COLUMBUS, Ohio “Ohio State wrestler Chris Vondruska is a nominee for the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award, the conference announced Tuesday. Vondruska is one of 11 wrestlers nominated from around the league and the conference will award one male and one female student-athlete from each institution at the end of the school year.
The student-athletes chosen are individuals who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. In addition, the student-athletes must be in good academic standing and have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting.
Vondruska (Bay Village, Ohio), a transfer from Hofstra (2002-2006), returned to his home state in 2006-07 to conclude his collegiate career with the Buckeyes. In five years of wrestling in the collegiate ranks, Vondruska compiled a career record of 82-32, while in his only year with the Scarlet and Gray he tallied a mark of 30-16. He was one of two Buckeyes to earn 30 wins on the season. In 2007, Vondruska made his second-consecutive trip to the NCAA championships at 165 pounds. As a senior at Hofstra, Vondruska was the Colonial Athletic Association champion at 165 pounds to qualify for nationals. In his first and only appearance at the Big Ten Conference championships, Vondruska finished fifth as a No. 5 seed.
2006-07 Wrestling Big Ten Sportsmanship Award Honorees
Wrestler School
Cassio Pero Illinois
Angel Escobedo Indiana
Eric Luedke Iowa
Casey White Michigan
Franklin Gomez Michigan State
Jayson Ness Minnesota
Eric Metzler Northwestern
Chris Vondruska Ohio State
James Yonushonis Penn State
Jake Patacsil Purdue
Tyler Turner Wisconsin
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