June 11, 2010
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Jason Yeisley (Allentown, Pa.) and Daphne Skelos (Rockville Centre, N.Y.) have been selected as Penn State's recipients of the 2010 Big Ten Outstanding Sportsmanship Award. Both Skelos and Yeisley were the only student-athletes honored by the conference from their respective sports, women's swimming and men's soccer, among the group of 22.
One member of each varsity sports team on every campus was chosen by his or her institution as a Sportsmanship Award honoree. From each university's list, two Outstanding Sportsmanship Award winners were then selected. All of the Sportsmanship Award honorees distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. In addition, these student-athletes must be in good academic standing and must have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting.
A three-time team captain, Yeisley overcame two serious knee injuries over the course of his career to establish himself as one of the top players in the nation as a senior. In 2009, he led Penn State to an undefeated regular season home record, a second place finish in the Big Ten, the Big Ten Tournament title game, and a berth in the NCAA Tournament. A key figure on the Big Ten's top offense, Yeisley totaled eight goals and five assists to tie for second on the team with 21 points. His standout season culminated with his selection by the conference coaches as Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year and First Team All-Big Ten. He was also named to the NSCAA All-Great Lakes Region Second Team.
In December, Yeisley was announced as the 2009 winner of the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award for men's soccer, an honor presented annually to the most outstanding senior student-athlete in NCAA Division I men's soccer.
In the classroom, Yeisley compiled an impressive 3.61 cumulative grade point average and graduated with a degree in management from the Smeal College of Business in December. A three-time Academic All-Big Ten recipient, 2007 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District First Team selection, and 2009 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America First Team honoree, he was named one of just two Division I men's soccer recipients of a 2009-10 NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship.
Yeisley was drafted by Major League Soccer's FC Dallas in January and is currently on its roster, seeing action in five games.
Skelos enjoyed a stellar four-year career at Penn State, graduating with some of the top times in school history, including the 200 backstroke (second), 400 IM (second), 200 IM (third) and 100 backstroke (ninth). A two-time NCAA Championship qualifier, Skelos participated in the 200 IM, 400 IM and 400 medley relay in 2009 while also qualifying as a freshman in 2007. This year, she posted eight "NCAA B" qualifying times, highlighted by four B times in the 200 backstroke while garnering two in the 200 IM and two more in the 400 IM. All eight B times came in the final two meets of the season, the Big Ten Championships and the Last Chance Meet.
Skelos excelled in the classroom as well, earning Academic All-Big Ten laurels the past two seasons.