UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Eighty Penn State student-athletes have earned fall Academic All-Big Ten honors, as announced by the conference. The Nittany Lions’ total is an increase of eight from their fall 2014 total of 72.
Fourteen members of Penn State’s NCAA champion women’s soccer team earned Academic All-Big Ten honors for Coach Erica Walsh, including Raquel Rodriguez, the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Scholar Player of the Year, and goalkeeper Britt Eckerstrom, who did not allow a goal in the Nittany Lions’ six NCAA championship matches.Twenty-two members of the Penn State football team earned Academic All-Big Ten accolades, including Matt Baney, Geno Lewis and Angelo Mangiro, who graduated this past weekend, with Mangiro earning a master’s degree.The men’s cross-country team had six Academic All-Big Ten honorees, the Big Ten champion women’s cross-country squad had seven, field hockey had 10, men’s soccer had 12, and women’s volleyball had nine, including Megan Courtney and Kendall Pierce, who graduated on Saturday.Penn State has earned a total of 5,121 Academic All-Big Ten honorees in its 23rd year of full membership in the conference. To be eligible for Academic All-Big Ten consideration, student-athletes must be letter winners who are in at least their second academic year at their institution and carry a cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 or higher. Last year, Penn State had a total of 277 Academic All-Big Ten honorees, its second-highest total all-time. The school record is 296 honorees, set in 2012-13.Also among Penn State’s Academic All-Big Ten honorees were All-American Haleigh Washington (women’s volleyball) and Tyler Yazujian (football), both of whom were selected CoSIDA second-team Academic All-Americans. Penn State’s 191 all-time CoSIDA Academic All-Americans rank No. 4 among all Division I institutions.
For the full list of Penn State’s fall Academic All-Big Ten honorees, visit www.gopsusports.com.