Michigan State Athletics :: Official Athletic Site - Michigan State University Athletics

The Big Ten Conference Medal of Honor is awarded annually to a male and female athlete at each of the Big Ten institutions to the students demonstrating the greatest proficiency in scholarship and athletics. The Conference Medal of Honor was awarded solely to male athletes from 1951-1981; beginning in 1982, a male and female recipient were named at each Big Ten institution.

2009 Winners

2009
Doug DeMartin
Soccer

MALE WINNER: Doug DeMartin, Soccer

Doug DeMartin was the most prolific scorer on one of the most successful and memorable teams in MSU men's soccer history. DeMartin led the Big Ten with 37 points and ranked fourth in the nation with 17 goals in 2008, helping MSU to the Big Ten regular season and tournament championships as well as a berth in the NCAA College Cup.

His 17 goals and 37 points were far and away the most in the conference, helping him unanimously earn Big Ten Player of the Year honors - the first Spartan to do so since Reid Friedrichs in 1990. DeMartin, one of the most decorated Spartan athletes of 2008-09 season, earned a spot on the NSCAA/adidas All-America second team, was named a semifinalist for the Hermann Trophy and became a unanimous All-Big Ten selection in back-to-back years. The Mason native also garnered NSCAA/adidas All-Great Lakes first-team accolades.

While DeMartin's stats rank him as one of the best players in school history, his academic excellence is what made him a truly great student-athlete. DeMartin became the first player in MSU men's soccer history to earn First-Team ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-America honors. He was also a four-time Academic All-Big Ten selection as well as a two-time NSCAA/adidas Scholar All-America first-team honoree. DeMartin, who carried a 3.89 GPA, graduated with a finance degree in December 2008.

2009
Sarah Schmidt
Rowing

FEMALE WINNER: Sarah Schmidt, Rowing

Sarah Schmidt, who played an instrumental role in helping the Spartan rowing team earn back-to-back Big Ten titles, was a member of the Spartan varsity eight crew for three seasons. She was the only Spartan on this year's team to row at three NCAA National Regattas and helped the Spartans tie their best-ever finish - sixth - at the event in three different seasons (2006, 2008 and 2009). Schmidt was named the 2009 Big Ten Athlete of the Year and was an All-Big Ten and CRCA All-Central Region first-team selection.

Schmidt sat in the sixth seat of the varsity eight boat throughout the regular season. Helping the crew to an undefeated regular-season ledger, Schmidt was a member of the only Spartan varsity eight to enter the Big Ten Championships with an unblemished record. The crew won its second straight Big Ten title on Griggs Reservoir, finished third at the Aramark South/Central Sprints, and placed sixth at the NCAA National Regatta.

Schmidt became the fifth rower in MSU history to earn the Big Ten Athlete of the Year award. She helped the varsity eight crew rank in the top three of the cMax rankings, which attempt to rank the nation's fastest varsity eight crews, throughout each week of the regular season.

Past Winners


1951 Everett Grandelius Football	1952 Orris Bender Wrestling	1953 John Wilson Football	1954 Robert Hoke Wrestling
1955 Kevan Gosper Track	1956 Carl Nystrom Football	1957 Selwyn Jones Track	1958 Robert Jasson Hockey
1959 Robert Anderegg Basketball	1960 Stan Tarshis Gymnastics	1961 William Reynolds Track/Cross Country	1962 Edward Ryan Football
1963 Richard Schloemer Fencing	1964 George (Pete) Gent Basketball	1965 David Price Gymnastics	1966 Steve Juday Football
1967 Eugene Washington Football/Track	1968 Dale Anderson Wrestling	1969 Allen Brenner Football	1970 Richard Saul Football
1971 Thomas Muir Wrestling	1972 Herb Washington Track	1973 Kenneth Popejoy Track	1974 Robert Cassleman Track
1975 Dennis Olmstead Hockey	1976 Pat Milkovich Wrestling	1977 Tyrone Willingham Football/Baseball	1978 Larry Bethea Football
1979 Gregory Kelser Basketball	1980 Mark Brammer Football	1981 Jay Vincent Basketball


1982 Morten Anderson Football	1982 Lisa Speaker Golf	1983 Michael Brown Swimming/Diving	1983 Karen Wells Basketball
1984 Kelly Miller Hockey	1984 Anne Pewe CC/Track	1985 Carlton Evans Lacrosse	1985 Kelly Belanger Basketball
1986 Don McSween Hockey	1986 Julie Polakowski Basketball	1987 Dean Altobelli Football	1987 Lisa Marino Golf
1988 Michael Davidson Baseball	1988 Kimberly Hartwick Gymnastics	1989 Danton Cole Hockey	1989 Mary Schoenle Swimming/Diving
1990 Walt Bartels Hockey	1990 Eileen Shea Basketball	1991 Walt Bartels Hockey	1991 Emily Coatney Soccer
1992 Stuart Hirschman Baseball	1992 Misty Allison Cross Country/Track	1993 Dave Smith Track & Field	1993 Ruth Aguayo Gymnastics
1994 Steve Wasylk Football	1994 Laura Bell Cross Country/Track	1995 Emilio Collins Wrestling	1995 Laura Bell Cross Country/Track
1996 Brian Picklo Wrestling	1996 Patti Raduenz Softball	1997 Tyler Harlton Hockey	1997 Val Sterk Volleyball
1998 Tyler Harlton Hockey	1998 Melissa Pryor Field Hockey	1999 Steve Schell Cross Country/ Track & Field	1999 Carrie Carpenter Softball
2000 Shawn Horcoff Hockey	2000 Carly Weiden Swimming/Diving	2001 Shawn Mason Football	2001 Carly Weiden Swimming/Diving
2002 Josh Thornhill Football	2002 Carly Weiden Swimming/Diving	2002 Krista Buzzell Crew	2003 Tyler Robinson Soccer
2003 Stephanie Anisko Swimming/Diving	2004 Steve Manz Track & Field	2004 Michelle Carson Cross Country/Track	2005 Chris Hill Basketball
2005 Veerle Goudswaard Field Hockey	2006 Drew Stanton Football	2006 Liz Shimek Basketball	2007 Drew Stanton Football
2007 Kristen Coleman Gymnastics	2008 Drew Neitzel Basketball	2008 Kate Burdick Rowing	2009 Doug DeMartin Soccer
2009 Sarah Schmidt Rowing