UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- A quartet of Nittany Lion seniors have earned accolades from Penn State for their achievements in academics, athletics and leadership.
Jason Nolf (wrestling) and Emily Ogle (women's soccer) have been selected as the 2018-19 recipients of the Ernest B. McCoy Memorial Award. Kelsey Crow (women's hockey) was named the recipient of the Eric A. Walker Award and Ally McHugh (women's swimming and diving) is among the John W. Oswald Award honorees.
All four were recognized at the Penn State Student Awards ceremony March 31 at Eisenhower Auditorium.
The McCoy Award has been presented annually since 1971 to one senior female and one senior male student-athlete who have combined successful athletic participation with academic excellence. The award is named for Ernie McCoy, the long-time dean of Penn State's College of Physical Education, who also served as the University's athletic director.
The 2018 McCoy Award recipients were Zain Retherford (wrestling) and Haleigh Washington (women's volleyball). The most recent women's soccer McCoy honoree was Britt Eckerstrom in 2016.
The Eric A. Walker Award is presented annually to a graduating student who has contributed most to enhancing the reputation of the University through extracurricular activities. Walker was president of Penn State from 1956-70.
The John W. Oswald Award, established in 1983, annually recognizes graduating seniors who have provided outstanding leadership in at least one of several areas of activity at the University. The award consists of a medallion honoring John W. Oswald, president of the University from 1970-83.
Jason Nolf
Nolf wrapped up one of the most successful collegiate wrestling careers in NCAA history in March by winning his third consecutive NCAA Championship at 157 pounds. He ended a stellar 2018-19 season with a perfect 31-0 record, including 15 pins, five technical falls and six majors. His sixth and final major of the year was a resounding 10-2 victory in the NCAA title bout over the nation's second ranked wrestler. Nolf helped lead Penn State to its fourth straight NCAA team title and eighth in nine years.
From Yatesboro, Pa., Nolf won the 2019 Big Ten Championship and was named the 2019 Big Ten Championship Co-Outstanding Wrestler. He was a first team All-Big Ten selection as well and was the 2019 Big Ten Co-Wrestler of the Year (with teammate Bo Nickal).
Nolf's collegiate career accolades and accomplishments are numerous and include: Penn State's third three-time NCAA Champion, second four-time NCAA finalist and 11th four-time All-American; finished second, first, first and first at the NCAA Championships during his career; helped lead Penn State to four straight NCAA team titles; four-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree; three-time NWCA First Team National All-Academic; and a 2017 CoSIDA Academic All-American (second team). A kinesiology major, Nolf leaves Penn State with a stunning 117-3 career record, including 60 falls, 27 tech falls and 16 majors. A total of 103 of his 117 wins were for bonus points and he leaves Penn State among the top 20 in all-time wins. Nolf's 60 falls are the most ever in Nittany Lion wrestling history.
Emily Ogle
Ogle compiled one of the most successful careers in the storied history of Penn State women's soccer on and off the field. She graduated with a 3.99 grade-point average and a degree in kinesiology. Over her four seasons, she was instrumental in helping the Nittany Lions earn an 87-23-11 record and was a part of four Big Ten regular season titles, three Big Ten Tournament titles, and the program's first NCAA Championship in 2015.
Ogle's list of achievements on the field are mirrored by her success in the classroom. The team captain in 2018, she was just the eighth Nittany Lion to play in 100 career games. Ogle was a three-time, first-team All-Region honoree and a second-team All-American in 2018. She also was selected Big Ten Midfielder of the Year following her senior season.
From Strongsville, Ohio, Ogle was twice selected a CoSIDA Academic All-American (second-team), a three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree, a two-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar and was twice named to the MAC Herman Trophy Watch List. Ogle also spent time with the United States Women's National Team on both the U-20 and U-23 teams.
Following her outstanding career, Ogle was selected with the 24th overall pick in the National Women's Soccer League College Draft. Ogle was selected by Portland Thorns FC.
