March 20, 2012
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Three Nittany Lions were recently recognized with 2012 University Student Achievement Awards, honoring them for the highest levels of academic excellence, outstanding leadership, and meritorious service. Men's gymnast Miguel Pineda (Galloway, Ohio) and women's swimmer Erin Thomas (Bangor, Maine) were selected as the 2012 recipients of the Ernest B. McCoy Memorial Award while women's gymnast Natalie Ettl (Waukesha, Wis.) was named a John W. Oswald Award winner.
The McCoy Award is presented annually to one senior male and female student-athlete who have combined successful athletic participation with academic excellence. The Oswald Award recognizes graduating seniors who have provided outstanding leadership in at least one of several areas of activity at the University.
Pineda is the team captain of a 2012 Nittany Lion squad that has established itself as a legitimate national title contender. Currently ranked No. 2 in the NCAA, Penn State owns the nation's highest team score this season. A cornerstone of one of collegiate gymnastics' top still rings line-ups, Pineda is ranked No. 5 in the event and has recorded five top two finishes, including two title wins, thus far this season. He is also a consistent contributor in the vault and parallel bars. As a junior, Pineda earned his first career All-America honor for his second place finish in the still rings at the National Collegiate Championships. He also medaled in the event at the 2011 Big Ten Championships, placing third.
Pineda is completing his biology degree through the Eberly College of Science at Penn State. He is among the top one-half percent of his class with a 3.98 grade point average. A two-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar recipient and three-time CGA First Team All-American Scholar Athlete, Pineda was instrumental in the men's gymnastics squad earning last year's Varsity `S' Award, an honor presented to the Penn State men's and women's teams with the highest team GPA. In 2011, he was also recognized on the Capital One Academic All-America® Men's At-Large First Team and received the prestigious NCAA Elite 88 Award at the National Collegiate Championships.
Pineda, who was announced as a recipient of the Wayne Duke Award in late February, plans to attend medical school following graduation with the goal of becoming an orthopedic surgeon.
Thomas has had a standout career for the Penn State women's swimming program. The senior is coming off a successful showing at this year's NCAA Championships, with her team racing in the 200 and 400 freestyle relay. In the 400 freestyle relay prelims, her squad earned a spot in the B final, going on to finish 14th overall. The relay team also qualified for the 200 freestyle finals with a time of 1:29.85, a season best for Penn State. The group earned a 15th place overall finish in the 200 freestyle finals.
Thomas has helped set school records in the 200 freestyle relay (1:29:64) and the 400 freestyle (3:17:44). On the last day of the 2012 Big Ten Championships, Thomas' team broke the 400 freestyle relay record, posting a time of 3:16.12 to tie Wisconsin for first place.
In 2010-11, Thomas competed in nine events, earning All-America honors in the 400 freestyle relay. She also qualified for the NCAA Championships in the 100 and 200 freestyle and 200 and 400 freestyle relays. Thomas posted a season-best time of 23.25 in the 50 freestyle prelims at the Big Ten Championships. Thomas is a meteorology major from Bangor, Maine, and was named to the Academic All-Big Ten in 2009-2010 and 2010-11.
Ettl, an uneven bars specialist, is co-captain of the Penn State women's gymnastics team. Ettl anchored the Nittany Lions on bars in 2010 and 2011, earning Second Team All-Big Ten honors as a sophomore and First Team laurels as a junior. She was the 2010 and 2011 Big Ten Uneven Bars Champion. Ettl owns a career high of 9.975 on the uneven bars, one of two gymnasts in Penn State history to earn the score, and averaged 9.800 or better all three seasons in which she competed.
A walk-on turned scholarship recipient, Ettl is a fighter having undergone seven knee surgeries in seven years. Despite retiring prior to her senior season, Ettl has remained a fixture with the women's gymnastics program, dedicating herself to supporting her teammates.
A kinesiology minor with plans to pursue a master's degree in nursing, Ettl is an Academic All-Big Ten selection, a two-time Big Ten Sportsmanship honoree, and NACGC/W Scholar Athlete.