collaborating with Soles4Souls to provide needed footwear to children in both Ecuador and Bolivia during the past academic year. 20 SEASONS PASS SUMMER 2017 21
BUCKEYES DEFEND TITLE, HOME COURT Ohio State laid claim to the NCAA men s volleyball national championship for the second straight season, but 2017 was unique as it came in front of 8,000+ fans attending in St. John Arena. 22 SEASONS PASS SUMMER 2017 23
SPRUCING UP BUCKEYE GROVE Defeated in the Football Spring Game, members of the Gray Team spent three hours cleaning and landscaping Buckeye Grove, the hallowed ground just south of Ohio Stadium and rich in tradition as the home to a Buckeye tree planted for each OSU All-American. 24 SEASONS PASS SUMMER 2017 25
HUNTINGTON BUCKS GO PRO Fifth-year internship program, Huntington Bucks Go Pro, comprised of 43 student-athletes representing 24 different Buckeye sports. 26 SEASONS PASS SUMMER 2017 27
N SYNC BUCKEYES CONTINUE TEARIN UP THE POOL The Ohio State synchronized swimming program added a 30th national championship to its trophy case in 2017. Ohio State not only hosted the U.S. Collegiate Championship, but also out-lasted Stanford for the top spot with 100 points. 28 SEASONS PASS SUMMER 2017 29