Bowling Green State University Athletics
Taylor Jensen Earns MAC's Bob James Memorial Scholarship Award
August 25, 2023 | Gymnastics
Gymnast gives BGSU third-straight winner of the MAC’s prestigious award
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – Bowling Green State University gymnast Taylor Jensen has earned one of the most prestigious individual awards given by the Mid-American Conference. Jensen has been named the 2023 Female MAC's Bob James Memorial Scholarship Award recipient.
In its 35th year, the Bob James Memorial Scholarship Award recognizes one female and one male student who have achieved a minimum grade point average of 3.50 and have displayed good character, leadership, and citizenship. The students are nominated during the year in which they complete their final season of eligibility. The $5,000 post-graduate scholarship is awarded in honor of Bob James, the second commissioner in Mid-American Conference history (1964-71).
Ohio football player Bryce Houston was the 2023 male recipient of the award.
"On behalf of Bowling Green State University, I want to extend our heartfelt congratulations to Taylor Jensen for being awarded one of the most prestigious individual honors presented by the Mid-American Conference," said BGSU Director of Athletics Derek van der Merwe. "Taylor maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA during her time at BGSU and achieved a MAC championship on the balance beam this past spring. With the MAC's presentation of the Bob James Memorial Scholarship Award to her, Taylor firmly establishes her name among the many outstanding Falcons who have previously received this honor. Taylor exemplifies the qualities that we aspire for in our student-athletes, and we wholeheartedly wish her the very best as she utilizes her scholarship award at Georgia Tech, where beginning this fall she is pursuing a graduate degree in architecture."
Jensen (North Prairie, Wis.) punctuated her time on at BGSU by winning the 2023 Mid-American Conference (MAC) championship, the first of her career, on beam with a personal-record score of 9.900. Jensen also finished second on vault to earn All-MAC Tournament distinction. In addition to her athletic achievements, Jensen has been named to the College Sports Communicators' Academic All-District® Team, and received Academic All-MAC Team honors on three occasions in addition to multiple WCGA (Women's Collegiate Gymnastics Association) Scholastic All-America nods. Most recently, Jensen was bestowed the Chi Alpha Sigma Nick Mourouzis Postgraduate Scholarship by the National College Athlete Honor Society. Jensen is set to use her postgraduate scholarship at Georgia Tech in pursuit of a master's degree in architecture with a concentration in high-performance building systems.
Jensen becomes the 12th BGSU female student-athlete to win the Bob James Memorial Award. She is the third consecutive winner, with Nikki Sorgi of the BGSU softball team winning in 2021 and Malika Haver from BGSU swim & dive taking home honors last year. In 2019, BGSU swept the award, with gymnast Julia Beyer and cross country runner Paul Garbarino winning. Bowling Green has had more male (seven -- tied for first), female (12), and overall (19) recipients of the award than any other school. BGSU has had seven more overall winners than second-place Ball State (12), and no other MAC institution has had more than seven overall recipients.
