Editor's note: This is the final story in a four-part series describing various polls in different NCAA sports.
Ohio wrestler Jake Percival was responsible for his 34-2 record and fifth-place finish at the NCAA Tournament last winter, but he was not responsible for being named Mid-American Conference Wrestler of the Year. The MAC wrestling coaches were.
Unlike professional sports, where media members often handle duties for MVP voting, the majority of MAC coaches are given the privilege and responsibility of voting for their sport's player of the year.
Ohio wrestling coach Joel Greenlee was one of six coaches on the panel that named Percival MAC Wrestler of the Year.
Coaches vote for three guys and the highest vote-getter wins
Greenlee said. I thought Jake was the guy in the conference who most deserved it (last year). He won the all-star meet and beat four or five nationally ranked guys.
Percival and Ohio volleyball player Laura Hageman were the two Ohio athletes who collected MAC Player of the Year awards last year.
Coaches also vote on the MAC Coach of the Year award for their sports, though there are no specific criteria used for selection, said Gary Richter, MAC assistant commissioner for media relations.
Some coaches think that whoever wins the conference should be Coach of the Year he said. Other coaches think if a team jumps in the standings - say moving up to second place from seventh - that that team's coach deserves the award.
Not all awards are voted on by coaches, though.
The MAC News Media Association, which includes approximately 114 media members who cover various MAC sports, votes for most of the football and men's and women's basketball awards, said Bryan McGowan, MAC associate director of media relations.
Other awards using a different system include the MAC Football Player of the Week award, which recognizes six players each week, Ohio Sports Information Coordinator Jim Stephan said.
Our department sends a nomination he said. It basically falls on the shoulders of the sports information contact for that sport
and
in some instances
after consultation with the coach.
Stephan, who handles Ohio's Player of the Week nominations for football, lacrosse, men's basketball and men's and women's golf, said one player usually emerges from the group each week for a nomination.
Usually
(it's) obvious
Stephan said. If it's not clear
then I may call the coach and try to get some insight on who had a better game. It's all based on statistics. That's how it's picked
and that's how people look at it.
A nomination is not always made, though, especially if the players and the team did not perform well, Stephan said.
I don't feel there's a need to nominate somebody every week
he said. In most cases
