University Park, Pa. -- Penn State's student-athletes have raised the bar again, breaking the school record for Academic All-Big Ten honorees for the third consecutive year. A record 253 Nittany Lion and Lady Lion student-athletes earned Academic All-Big Ten recognition, breaking the previous mark of 245, set last year, which had broken the record of 230 in 2002-03. There were 128 Penn State honorees for the eight spring and five at-large sports, providing the final impetus to break the record.
Penn State narrowly finished second among all conference institutions for 2004-05, as Ohio State had 260 total honorees to edge the Nittany and Lady Lions by seven. Minnesota was third with 205.
Penn State has led all institutions in Academic All-Big Ten honorees six times in the past nine years and has the highest total of any conference school over the past 11 years with 2,310 selections, followed by Ohio State with 2,130.
One of Penn State's spring and at-large honorees is junior Jennifer Leatherman, who has a 4.0 grade point average. Leatherman won the Big Ten and NCAA East Regional hammer throw titles during the outdoor track season and will be participating in the NCAA Track and Field Championships June 8-11 in Sacramento, Calif.
Also among Penn State's recipients are three student-athletes that were named first team Academic All-District by CoSIDA: Chris Foster (men's track and field), Kate Johnston (women's track and field) and Keith Kowal (men's volleyball). All three are eligible for Academic All-America consideration. Kowal was a first team Academic All-American last year.
Four Penn State squads had the highest number of Academic All-Big Ten recipients among their respective sports: baseball (13), women's golf (eight), men's track and field (20) and women's track and field (27). Women's tennis was second with five honorees.
The Big Ten honored 1,952 student-athletes in 2004-05, the highest total over the last 11 years, eclipsing the previous mark of 1,892, set last year.
Student-athletes must be in their second academic year, earn a letter and have at least a 3.0 cumulative grade point average.