Two Michigan Athletes Named Big Ten Medal of Honor Winners: Sarah Curtis and Carl Hagelin

The Big Ten Conference office announced the 2011 Big Ten Medal of Honor winners, and Michigan Hockey Captain Carl Hagelin and Women's Gymnastics Captain Sarah Curtis were among the awardees.

The award was established in 1914 when the Big Ten endowed a Medal of Honor to be given annually to a student in the graduating class of each university that demonstrated proficiency in scholarship and athletics. In 1982, the Medal of Honor was expanded to include a senior female athlete from each institution.

It's hard to think of two more worthy recipients. A fifth year senior, Curtis was named an Academic All-American today, being chosen as a Capital One Academic All-America® At-Large second team member by the College Sports Information Directors of America. She is a four-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree and a five-time U-M Athletic Academic Achievement Award recipient. While Curtis excelled in the class room she excelled in the arena during her distinguished Michigan career. To borrow profusely from her MGoBlue profile:

Curtis is three-time second-team All-American, earning the honor twice in 2011 on the uneven bars and all-around; she also won second team honors in the all-around in 2010. The 2008 Big Ten Conference bars champion, she was named to All-Big Ten teams four times in her career: the 2008, '09 and '10 first team, and the 2011 second team. She served as U-M's team captain in 2009 and '11 and was the team co-MVP in 2008, '09 and '10.

Add on Big Ten Medal of Honor Winner. Congrats Sarah Curtis!

On the Men's side, Carl Hagelin was chosen in part because he was the heart and soul of Michigan's Men's Hockey Team and in part because he's one of the better scholars to lace of skates for the Team. The Senior was the recipient of the Jacob and Anne Haas Scholarship for Men's Ice Hockey, named to the CCHA Scholar-Athlete Team three times (2008-2010), received the U-M Athletic Academic Achievement award four straight years, and twice to the Academic All-Big Ten team. On the ice, Hagelin was as fast a player as I've ever seen in Maize and Blue. He topped 30 assists twice, scored more than 10 goals in every season, and was one of the most disciplined defensive forwards Michigan's ever had. Hagelin tacked on the CCHA's best defensive forward award, was named All-CCHA, and led the Wolverines to the NCAA finals. And... of course, BORK BORK BORK BORK BORK! Hagelin has signed with the New York Rangers and we look forward to seeing him fly around the Garden for a long, long time. Congrats Carl Hagelin!