Ohio State celebrates historical season

COLUMBUS, Ohio -– After concluding a history-making season, the 2007-08 Ohio State wrestling team celebrated numerous moments from this past year at the team banquet Friday, including two individual national champions and a team national runner-up finish at the Faculty Club on the Ohio State University campus.

The awards presentation began with the introduction of the Gold Singlets. Similar to the Ohio State football team's Gold Pants concept, the wrestling Buckeyes honored the current squad with Gold Singlets for their win over Michigan Feb. 10 in St. John Arena.

Eight wrestlers were honored with the Battling Buckeye award, which goes to a non-starter who showed excellent work ethic in practice and performed well at various open tournaments. Freshmen Ross Ambrose, Tyler Meek, Sean Nemec and Jeremy Sanders were recipients. Sophomore Will Livingston, along with junior Owen Schaefer and seniors T.J. Enright and Nickolai Timbs, also were honored.

After each home dual this past season, a wrestler was honored with the Russ Hellickson Award, named after the former Buckeye head coach (1987-2006). The accolade goes to the Most Valuable Wrestler of the competition. 2007-08 team tri-captain J Jaggers won after his performance against Penn State Jan. 25. Lance Palmer was the honoree after the Edinboro match Feb. 14, while captain Mike Pucillo garnered the award following the dual against Michigan Feb. 10. Sponseller was a two-time selection, winning after his collegiate debut against Wisconsin Dec. 10 and again vs. Iowa Jan. 18.

Jaggers collected more hardware after his dramatic pin over Jake Strayer in the final match of the Penn State dual was selected as the Performance of the Year. Thanks to Jaggers' pin, the Buckeyes earned their second win over the Nittany Lions after previously defeating them in the National Duals.

Named after former Buckeye Ray Mendoza (1992-93), the Ray Mendoza Leadership Award was presented to senior Alex Picazo. The honor is given to the Buckeye who exemplifies excellent guidance in practice and competition.

Jaggers and Pucillo, 2008 NCAA National Champions were recognized, as well as 2007-08 All-Americans, J.D. Bergman and Palmer.

Bergman and Pucillo also were named to the NWCA All-Academic team. That laurel complements their Academic All-Big Ten honors. Jason Cook, Dominic Mehling, Corey Morrison, Picazo, Schaefer and Timbs also were Academic All-Big Ten selections.

2007-08 Ohio State Wrestling Team Banquet

National Champions
J Jaggers
Mike Pucillo

All-Americans
J.D. Bergman
J Jaggers
Lance Palmer
Mike Pucillo

Big Ten Champion
Mike Pucillo

Battling Buckeye Recipients
Sean Nemec, Nickolai Timbs, Jeremy Sanders, Tyler Meek, T.J. Enright, Will Livingston, Ross Ambrose, Owen Schaefer

Russ Hellickson Wrestler of the Dual
Wisconsin (Dec. 10) – Colt Sponseller
Iowa (Jan. 18) – Colt Sponseller
Penn State (Jan. 25) – J Jaggers
Michigan (Feb. 10) – Mike Pucillo
Edinboro (Feb. 14) – Lance Palmer

Big Ten Performance of the Year
J Jaggers vs. Jake Strayer (Penn State – Jan. 25)

Ray Mendoza Leadership Award
Alex Picazo

Academic All-Big Ten
J.D. Bergman
Jason Cook
Dominic Mehling
Corey Morrison
Alex Picazo
Mike Pucillo
Owen Schaefer
Nickolai Timbs

NWCA All-Academic Team
J.D. Bergman
Mike Pucillo