Junior Blair Brown (Purcellville, VA.) earned the first conference honor of her career after being named the Big Ten Co-Player of the Week on Monday, conference officials announced. Brown shares the honor with Minnesota's Lauren Gibbemeyer. The honor brings Penn State's total Big Ten Player of the Week accolades to 72 since joining the conference for the 1991 season. This is the 12th weekly honor for the squad in 2009 as junior Arielle Wilson has been honored three times, senior Alisha Glass was chosen on Oct. 12, Hodge was selected on Sept. 12 and Nov. 2 and Dorton has been named the Freshman of the Week five times. (more)
Penn State Nittany Lion wrestler Cyler Sanderson (Heber City, Utah) has been named Big Ten Wrestler of the Week for action ending Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009. Sanderson, a transfer from Iowa State who made his Penn State debut this past weekend, is the first Penn State Wrestler of the Week since February 2008. (more)
Penn State Lady Lion senior Tyra Grant (Youngstown, Ohio) is one of 50 players on the Naismith Trophy presented by AT&T preseason watch list, it was announced Wednesday by the Atlanta Tipoff Club. Grant, a preseason All-Big Ten selection, is also on the Wooden Award preseason watch list. (more)
The No. 11 Nittany Lion women's cross country team will get a shot to show their stuff against the nation's best next week, as the squad received an at-large bid to the NCAA Cross Country Championships, announced by the NCAA on Sunday evening. Led by frontrunner and 2008 cross country All-American Bridget Franek (Hiram, Ohio), Penn State was one of the first teams to be selected out of the at-large pool, thanks to its outstanding efforts during the 2009 campaign. Sophomore Vince McNally (Smoketown, Pa.) will also make the trip to the national championships via an individual-qualifying performance at the Mid-Atlantic Regional. (more)
Senior forward Jason Yeisley (Allentown, Pa.) has been honored on the 2009 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America(R) First Team, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America. Awarded in recognition for achievements earned both on the field and in the classroom, Yeisley becomes the second Nittany Lion soccer player to be named to the ESPN The Magazine first team in the last two years, as midfielder Ryan Badaracco was a 2008 honoree. (more)
Four Penn State field hockey players were named to the NFHCA All-Mideast Region Teams on Thursday following the Lions' strong finish to the season. Freshman Kelsey Amy (Sweet Valley, Pa.) and sophomore Jessica Longstreth (Richboro, Pa.) cracked the first team while seniors Laura Cahill (Virginia Beach, Va.) and Bethany Marvel (Newtown, Pa.) were named to the second team. The honor is the second of Marvel's career after also being named to the second team in 2008. (more)
The Nittany Lion who made the game-changing play in Penn State's 31-20 win over Indiana on Saturday has been honored by the Big Ten Conference. Junior linebacker Navorro Bowman (District Heights, Md.) recorded 12 tackles and returned an interception 73 yards for a touchdown to earn Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week accolades. The conference honor is the second of his career. (more)
For the third consecutive year, the Big Ten Network will present the exclusive, live announcement of the annual Big Ten football awards during Big Ten Tonight: All-Conference Selection Special at 8 p.m. ET on Monday, Nov. 23. The show will reveal the All-Big Ten teams as selected by both the coaches and the media. Coaches will select a Big Ten Offensive Player, Defensive Player and Freshman of the Year. Media will also honor the Dave McClain Coach of the Year while the coaches will pick an Offensive and Defensive Lineman of the Year. (more)
Penn State student-athletes continue to graduate well above their peers nationwide, earning record-setting academic performances, according to statistical information released earlier this week by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The NCAA's annual study of institutions nationwide revealed that Penn State student-athletes at the University Park campus earned a record-tying Graduation Success Rate (GSR) of 89 percent, compared to a 79 percent average for all Division I institutions for students entering from 1999-2000 through 2002-03. "Penn State places great value on the academic success of our student-athletes. These numbers clearly show the dedication of our students, our academic staff and our coaches," said Penn State President Graham Spanier. (more)
Saturday, Nov. 14, was a day for tributes and honors at Penn State, as the football team and the Blue Band marked Senior Day. During the pregame Tailgreat at the Bryce Jordan Center, Blue Band Director O. Richard Bundy joined the trombone section for their feature, playing a new Yamaha trombone that the company presented to him in recognition of his 30 years of service to the Blue Band. The honors continued at Tailgreat, as Blue Sapphire PJ Maierhofer was presented with the USA and World Twirling Championships trophy. The fifth-year senior earned the trophy and the title of College Miss Majorette of America during the championships, held at Notre Dame in July. On the field, football seniors defeated Indiana 31-20 in their last home game of their college careers. For photos, visit http://live.psu.edu/stilllife/2183 online. (more)