Kelsey Crow
Crow joins a distinct group of former Nittany Lion students who have won the Walker award since 1985, including John Amaechi, Bridget Franek, Kelly Mazzante, Jose Palacios and Paul Posluszny.
The 2018-19 team captain, Crow has a 3.94 GPA and is on schedule to graduate in May with degrees in psychology and biology. She plans to attend medical school at the University of Minnesota next fall. Crow finished with 16 points and a team-best 15 assists in her senior season to lead Penn State to its second-straight CHA Semifinal appearance. She was named to the All-CHA second-team as a senior to follow her All-CHA first-team nod her junior year. She ranks second all-time among defensive players in Nittany Lion program history with 43 points on 10 goals and 33 assists.
Prior to being team captain as a senior, she was named an alternate captain in her sophomore and junior seasons.
Crow is heavily involved in the Penn State community in a leadership and volunteer role. As a member of the Student Athlete Advisory Board (SAAB), she assisted in organizing special events including a donation gathering for the Hearthside Rehabilitation and Nursing Center and connecting with special education students through PSU Lifelink and Special Olympics Centre County.
The Minnetonka, Minn. native also has various volunteer experience with the Mount Nittany Medical Center, Pennsylvania Special Olympics Summer State Games, the Happy Valley Beavers and the Paterno Family Beaver Stadium Run. Crow is also a three-year member of the Athletic Directory Leadership Institute and was inducted into Penn State's Spiritus Leoninus honor society, which recognizes student-athletes for outstanding performance in athletics, academics, leadership and community service.
Ally McHugh
A 2018-19 team co-captain, McHugh is on schedule to graduate in May with a degree in biobehavioral health. Following graduation, the College Swimming Coaches Association of America Academic All-American will be continuing her training in Madison, Wisconsin, in preparation for the 2020 U.S. Olympic trials.
McHugh, a member of the U.S National team, is a two-time NCAA medalist in the women's 1650 freestyle as she brought home a gold medal win in the 2019 Championships after earning
a silver medal at the 2018 NCAA Championships. McHugh is the first swimmer in Penn State women's swimming and diving history to win an NCAA individual championship.
McHugh also won the women's 400 IM at the 2018 USA Swimming National Championships.
From Philadelphia, McHugh is a two-time All-America in the 1650 free, as well as a four-time honorable mention All-America in the 500 free (2018), 1650 free (2017) and 400 IM (2017, 2019). She is also a four-time Big Ten Championships medalist earning two gold and two silver during her collegiate career. She claimed gold in both 2018 and 2019 in the 1650 free, setting a meet record for her 2018 swim (15:43.34). She brought home silver in the 400 IM in 2017 and 2018. McHugh holds four Penn State records in the 500 free, 1000 free, 1650 free and 400 IM.
Penn State Among the Nation's Most Comprehensive and Successful Athletic Programs
Under the leadership of Vice President of Athletics Sandy Barbour, Penn State has one of the nation's most comprehensive and successful athletic programs, featuring 800 student-athletes across 31 varsity programs (16 men's, 15 women's). The Nittany Lions' 31 programs are tied for the fourth-highest number of sports sponsored by a Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) institution.
Nittany Lion students have posted an NCAA Graduation Success Rate (GSR) of 90 percent the past two years, which ties Penn State' all-time high. Eight teams earned a 100 percent graduation rate in the 2018 NCAA Graduation Rates Report. The Nittany Lions rank No. 4 among all Division I schools with 204 CoSIDA Academic All-Americans all-time, including women's soccer student-athletes Ogle and Kerry Abello and football student-athlete Blake Gillikin during the fall semester.
Penn State's 51 NCAA Championships all-time (79 national championships overall) rank No. 5 among all NCAA Division I programs and are the highest total of any college or university east of the Mississippi River. Penn State's 32 NCAA titles since 1992-93, including a fourth consecutive NCAA Wrestling Championship, lead all Big Ten Conference institutions. The Nittany Lions have won 110 Big Ten championships or tournament titles since capturing their first crown in 1992-93.
