July 25, 2014
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - A total of 15 Nittany Lion track and field athletes have earned All-Academic recognition from the United States Track and Field/Cross Country Assocation (USTFCCCA). The Penn State women's squad also earned All-Academic team honors, earning a cumulative GPA of 3.32.
This is the 11th consecutive year the women's team has earned the distinction. To be eligible, a team must reach at least a 3.00 cumulative team GPA.
Eight members of the women's team earned the honor, including Emily Giannotti (Coudersport, Pa.), Leigha Anderson (Carlisle, Pa.), Tal Ben-Artzi (Newe Shaanan Hifa, Israel), Shelley Black (Laflin, Pa.), Abigail Benson (Elma, N.Y.), Lauren Kenney (State College, Pa.), Lexi Masterson (Jeannette, Pa.) and Marta Klebe (Chesterbrook, Pa.).
On the men's side, Robby Creese (Mount Airy, Md.), Cole Proffitt (Manheim, Pa.), Rob Cardina (Lancaster, Pa.), Ryan Brennan (Chester, N.Y.), Aaron Nadolsky (Altoona, Pa.), Bernard Bennett-Green (Elkins Park, Pa.) and Matthew Fischer (Kennett Square, Pa.) earned All-Academic status.
To qualify as an All-Academic individual, student-athletes must complete the academic year with a GPA of at least 3.25 and have finished the indoor regular season ranked nationally among the top 96 (individually) or 48 (relay) or have participated in any round of the NCAA Division I Outdoor Championships.
For more on Nittany Lion track and field, log onto www.GoPSUsports.com or follow the team on Twitter @PennStateTFXC.