University of Minnesota Athletics
Heise, Schmitz Receive Big Ten Medal of Honor
5/1/2023 7:15:00 PM | Football, Athletics, Women's Hockey
The Big Ten Medal of Honor is awarded annually to a top female and male student-athlete at each conference institution
The University of Minnesota announced that Taylor Heise (women's hockey) and John Michael Schmitz (football) are the school's recipients of the Big Ten Medal of Honor. The announcement was made this evening at the Golden Goldys, which is an annual banquet that celebrates Minnesota student-athlete success.
The Big Ten Medal of Honor is awarded annually to a top female and male student-athlete at each conference institution, with this year's honor marking the 109th anniversary of the award. The conference's most exclusive award was the first of its kind in intercollegiate athletics to recognize academic and athletic excellence. The Big Ten Medal of Honor was first awarded in 1915 to one student-athlete from the graduating class of each university who had "attained the greatest proficiency in athletics and scholastic work." Big Ten schools feature thousands of student-athletes, but only 28 earn this prestigious award on an annual basis.
Heise was a Patty Kazmaier Top-10 Finalist in 2023 after winning the award in 2022. She was also named First Team All-American, First Team All-USCHO, WCHA Forward of the Year, All-WCHA First Team, WCHA All-Tournament Team and was a WCHA Player of the Year Finalist. The First Team All-American ranked first in the nation with 30 goals, second with 67 points and third with 37 assists. The co-captain was twice named National Player of the Month and was a four-time WCHA Forward of the Week. She played in all 39 games last season and became the all-time program games played leader with 173 career games. She became just the ninth Gopher ever to reach 200 career points and also earned WCHA All-Academic Team laurels during her career.
Schmitz, who was just selected in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft by the New York Giants, was the No. 1 ranked center by Pro Football Focus for the 2022 season, a First-Team All-American and was one of three Rimington Trophy finalists. He started all 12 regular-season games at center and blocked for an offense that rushed for 2,698 yards and 33 touchdowns and one that passed for 2,369 yards and 12 touchdowns. Schmitz was named a First Team All-American by the AP and the FWAA and was a Second Team All-American according to the Walter Camp Football Foundation and the AFCA. He was also an All-Big Ten First Team selection by both the coaches and the media. Schmitz was a 2022 CSC Academic All-American (Second Team) and was also named to the CSC Academic All-District Team. Schmitz became the fifth Gopher ever to be named an Academic All-American and an All-American for his on-field play. He joined Bob Hobert (1956), Bob Stein (1968), Greg Eslinger (2004 and 2005) and Maxx Williams (2014) in being named an All-American for academics and athletics. Schmitz was also named Academic All-Big Ten in 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019 and 2018.
The Big Ten Medal of Honor is awarded annually to a top female and male student-athlete at each conference institution, with this year's honor marking the 109th anniversary of the award. The conference's most exclusive award was the first of its kind in intercollegiate athletics to recognize academic and athletic excellence. The Big Ten Medal of Honor was first awarded in 1915 to one student-athlete from the graduating class of each university who had "attained the greatest proficiency in athletics and scholastic work." Big Ten schools feature thousands of student-athletes, but only 28 earn this prestigious award on an annual basis.
Heise was a Patty Kazmaier Top-10 Finalist in 2023 after winning the award in 2022. She was also named First Team All-American, First Team All-USCHO, WCHA Forward of the Year, All-WCHA First Team, WCHA All-Tournament Team and was a WCHA Player of the Year Finalist. The First Team All-American ranked first in the nation with 30 goals, second with 67 points and third with 37 assists. The co-captain was twice named National Player of the Month and was a four-time WCHA Forward of the Week. She played in all 39 games last season and became the all-time program games played leader with 173 career games. She became just the ninth Gopher ever to reach 200 career points and also earned WCHA All-Academic Team laurels during her career.
Schmitz, who was just selected in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft by the New York Giants, was the No. 1 ranked center by Pro Football Focus for the 2022 season, a First-Team All-American and was one of three Rimington Trophy finalists. He started all 12 regular-season games at center and blocked for an offense that rushed for 2,698 yards and 33 touchdowns and one that passed for 2,369 yards and 12 touchdowns. Schmitz was named a First Team All-American by the AP and the FWAA and was a Second Team All-American according to the Walter Camp Football Foundation and the AFCA. He was also an All-Big Ten First Team selection by both the coaches and the media. Schmitz was a 2022 CSC Academic All-American (Second Team) and was also named to the CSC Academic All-District Team. Schmitz became the fifth Gopher ever to be named an Academic All-American and an All-American for his on-field play. He joined Bob Hobert (1956), Bob Stein (1968), Greg Eslinger (2004 and 2005) and Maxx Williams (2014) in being named an All-American for academics and athletics. Schmitz was also named Academic All-Big Ten in 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019 and 2018.