Sophie Jaques from the women’s ice hockey program and James Trotter from the men’s tennis program are Ohio State’s 2023 Athletes of the Year, the university announced Wednesday.
Jaques recently completed her final season with the women’s ice hockey team, helping lead the Buckeyes to a runner-up finish nationally, the program’s first Western Collegiate Hockey Association regular-season title and a program-record 33 wins.
She became the first player from Ohio State to win the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, which recognizes the top player in Division I women’s ice hockey, and she is just the second defenseman to earn that honor.
Jaques had a team-high 24 goals and added 24 assists, and led the nation in power play goals, earning first-team All-American and All-WCHA honors, and she was named WCHA Player of the Year and Defenseman of the Year. This is the second consecutive season that Jaques was named one of Ohio State’s Athletes of the Year.
Trotter, meanwhile, was the 2023 NCAA doubles champion alongside Andrew Lutschaunig, and he was named the International Tennis Association’s Most Improved Senior. He earned All-American honors in singles and doubles, and became just the second doubles national champion in Ohio State history. He posted records this season of 29-1 in singles matches and 22-8 in doubles.
With their nomination by Ohio State, Jaques and Trotter will be placed on ballots for Big Ten Athlete of the Year, which will be announced in the coming weeks.
