July 25, 2013
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - An even dozen Nittany Lion track and field standouts have achieved United States Track and Field/Cross Country Assocation (USTFCCCA) All-Academic recognition, announced by association offices on Wednesday. Both the Nittany Lion men's and women's squads also earned All-Academic Team accolades, which is awarded to collegiate teams with cumulative grade point averages of 3.0 or higher.
A total of six women's team members earned the honor, including Abbie Benson (Elma, N.Y.), Shelley Black (Laflin, Pa.), Natalie Bower (Pleasant Unity, Pa.), Emily Giannotti (Coudersport, Pa.), Lauren Kenney (State College, Pa.), and Marta Klebe (Chesterbrook, Pa.). Meanwhile, men's team members Ryan Brennan (Chester, N.Y.), Tyler Corkedale (West Windsor, N.J.), Robby Creese (Mount Airy, Md.), Matt Fischer (Kennett Square, Pa.), Sam Masters (Columbia, Mo.), and Ricky West (Toronto, Ontario) were also recognized for their academic success.
All 12 Nittany Lions have been racking up the athletic and academic honors throughout the 2013 campaign, as Creese was honored as a member of the Capital One Academic All-America Team with Kenney claiming Academic All-America All-District status. Meanwhile, Fischer and Giannotti were named Big Ten Distinguished Scholars for carrying a GPA of 3.7 or higher for the 2012-13 year.
The Nittany Lion women were one of 187 women's programs to earn the award, ending the 2013 spring semester with a cumulative GPA of 3.17. A total of 111 men's teams claimed the citation, including the Nittany Lion men with a cumulative GPA of 3.04. The Nittany Lion men were one of six men's squads from the Big Ten on the All-Academic Team, while 10 conference women's squads were honored.
To qualify for the award individually, the student-athlete must have compiled a cumulative grade point average of 3.25 and have met either of the following athletic standards: for the indoor season, a student-athlete must have finished the regular season ranked in the national top 96 in an individual event or ranked in the national top 48 (collective listing) in a relay event on the official NCAA POP list provided by TFRRS.org; for the outdoor season, a student-athlete must have participated in any round of the NCAA Division I Championships (including preliminary rounds).
For more on Nittany Lion track and field, log on to www.GoPSUsports.com.