The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS Senior men's swimmer John Wojciec- howski, who earned All-America honors as a part of the 400-yard medley relay team this season, was awarded the Big Ten Medal of Honor. The award, given annually to a male and female athlete from each Big Ten school, recognizes "academic and ath- letic excellence" for "athletes who have attained the greatest proficiency in athletics and scholastic work." Senior long distance runner Jillian Smith was the Wolverines' female recipient of the medal this year. "It was a huge honor," Wojciechowski said. "I got nominated in February, when we were in the hotel room at Big Tens. I didn't really think I would have a shot at winning. When I found out I actually got the award, we were in the hotel for nationals. I was very excited and surprised." The Big Ten Medal of Honor ceremony is always the centerpiece of the Michi- gan Academic Awards Banquet every spring. When Wojciechowski was a freshman, he didn't even receive an in- vitation to the banquet, after a 2.96 GPA in his first semester in school. "When I first came to the university, my focus was really on swimming, as opposed to academics," Wojciechowski said. "I didn't really know what I wanted to do … I didn't have too much direc- tion. I was always under the impression that athletes weren't as academic, and it was hard to be successful in both areas with all the hours we put in." Wojciechowski quickly learned from the veteran leaders on the team, es- pecially Dan Madwed (2009-12), who won the Big Ten Medal of Honor when Wojciechowski was a sophomore. "They helped me realize that it was not just possible to be excellent in all as- pects of being a student-athlete, but it's expected on our team," Wojciechowski said. "We have a strong tradition of that. Our team GPA last semester was a 3.25. We know that after swimming is going to be the whole rest of our lives." Wojciechowski found an avenue that really piqued his interest: economics. Knowing he would like to go into the fi- nance world, Wojciechowski applied to the Stephen M. Ross School of Business. He didn't believe he'd get in, but didn't want to carry any regrets, so he sent in Student-Athlete Of The Month Senior Men's Swimmer John Wojciechowski Wojciechowski, who claimed All-America honors as a part of U-M's 400-yard med- ley relay team this season, was awarded the Big Ten Medal of Honor. PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS