UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State Nittany Lion student-athletes TJ Malone (men's lacrosse) and Cori Dyke (women's soccer) garnered the loftiest academic and athletic accolades bestowed upon Big Ten Conference student-athletes, securing Penn State's Big Ten Medals of Honor for the 2023-24 academic year. Malone and Dyke were both recognized as All-Americans during their illustrious collegiate careers, with both athletes selected into their respective sports' professional leagues in the 2024 draft cycle.
The Big Ten Medal of Honor is awarded to one male and one female student from the graduating class of each member institution who has demonstrated excellence on and off the field throughout their college career. The highest honor that a student competing in conference athletics can achieve in the Big Ten, the award was established in 1915 and was the first award in intercollegiate athletics to demonstrate support for the educational emphasis placed on athletics. During the past century, the Big Ten Medal of Honor has been awarded to more than 1,500 honorees. These individuals have translated their campus experience into success in all walks of life.
Malone has been among the top career point (252) and goal scorers (152) in Penn State men's lacrosse history. In his final collegiate season in 2024, he led the Nittany Lions back to the NCAA Tournament as he produced a career-high 78 points off 42 goals and 36 assists. During the 2024 campaign, Malone racked up nine games with five or more points and 12 multi-goal games.
The West Chester, Pennsylvania native led the Nittany Lions during the season in points and assists and was tied for first in game-winning goals. He was also named a top-25 Tewaaraton Award finalist. Malone finished his career on a 49-game goal streak which led all of NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse. Throughout his entire career at Penn State, Malone suffered numerous injuries including a hip hernia surgery while at Penn State that even forced him to sit out the entire 2022 season. But during his entire life he never let injuries define or impact him.
Malone was a key leader during the Nittany Lions second final four run in program history in 2023 where they were nearly edged by No. 1 Duke in overtime. Malone in 2023 was named an All-American by USILA, Inside Lacrosse, and USA Lacrosse. He's a two-time Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year and was once again named an USA Lacrosse, Inside Lacrosse and USILA All-American in 2024. In 2023, Malone was named a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar which is awarded to student-athletes who maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA during the academic year. He was also named a USILA Scholar All-American in 2023 for his success on the field and in the classroom.
Malone became the 19th Penn State player in program history to be drafted into the Premiere Lacrosse/Major League Lacrosse League. He was drafted in the third round by the Maryland Whipsnakes. He will also be working for TD Cowen after he graduated with a master's degree in business administration.
Dyke, one of the most decorated recent graduates of the Nittany Lion women's soccer program, set multiple career records over the course of her five years in Happy Valley, notably becoming the Penn State leader for career minutes played after surpassing Kaleigh Riehl's record of 8,847 in PSU's second-round NCAA Tournament win over Santa Clara. She also surpassed the Nittany Lion career records in matches played and matches started, logging a whopping 108 in both categories by starting in every Nittany Lion match from the 2019 through 2023 seasons. She totaled an astounding 27 career points as a part of the Penn State back line, amassing nine goals scored and nine assists overall.
Fresh off her most productive collegiate season in 2023, the Littleton, Colorado native garnered her first career national accolade and joined a long line of Nittany Lion legends to become an All-American. Dyke was one of just four Penn State student-athletes to start and play in all 23 matches in the 2023 campaign, leading all Nittany Lion field position players in minutes played with 1,914. She logged five total goals on the season with an additional six assists for 16 points, her highest scoring output in a single season over her five years with PSU. Dyke split time between the holding midfield and center back positions in the 2023 campaign, serving as a key coordinator and organizer on both sides of the ball.
The veteran Nittany Lion and team leader hauled in a wide array of awards over the course of the season, highlighted by being selected as a United Soccer Coaches first-team All-Region choice in addition to landing the Big Ten Defender of the Year Award. Dyke was named a first-team All-Big Ten selection and collected multiple accolades from the Big Ten Conference and TopDrawerSoccer, appearing as a B1G Defensive Player of the Week and TopDrawerSoccer National Team of the Week honorable mention on multiple occasions during her senior+ campaign.
As a key leader on the 2022 B1G Tournament championship team, Dyke was recognized on the B1G All-Tournament Team alongside multiple teammates. Her star power on the pitch was recognized in her first year on campus, earning placements on the B1G All-Freshman Team and TopDrawerSoccer Freshman Best XI First Team in 2019. Dyke was honored as a second-team CSC Academic All-American and first-team United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-American in 2023 in recognition of her stellar academic efforts. She was named to the CSC Academic All-District team in back-to-back seasons in 2022 and 2023 and appeared as both a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar and Academic All-Big Ten member every season in which she was eligible.
Dyke was selected with the eighth pick in the second round of the 2024 NWSL Draft by the Orlando Pride, becoming Penn State's sixth second-round draft choice. Her selection in the second round marked the Penn State program record for draft choices in a single year, with Dyke joining four of her teammates from the 2023 roster in the professional ranks this season. The former Nittany Lion captain made her NWSL debut on April 26 against the Washington Spirit and secured her first selection to the Pride's starting XI on June 7 against San Diego Wave FC.
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