Additional Female 2023 Bob James Memorial Award Nominees:
Alexis Kiefer, University of Akron (Lacrosse)
Gina Caravaglia, Ball State University (Field Hockey)
Kelsey Alexander, Central Michigan University (Softball)
Lindsey Thall, Kent State University (Basketball)
Kelly Walinski, Northern Illinois University (Softball)
Katelyn Whittle, Ohio University (Field Hockey)
Anna Dixon, University of Toledo (Softball)
Additional Male 2023 Bob James Memorial Award Nominees:
Kalen Nichols, Bowling Green State University (Soccer)
Jacob Baldino, Kent State University (Baseball)
Bob James Award Winners
2023 – Taylor Jensen, Bowling Green (gymnastics); Bryce Houston, Ohio (football)
2022 -- Malika Haver, Bowling Green (swim and dive); Mason Kauffman, Northern Illinois (wrestling)
2021 -- Nikki Sorgi, Bowling Green (softball); Chris Adams, Ball State (tennis)
2020 -- Maria Cegledy, Kent State (softball); Timothy Rooney, Kent State (wrestling)
2019 -- Julia Beyer, Bowling Green (Gymnastics); Paul Garbarino, Bowling Green (Cross Country)
2018 -- Alyssa Heintschel, Ball State (Soccer); John McCarty, Central Michigan (Basketball)
2017 -- Kelsi White, Miami (Field Hockey); Tanner Barton, Ball State (Swimming & Diving)
2016 -- Julia Lombardi, Eastern Michigan (Soccer); Jordan Italiano, Kent State (Football)
2015 -- Stephanie Haugh, Kent State (Soccer); Dustin Page, Northern Illinois (Soccer)
2014 -- Lindsey Butterfield, Bowling Green (Volleyball); Kyle Smith, Central Michigan (Track & Field)
2013 -- Skylar Chew, Ball State (Soccer); Nabal Jefferson, Northern Illinois (Football)
2012 -- Kristin Hoffman, Northern Illinois (Volleyball); Briggs Orsbon, Ball State (Football)
2011 -- Christine Chiricosta, Bowling Green (Tennis); Jon Edgington, Miami (Baseball)
2010 -- Megan Chronister, Bowling Green (Gymnastics); Tim Hiller, Western Michigan (Football)
2009 -- Jillian Wolosiansky, Eastern Michigan (Volleyball); Gonzalo Barinaga, Ball State (Football)
2008 -- Stephanie Swiger, Bowling Green (Volleyball); Wynn Michalak, Central Michigan (Wrestling)
2007 -- Jody Yednock, Northern Illinois (Gymnastics); Matt Lefeld, Bowling Green (Basketball)
2006 -- Marie Zidek, Northern Illinois (Volleyball); David Mitchell, Miami (Cross Country/Track & Field)
2005 -- Robin Davidson, Toledo (Soccer); Burke Badenhop, Bowling Green (Baseball)
2004 -- Andrea Kremer, Miami (Track & Field); Travis Barclay, Ball State (Football)
2003 -- Katrina Kerns, Bowling Green (Track & Field); Brett Faustman, Central Michigan (Wrestling)
2002 -- Kate Miller, Kent State (Basketball); Tony Malik, Bowling Green (Soccer)
2001 -- Jennifer Jarjosa, Bowling Green (Swimming); Nick Iagulli, Miami (Track & Field)
2000 -- Laura Szczepanski, Ball State (Gymnastics); Cato Coleman, Miami (Track & Field)
1999 -- Wendy Feldman, Central Michigan (Volleyball); Justin Millard, Akron (Soccer)
1998 -- Janelle Tranquillo, Ball State (Field Hockey); Desmond Johnston, Akron (Soccer)
1997 -- Sarah Mikrut, Ball State (Gymnastics); Joe Burch, Bowling Green (Soccer)
1996 -- Kristin Gaddis, Bowling Green (Cross Country/Track); Dustin Swinehart, Miami (Soccer)
1995 -- Dana Drew, Toledo (Basketball); Stephen Fetyko, Eastern Michigan (Swimming)
1994 -- Kris Parks, Ohio (Cross Country/Track); Bob Dudley, Bowling Green (Football)
1993 -- Kelly Weir, Ohio (Basketball); Sander Scott, Central Michigan (Basketball)
1992 -- Julie Young, Western Michigan (Volleyball); Jeff Bender, Central Michigan (Football)
1991 -- Kristin McDaniel, Kent State (Track & Field); Pat Jackson, Bowling Green (Football)
1990 -- Linda Popovich, Bowling Green (Volleyball); Danny Rieman, Ball State (Baseball)
1989 -- Kim Keenan, Kent State (Cross Country/Track); Rick Winegardner, Ball State (Swimming)
TOTAL BOB JAMES AWARD RECIPIENTS BY SCHOOL
19 – BOWLING GREEN (7 male, 12 female)
12 – Ball State (7, 5)
7 – Central Michigan (6, 1)
7 – Kent State (2, 5)
7 – Miami (5, 2)
6 – Northern Illinois (3, 3)
3 – Eastern Michigan (1, 2)
3 – Ohio (1, 2)
2 – Akron (2, 0)
2 – Toledo (0, 2)
2 – Western Michigan (1, 1)
In its 35th year, the Bob James Memorial Scholarship Award recognizes one female and one male student who have achieved a minimum grade point average of 3.50 and have displayed good character, leadership, and citizenship. The students are nominated during the year in which they complete their final season of eligibility. The $5,000 post-graduate scholarship is awarded in honor of Bob James, the second commissioner in Mid-American Conference history (1964-71).
