Jan. 25, 2010
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - For the second time in his debut season, Penn State all-arounder Felix Aronovich (Kiryat Bialik, Israel) has been named Big Ten Freshman of the Week, the conference office announced on Monday. He was honored with the award for his standout individual performance in the No. 6 Nittany Lions' defeat at No. 3 Michigan last weekend.
Aronovich also earned the honor on Jan. 11 after capturing titles in the pommel horse and parallel bars in his collegiate debut, a Penn State victory over Army. Nittany Lions have won all three of the freshman of the week awards bestowed by the Big Ten this season, after Nick Grant (Butler, Pa.) was recognized on Jan. 18 for his efforts in helping Penn State claim a 12th consecutive crown at the West Point Open.
Competing in his first road Big Ten dual, Aronovich continued his impressive start to his collegiate career by winning the pommel horse with a season and team high score of 15.100. Aronovich, who has captured a pommel horse title each time he has competed in the event in 2010, defeated Michigan All-Americans David Chan and Chris Cameron to secure the victory. He also placed second in the parallel bars (tie) and fifth in the still rings, establishing season best marks in both events.
The Nittany Lions return home this weekend, hosting William & Mary in a dual meet set for 2 p.m. on Sun., Jan. 31 in Rec Hall. Penn State possesses a perfect 15-0 record in its all-time series with the Tribe, including a 347.850-340.050 victory last season in Williamsburg, Va. Competing without eventual Nissen-Emery Award winner Casey Sandy, who was given the week off, Allen Harris (Lancaster, Pa.) led the Lions by placing first in the floor exercise and the vault while Noam Shaham (Kfar Saba, Israel) and Miguel Pineda (Galloway, Ohio) captured titles in the high bar and still rings, respectively.