Oct. 30, 2017
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Four student-athletes on the Penn State men's lacrosse team were named team captains for the 2018 season, head coach Jeff Tambroni announce on Monday morning.
The 2018 Nittany Lion squad will be led by senior middies Ryan Keenan, Tanner Peck, and Tripp Traynor, and redshirt junior defender Mike Aronow.
"Our staff is thrilled about the quality of character within our 2018 captains," Head Coach Jeff Tambroni stated about his four captains. "We are confident that this group will lead our program throughout the 2018 season and that they will continue to advance our mission of leaving the Penn State legacy better than we found it."
The quartet has helped the Nittany Lions' program come from a 5-9 record in their freshman season to an improved 12-4, and a No. 1 ranking in the national poll in their junior year, and will look to build upon in 2018.
Ryan Keenan, a native of Smithtown, N.Y., scored 10 goals and added 13 assists in his junior season, and has progressively improved in each of his years. Keenan has seen action in 41 games for Penn State, with 46 career points with 21 goals and 25 assists.
Mike Aronow, a native of Holbrook, N.Y., missed 2017 with an injury, but that did not stop the defender from leading from the sideline. In his first two seasons, he proved to be a defensive force, including earning All-Big Ten Honorable Mention honors.
Tripp Traynor, a native of Downington, Pa., a defensive-minded middie, recorded 30 groundballs and three caused turnovers in his junior season. He has played in 36 games for Penn State.
Tanner Peck, a native of Lincoln University, Pa., is a two-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, leading the Nittany Lions in the classroom. Peck has played in 15 games for the Nittany Lions with five career assists.
When asked about their leadership skills, Tambroni mentioned how each was different, and together they provided a well-rounded leadership core.
"Ryan is our emotional leader and one of the most competitive players I have ever coached. Mike is a compassionate and tenacious leader who, through a season-ending injury in 2017, has gained so much gratitude for his career at Penn State. Tripp is a model of consistency as he shows up every day with nothing short of his best effort. Finally, Tanner is the vocal leader of our program and a model citizen in the classroom and community."
The Nittany Lions will open the 2018 season with a game versus Villanova on Saturday, Feb. 3.