Ohio football player Bryce Houston was the 2023 male recipient of the award.
"On behalf of Bowling Green State University, I want to extend our heartfelt congratulations to Taylor Jensen for being awarded one of the most prestigious individual honors presented by the Mid-American Conference," said BGSU Director of Athletics Derek van der Merwe. "Taylor maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA during her time at BGSU and achieved a MAC championship on the balance beam this past spring. With the MAC's presentation of the Bob James Memorial Scholarship Award to her, Taylor firmly establishes her name among the many outstanding Falcons who have previously received this honor. Taylor exemplifies the qualities that we aspire for in our student-athletes, and we wholeheartedly wish her the very best as she utilizes her scholarship award at Georgia Tech, where beginning this fall she is pursuing a graduate degree in architecture."
Jensen (North Prairie, Wis.) punctuated her time on at BGSU by winning the 2023 Mid-American Conference (MAC) championship, the first of her career, on beam with a personal-record score of 9.900. Jensen also finished second on vault to earn All-MAC Tournament distinction. In addition to her athletic achievements, Jensen has been named to the College Sports Communicators' Academic All-District® Team, and received Academic All-MAC Team honors on three occasions in addition to multiple WCGA (Women's Collegiate Gymnastics Association) Scholastic All-America nods. Most recently, Jensen was bestowed the Chi Alpha Sigma Nick Mourouzis Postgraduate Scholarship by the National College Athlete Honor Society. Jensen is set to use her postgraduate scholarship at Georgia Tech in pursuit of a master's degree in architecture with a concentration in high-performance building systems.
Jensen becomes the 12th BGSU female student-athlete to win the Bob James Memorial Award. She is the third consecutive winner, with Nikki Sorgi of the BGSU softball team winning in 2021 and Malika Haver from BGSU swim & dive taking home honors last year. In 2019, BGSU swept the award, with gymnast Julia Beyer and cross country runner Paul Garbarino winning. Bowling Green has had more male (seven -- tied for first), female (12), and overall (19) recipients of the award than any other school. BGSU has had seven more overall winners than second-place Ball State (12), and no other MAC institution has had more than seven overall recipients.
Additional Female 2023 Bob James Memorial Award Nominees:
Alexis Kiefer, University of Akron (Lacrosse)
Gina Caravaglia, Ball State University (Field Hockey)
Kelsey Alexander, Central Michigan University (Softball)
Lindsey Thall, Kent State University (Basketball)
Kelly Walinski, Northern Illinois University (Softball)
Katelyn Whittle, Ohio University (Field Hockey)
Anna Dixon, University of Toledo (Softball)
Additional Male 2023 Bob James Memorial Award Nominees:
Kalen Nichols, Bowling Green State University (Soccer)
Jacob Baldino, Kent State University (Baseball)
Bob James Award Winners
2023 – Taylor Jensen, Bowling Green (gymnastics); Bryce Houston, Ohio (football)
2022 -- Malika Haver, Bowling Green (swim and dive); Mason Kauffman, Northern Illinois (wrestling)
2021 -- Nikki Sorgi, Bowling Green (softball); Chris Adams, Ball State (tennis)
