​Last Thursday, 36 athletes from across the Big Ten were honored with the annual Big Ten Outstanding Sportsmanship Award, a distinction reserved for a select group of individuals who have distinguished themselves through exemplary sportsmanship and ethical conduct, maintained strong academic standing, and demonstrated commendable citizenship beyond the realm of competition. This year, Rutgers had two honorees: Gus Zilinskas, the Rutgers football center, and Katherine Lang of the women’s swimming and diving team earned nominations for the award.
Zilinskas has been a stalwart on the Rutgers offensive line, starting 41 games at center and stringing together 38 consecutive starts over the last three seasons. His on-field performance earned him notable recognition, including two honorable mentions for All-Big Ten and selections to the All-ECAC list, as well as a place on the Rimington Award watch list. Off the field, Zilinskas has demonstrated a parallel commitment to academics and leadership. As a graduate student, he pursued a degree in performance psychology and earned honors from the National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society, in addition to being a four-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree.
Lang has distinguished herself for Rutgers in the pool, competing in backstroke, individual medley, and relay events while also serving in leadership roles within the team. She captained the squad on two occasions, including a senior term as president of the Rutgers Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, after previously serving as vice president. Lang is a Public Health major with a minor in business administration, reflecting a strong academic profile alongside her athletic commitments. Her academic honors include three Academic All-Big Ten selections and receiving a Big Ten postgraduate scholarship.
Together, Zilinskas and Lang set a high bar for what Rutgers athletics strives to represent—excellence in competition, dedication to academics, and leadership in student-athlete communities. Their achievements reflect a standard of integrity and character that extends beyond the playing field, influencing teammates, students, and the broader university community. As both graduate this year, the challenge now lies in ensuring that the leadership and values they have exemplified are passed on to the next generation of Rutgers athletes, who will strive to uphold these traditions in future seasons.