BlueWhiteIllustrated.com - Vargas named Big Ten Male Athlete of the Year

June 21, 2005

Penn State Sports Information

Penn State gymnast Luis Vargas (Rio Piedras, P.R.) garnered the Big Ten's highest honor Wednesday when the Conference office selected the record-setting Nittany Lion gymnast as the Jesse Owens Male Athlete of the Year while Michigan softball standout Jennie Ritter was honored as the Suzy Favor Female Athlete of the Year.

Vargas was named the Nittany Lions' Male Athlete of the Year earlier in the week, and with Penn State's Female Athlete of the Year, Tanisha Wright, was put forward as the University's nominees for the Conference's highest honors. The Big Ten Athletes of the Year were then selected by a panel of Conference media members from the nominations submitted by all 11 Big Ten institutions.

Vargas' selection as Jesse Owens Male Athlete of the Year marks the first time a Penn State male athlete has received the Big Ten's highest honor since the Lions joined the conference in 1992.

Previously, four female Nittany and Lady Lions have received the Suzy Favor Big Ten Female Athlete of the Year Award, including Kelly Mazzante (basketball, 2004), Christie Welsh (soccer, 2002), Lauren Cacciamani
(volleyball, 2000) and Olga Kalinovskaya (fencing, 1996).

Vargas is the third Big Ten gymnast to earn the Male Athlete of the Year award along with Ohio State's Blaine Wilson (1997) and Minnesota's John Roethlisberger (1993).
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Vargas wrapped up his remarkable career by capturing his second-straight NCAA all-around title at the 2005 NCAA Championships, becoming the first back-to-back all-around winner for Penn State since Steve Cohen in 1966 and 1967, and the first in NCAA gymnastics since Ohio State's Jamie Natalie took the titles in 2000 and 2001.

Competing with a completely torn ligament in his thumb, Vargas also claimed the top spot on the pommel horse to become the only student-athlete to win multiple titles in 2005. In all, the Puerto Rico native picked up five All-America accolades this season to give him 11 such honors in his career, the most for a PSU gymnast in 25 years.

Vargas was a finalist for the Nissen-Emery Award, which is presented to the nation's senior male gymnast of the year. He also guided the Nittany Lions to the 2004 NCAA title, the 11th in school history, and the program's only Big Ten Championship in 2003. Last summer, Vargas also represented his native Puerto Rico in the 2004 Athens Olympics, finishing 15th.

"Obviously he is a very deserving athlete. He demonstrated that on the floor in Athens while competing for Puerto Rico, then again by winning his second NCAA title in the all-around as well as capturing the pommel horse championship," said Penn State head coach Randy Jepson.

Penn State Female Athlete of the Year Tanisha Wright

Tanisha Wright (West Mifflin, Pa.), a four-year starter on the Penn State women's basketball team, finished her eligibility as one of the most successful Lady Lions of all time. She won two Big Ten titles, reached three NCAA Sweet Sixteens and one Elite Eight during her career. The 5-11 guard was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year an unprecedented three times while also picking up first-team All Conference honors her junior and senior years. In the classroom, Wright excelled as well, and was named to the Academic All-Big Ten team her junior and senior year.

Wright also proved herself as a well-rounded Penn State student-athlete through her commitment to the community. She donated countless hours to Lifelink, an on-campus organization that mentors special needs children and also volunteered with Easter Seals, helping special needs children through therapeutic horseback riding. In addition, Wright participated in other events such as United Way Day of Caring and the Special Olympics.

After her playing career ended, Wright became the first Lady Lion ever to be selected in the first round of the WNBA draft when the Seattle Storm chose her with the 12th overall pick. She will return to Penn State in the fall to complete her degree in elementary education with plans of a spring 2006 graduation.

The Big Ten Conference has recognized a Jesse Owens Male Athlete of the Year since 1982 when Indiana's Jim Spivey earned the inaugural award. The following year, a women's award was created. In 1991-92 as part of the celebration of the 10th anniversary of women's athletics in the Conference, the women's award was renamed in honor of former Wisconsin track standout and three-time recipient Suzy Favor.

JESSE OWENS MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERS

1982 - Jim Spivey, Indiana, track and field/cross country??????

1983 - Ed Banach, Iowa, wrestling??????

1984 - Sunder Nix, Indiana, track and field????

1985 - Barry Davis, Iowa, wrestling????

1986 - Chuck Long, Iowa, football??????

1987 - Steve Alford, Indiana, basketball???????

1988 - Jim Abbott, Michigan, baseball??

1989 - Glen Rice, Michigan, basketball? ???????

1990 - Anthony Thompson, Indiana, football????? ???????

1991 - Mike Barrowman, Michigan, swimming??????

1992 - Desmond Howard, Michigan, football??????

1993 - John Roethlisberger, Minnesota, gymnastics??????

1994 - Glenn Robinson, Purdue, basketball??
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1995 - Tom Dolan, Michigan, swimming

1996 - Eddie George, Ohio State, football

1997 - Blaine Wilson, Ohio State, gymnastics

1998 - Charles Woodson, Michigan, football

1999 - Luke Donald, Northwestern, golf

2000 - Ron Dayne, Wisconsin, football

2001 - Ryan Miller, Michigan State, ice hockey

2002 - Jordan Leopold, Minnesota, ice hockey

2003 - Amer Delic, Illinois, tennis (co)

2003 - Matt Lackey, Illinois, wrestling (co)

2004 - Damion Hahn, Minnesota, wrestling

2005 - Luis Vargas, Penn State, gymnastics

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