2020 -- Maria Cegledy, Kent State (softball); Timothy Rooney, Kent State (wrestling)
2019 -- Julia Beyer, Bowling Green (Gymnastics); Paul Garbarino, Bowling Green (Cross Country)
2018 -- Alyssa Heintschel, Ball State (Soccer); John McCarty, Central Michigan (Basketball)
2017 -- Kelsi White, Miami (Field Hockey); Tanner Barton, Ball State (Swimming & Diving)
2016 -- Julia Lombardi, Eastern Michigan (Soccer); Jordan Italiano, Kent State (Football)
2015 -- Stephanie Haugh, Kent State (Soccer); Dustin Page, Northern Illinois (Soccer)
2014 -- Lindsey Butterfield, Bowling Green (Volleyball); Kyle Smith, Central Michigan (Track & Field)
2013 -- Skylar Chew, Ball State (Soccer); Nabal Jefferson, Northern Illinois (Football)
2012 -- Kristin Hoffman, Northern Illinois (Volleyball); Briggs Orsbon, Ball State (Football)
2011 -- Christine Chiricosta, Bowling Green (Tennis); Jon Edgington, Miami (Baseball)
2010 -- Megan Chronister, Bowling Green (Gymnastics); Tim Hiller, Western Michigan (Football)
2009 -- Jillian Wolosiansky, Eastern Michigan (Volleyball); Gonzalo Barinaga, Ball State (Football)
2008 -- Stephanie Swiger, Bowling Green (Volleyball); Wynn Michalak, Central Michigan (Wrestling)
2007 -- Jody Yednock, Northern Illinois (Gymnastics); Matt Lefeld, Bowling Green (Basketball)
2006 -- Marie Zidek, Northern Illinois (Volleyball); David Mitchell, Miami (Cross Country/Track & Field)
2005 -- Robin Davidson, Toledo (Soccer); Burke Badenhop, Bowling Green (Baseball)
2004 -- Andrea Kremer, Miami (Track & Field); Travis Barclay, Ball State (Football)
2003 -- Katrina Kerns, Bowling Green (Track & Field); Brett Faustman, Central Michigan (Wrestling)
2002 -- Kate Miller, Kent State (Basketball); Tony Malik, Bowling Green (Soccer)
2001 -- Jennifer Jarjosa, Bowling Green (Swimming); Nick Iagulli, Miami (Track & Field)
2000 -- Laura Szczepanski, Ball State (Gymnastics); Cato Coleman, Miami (Track & Field)
1999 -- Wendy Feldman, Central Michigan (Volleyball); Justin Millard, Akron (Soccer)
1998 -- Janelle Tranquillo, Ball State (Field Hockey); Desmond Johnston, Akron (Soccer)
1997 -- Sarah Mikrut, Ball State (Gymnastics); Joe Burch, Bowling Green (Soccer)
1996 -- Kristin Gaddis, Bowling Green (Cross Country/Track); Dustin Swinehart, Miami (Soccer)
1995 -- Dana Drew, Toledo (Basketball); Stephen Fetyko, Eastern Michigan (Swimming)
1994 -- Kris Parks, Ohio (Cross Country/Track); Bob Dudley, Bowling Green (Football)
1993 -- Kelly Weir, Ohio (Basketball); Sander Scott, Central Michigan (Basketball)
1992 -- Julie Young, Western Michigan (Volleyball); Jeff Bender, Central Michigan (Football)
1991 -- Kristin McDaniel, Kent State (Track & Field); Pat Jackson, Bowling Green (Football)
1990 -- Linda Popovich, Bowling Green (Volleyball); Danny Rieman, Ball State (Baseball)
1989 -- Kim Keenan, Kent State (Cross Country/Track); Rick Winegardner, Ball State (Swimming)
TOTAL BOB JAMES AWARD RECIPIENTS BY SCHOOL
19 – BOWLING GREEN (7 male, 12 female)
12 – Ball State (7, 5)
7 – Central Michigan (6, 1)
7 – Kent State (2, 5)
7 – Miami (5, 2)
6 – Northern Illinois (3, 3)
3 – Eastern Michigan (1, 2)
3 – Ohio (1, 2)
2 – Akron (2, 0)
2 – Toledo (0, 2)
2 – Western Michigan (1, 1)
Players Mentioned
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