April 15, 2003
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Swimmer Lindsay Lange and football player Gene Mruczkowski each received the Big Ten Medal of Honor for the 2002-03 season Monday night at the John Purdue Club's Senior Salute. The medal is awarded annually at each university to a male and female student-athlete who demonstrate great proficiency in scholarship and athletics.
Lange, a native of Oak Harbor, Ohio, is one of the women's swimming program's most decorated athletes. She is a four-time NCAA Championships qualfier, a three-time academic All-Big Ten selection and has qualfied for both the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Trials in the 100 meter breaststroke.
Purdue's 2003 Most Valuable Swimmer, Lange won her first Big Ten title in February after shattering her own school record in the 100 breast, finishing in a time of 1:00.42. At the 2003 NCAA Championships, Lange earned honorable mention All-America honors for a third consecutive year in both the 100 breast and the 200 medley relay. She also earned honorable mention citations with the 200 free and 400 medley teams.
Lange is the fourth female swimmer in 10 years to receive this distinction. Heidi Reynolds and Kim Fritsch earned the Medal of Honor in back-to-back years in 1993 and 1994; Marissa Watts collected her award in 1998.
Mruczkowski, a Cleveland native, became the thrid gridiron star in three years to receive the Medal of Honor, following former teammates Drew Brees (2001) and Travis Dorsch (2002). The co-captain started 48 straight games at Purdue, first 24 at left guard and last 24 at center, before suffering a knee injury in the 2002 season finale against rival Indiana. His streak ranked as the second-longest current streak among offensive linemen behind Marshall tackle Steve Sciullo with 51.
A major player on the field and in the community, Mruczkowski has received numerous awards since his rookie campaign in 1999. During his tenure, the offensive lineman was named second team Academic All-American in 2000 and 2002. In addition he collected four Academic All-Big Ten citations, three Academic All-District V certificates and two Noble E. Kizer Awards, which go to the Boilermaker who maintains the team's highest grade-point average.
Mruczkowski also was given the team's 2002 Kiwanis Citzenship Award for his role in the Gentle Giants program, which encourages interaction between the Boilermakers and local elementary students.