Russo and Huang Named Big Ten Outstanding Sportsmanship Award Winners
Jul 12 | Men's Lacrosse, Women's Gymnastics
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Bobby Russo of Rutgers men's lacrosse and Belle Huang of Rutgers gymnastics were named Big Ten Outstanding Sportsmanship Award winners, the league office announced on Tuesday. The duo were Rutgers' male and female representatives on the listing.
One member of each varsity sports team on every campus was chosen by his or her institution as a Sportsmanship Award honoree, and two Outstanding Sportsmanship Award winners were then selected from each institution. All of the Sportsmanship Award winners have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. In addition, these honorees must be in good academic standing and must have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting.
Bobby Russo was a starting defenseman for the men's lacrosse program, helping guide the team to its first ever Final Four appearance and set a program record for both wins (15) and ranked wins (six). A two-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week, the Bridgewater, N.J. native set career-highs in ground balls (42), caused turnovers (12), goals (two) and assists (five). The Pre-Business major has started in 32 games over his 44-game RU career with 76 ground balls, 27 caused turnovers, three goals and six assists. A three-time Academic All-Big Ten Selection and is set to be a three-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar, he was inducted into Chi Alpha Sigma (the national collegiate honor society) and a was a leadership member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) as the VP for Community Engagement.
Belle Huang was Rutgers gymnastics' first two-time American Athletic, Inc. (AAI) Award nominee, an annual award presented to the most outstanding collegiate senior female gymnast in the country widely considered the Heisman Trophy of women's gymnastics, in addition to being a 2021 NCAA Women of the Year nominee and a four-time NCAA Regional qualifier. Huang played a pivotal role in helping set numerous program records and top 10 team scores in 2022 including the squad's highest program score at a Big Ten Championship, highest score at a Big Five Meet and a program-high 196.400 on the road at NC State. The Scarlet Knight captain also captured a school-record 14 career 9.9 or higher marks on floor, including the second-highest score in program history with a 9.975 in a tri-meet with No. 1 Michigan and Alaska. A two-time First Team All-Big Ten selection, she finished fourth in the all-around at the 2021 Big Ten Championships, recording a 9.9 on beam and a career-high 39.350 in the all-around en route to being named to the Big Ten All-Championship Team.
A four-time Women's Collegiate Gymnastics Association (WCGA) Scholar All-American and Academic All-Big Ten honoree and three-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar, Huang was inducted into Chi Alpha Sigma, the National College Athlete Honor Society, in the fall of 2020. She graduated with a bachelor's in biological sciences and is currently working towards her master's degree in microbial biology intending to become a physician's assistant.
Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersAthletics ) and Twitter (@RUAthletics) for all of the latest news and updates.
One member of each varsity sports team on every campus was chosen by his or her institution as a Sportsmanship Award honoree, and two Outstanding Sportsmanship Award winners were then selected from each institution. All of the Sportsmanship Award winners have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. In addition, these honorees must be in good academic standing and must have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting.
Bobby Russo was a starting defenseman for the men's lacrosse program, helping guide the team to its first ever Final Four appearance and set a program record for both wins (15) and ranked wins (six). A two-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week, the Bridgewater, N.J. native set career-highs in ground balls (42), caused turnovers (12), goals (two) and assists (five). The Pre-Business major has started in 32 games over his 44-game RU career with 76 ground balls, 27 caused turnovers, three goals and six assists. A three-time Academic All-Big Ten Selection and is set to be a three-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar, he was inducted into Chi Alpha Sigma (the national collegiate honor society) and a was a leadership member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) as the VP for Community Engagement.
Belle Huang was Rutgers gymnastics' first two-time American Athletic, Inc. (AAI) Award nominee, an annual award presented to the most outstanding collegiate senior female gymnast in the country widely considered the Heisman Trophy of women's gymnastics, in addition to being a 2021 NCAA Women of the Year nominee and a four-time NCAA Regional qualifier. Huang played a pivotal role in helping set numerous program records and top 10 team scores in 2022 including the squad's highest program score at a Big Ten Championship, highest score at a Big Five Meet and a program-high 196.400 on the road at NC State. The Scarlet Knight captain also captured a school-record 14 career 9.9 or higher marks on floor, including the second-highest score in program history with a 9.975 in a tri-meet with No. 1 Michigan and Alaska. A two-time First Team All-Big Ten selection, she finished fourth in the all-around at the 2021 Big Ten Championships, recording a 9.9 on beam and a career-high 39.350 in the all-around en route to being named to the Big Ten All-Championship Team.
A four-time Women's Collegiate Gymnastics Association (WCGA) Scholar All-American and Academic All-Big Ten honoree and three-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar, Huang was inducted into Chi Alpha Sigma, the National College Athlete Honor Society, in the fall of 2020. She graduated with a bachelor's in biological sciences and is currently working towards her master's degree in microbial biology intending to become a physician's assistant.
Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersAthletics ) and Twitter (@RUAthletics) for all of the latest news and updates.
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/ Women's Gymnastics
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