Park Ridge, Ill. – The Big Ten today announced the 22 student-athletes named Outstanding Sportsmanship Award winners for the 2008-09 academic year. These individuals were chosen from a group of 276 student-athletes honored throughout the academic year who had displayed positive sportsmanship.
                                         
One member of each varsity sports team on every campus was chosen by his or her institution as a Sportsmanship Award honoree. From each university's list, two Outstanding Sportsmanship Award winners were then selected. All of the Sportsmanship Award honorees have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. In addition, these student-athletes must be in good academic standing and must have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting.

The 22 Outstanding Sportsmanship Award winners include 14 Academic All-Big Ten honorees and 11 All-Big Ten selections from the 2008-09 season. In addition, Illinois' Angela Bizzarri, Indiana's Jorge Campillo, Michigan State's Javon Ringer, Minnesota's Ladia Albertson-Junkans and Penn State's Gayle Hunter have each earned All-America honors during their careers.
                                                                                                                              
The 2009 Big Ten Outstanding Sportsmanship Award winners appear below, and the complete list of Sportsmanship Award honorees for all sports from each school is attached as a PDF.

2009 Outstanding Sportsmanship Award Winners

Illinois: Trent Meacham, Sr., Men's Basketball, Angela Bizzarri, Jr., Women's Track & Field

Indiana: Jorge Campillo, Sr., Men's Golf, Ashley Rhoades, Jr., Women's Track & Field

Iowa: Christian Bierich, Sr., Men's Tennis, Wendy Ausdemore, Sr., Women's Basketball

Michigan: C.J. Lee, Sr., Men's Basketball, Teddi Ewing, Sr., Softball                                 

Michigan State: Javon Ringer, Sr., Football, Lisa Senakiewich, Sr., Women's Track & Field

Minnesota: Jamal Abu-Shamala, Sr., Men's Basketball, Ladia Albertson-Junkans, Sr., Women's Track & Field

Northwestern: Eric Peterman, Sr., Football, Annie Bosslet, Sr., Field Hockey

Ohio State: Taylor Candella, Jr., Men's Cross Country, Alyssa Meyer, Sr., Women's Gymnastics

Penn State: Gerald Cadogan, Sr., Football, Gayle Hunter, Sr., Women's Track & Field

Purdue: Andre Koop, Jr., Men's Swimming and Diving, Kristen Phillips, Jr., Women's Cross Country

Wisconsin: Nate Larkin, Jr., Men's Track & Field, Audra Jeffers, Sr., Women's Volleyball