Eric Boggs
Michael Adedokun and Makenna Webster have been honored as Ohio State’s 2024 Athletes of the Year, a recognition that reflects their incredible accomplishments across Buckeye athletics. The announcement, made Tuesday by the university, solidifies their status as two of the most dominant and versatile student-athletes in the country and places both in contention for the prestigious Big Ten Athlete of the Year awards to be announced in July.
For Adedokun, the achievement is historic. The dynamic forward became the first player in the history of Ohio State men’s soccer to win the MAC Hermann Trophy, collegiate soccer’s highest individual honor—essentially the sport’s Heisman. In a year where Ohio State football won a national title and Jesse Mendez captured a wrestling crown, Adedokun’s performance still stood out as the most exceptional among Buckeye men. He led the Big Ten in both goals and assists, finishing the 2024 season with 11 of each. More than just a statistical leader, he was the engine behind a men’s soccer team that captured both the Big Ten regular-season and tournament titles, went 16-2-4 overall, and earned the No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament en route to a College Cup appearance.
On the women’s side, Makenna Webster was equally outstanding—and remarkably versatile. A star in both field hockey and women’s ice hockey, Webster left her mark on multiple Buckeye programs this year. In field hockey, she was a unanimous All-Big Ten selection and earned second-team All-American honors after finishing in the top eight nationally with 16 goals and 42 points, powering the team to a 14-5 record. When the seasons changed, she laced up her skates and propelled Ohio State women’s ice hockey to its fourth straight national championship game, contributing 35 points in just 30 games. Her dual-sport dominance earned her not only the Athlete of the Year recognition but also the Big Ten Medal of Honor, the most prestigious individual award in the conference recognizing athletic and academic excellence.
Cody Simon was named the male recipient of the Big Ten Medal of Honor for his role as a leader and cornerstone of Ohio State’s national championship-winning football team. As the starting middle linebacker, team captain, and the wearer of the revered “Block O” jersey, Simon led the Buckeyes in tackles and embodied the leadership and grit that define Buckeye football.
Together, Michael Adedokun and Makenna Webster represent the very best of what it means to be a Buckeye—dominant on the field, elite in the classroom, and leaders in the locker room. Their accolades serve as a powerful reminder that greatness at Ohio State stretches far beyond the gridiron and into every corner of Buckeye athletics.
