Lang and Nini Receive Big Ten Postgraduate Scholarships
Jun 24 | Women's Swimming & Diving, Wrestling, Academics
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers' Sebastiano Nini (wrestling) and Katherine Lang (swimming and diving) have been selected as the 2026 recipients of the Big Ten Postgraduate Scholarship, the conference announced.
Big Ten Conference Postgraduate Scholarships are awarded to 36 students competing in intercollegiate athletics every academic year. Each Big Ten Conference institution will annually present one male and one female with one-time postgraduate scholarships of $7,500 each. The applicants will be evaluated based primarily on their achievements in academics.
The scholarships will be used to pay expenses of the student's postgraduate education to include such related activities as research and teaching, as well as other expenses such as tuition, fees, room and board, required course-related supplies and books. To retain the scholarship, the recipient must be accepted into a full-time graduate degree program within three years from the fall semester after selection.
A four-time Academic All-Big Ten selection and 2024 Big Ten Distinguished Scholar, Nini wrestled for the Scarlet Knights from 2022-26. Nini produced 12 victories during his collegiate career, with nine of those wins coming by bonus. A native of Allentown, New Jersey, Nini was a NJSIAA state qualifier at Christian Brothers Academy prior to his arrival "On the Banks." Nini graduated this past May with his bachelor's in supply chain management.
Lang served as a two-time team captain for the Rutgers swimming and diving team. The Charlotte, N.C. native competed in backstroke, IM and relays for the Scarlet Knights and was the team's Alumni Spirit Award Winner. Lang served as the President of the Rutgers' Student-Athlete Advisory Committee as a senior and previously was the vice-president. Majoring in Public Health with a minor in business administration, the Chi Alpha Sigma Inductee was a three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection and a Big Ten Postgraduate Scholarship Recipient. She will continue her academic career in law school.
All-Time Rutgers Big Ten Postgraduate Scholarship Recipients
2026 – Sebastiano Nini (wrestling) and Katherine Lang (swimming and diving)
2025 – Aidan Flynn (men's soccer) and Victoria Grieder (rowing)
2024 – Steve Coponi (track and field) and Emily Mahaffy (rowing)
2023 – Xavier Marcoux (men's golf) and Rachel Houston (field hockey)
2022 – Zackary Franckowiak (men's lacrosse) and Belle Huang (gymnastics)
2021 – Justin Davidovicz (football) and Sophia Catugno (rowing)
2020 – Kieran Mullins (men's lacrosse) and Rebecca Chanin (rowing)
2019 – Brian Shushkovsky (men's soccer) and Sarah Johanek (rowing)
2018 - Michael Rexrode (men's lacrosse) and Addison Walkowiak (swimming & diving)
2017 – Patrick McCabe (men's lacrosse) and Sarah Regn (field hockey)
2016 – Zack Sikora (men's lacrosse) and Maggie Morash (women's soccer)
2015 – Campbell Sode (men's lacrosse) and Greta Leberfinger (swimming & diving)
Big Ten Conference Postgraduate Scholarships are awarded to 36 students competing in intercollegiate athletics every academic year. Each Big Ten Conference institution will annually present one male and one female with one-time postgraduate scholarships of $7,500 each. The applicants will be evaluated based primarily on their achievements in academics.
The scholarships will be used to pay expenses of the student's postgraduate education to include such related activities as research and teaching, as well as other expenses such as tuition, fees, room and board, required course-related supplies and books. To retain the scholarship, the recipient must be accepted into a full-time graduate degree program within three years from the fall semester after selection.
A four-time Academic All-Big Ten selection and 2024 Big Ten Distinguished Scholar, Nini wrestled for the Scarlet Knights from 2022-26. Nini produced 12 victories during his collegiate career, with nine of those wins coming by bonus. A native of Allentown, New Jersey, Nini was a NJSIAA state qualifier at Christian Brothers Academy prior to his arrival "On the Banks." Nini graduated this past May with his bachelor's in supply chain management.
Lang served as a two-time team captain for the Rutgers swimming and diving team. The Charlotte, N.C. native competed in backstroke, IM and relays for the Scarlet Knights and was the team's Alumni Spirit Award Winner. Lang served as the President of the Rutgers' Student-Athlete Advisory Committee as a senior and previously was the vice-president. Majoring in Public Health with a minor in business administration, the Chi Alpha Sigma Inductee was a three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection and a Big Ten Postgraduate Scholarship Recipient. She will continue her academic career in law school.
All-Time Rutgers Big Ten Postgraduate Scholarship Recipients
2026 – Sebastiano Nini (wrestling) and Katherine Lang (swimming and diving)
2025 – Aidan Flynn (men's soccer) and Victoria Grieder (rowing)
2024 – Steve Coponi (track and field) and Emily Mahaffy (rowing)
2023 – Xavier Marcoux (men's golf) and Rachel Houston (field hockey)
2022 – Zackary Franckowiak (men's lacrosse) and Belle Huang (gymnastics)
2021 – Justin Davidovicz (football) and Sophia Catugno (rowing)
2020 – Kieran Mullins (men's lacrosse) and Rebecca Chanin (rowing)
2019 – Brian Shushkovsky (men's soccer) and Sarah Johanek (rowing)
2018 - Michael Rexrode (men's lacrosse) and Addison Walkowiak (swimming & diving)
2017 – Patrick McCabe (men's lacrosse) and Sarah Regn (field hockey)
2016 – Zack Sikora (men's lacrosse) and Maggie Morash (women's soccer)
2015 – Campbell Sode (men's lacrosse) and Greta Leberfinger (swimming & diving)
Players Mentioned
Back/IM
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
/ Wrestling
Monday, June 15
Wednesday, May 27
Wednesday, May 27
Thursday, May 21
