This summer at the World University Games, Penn State athletes will be amongst the nation's elite.
A large contingent of Penn State athletes and coaches will head to Buffalo, N.Y., from July 7-18 for the Games. While seven Nittany Lions have already qualified for the Games, a few must detour through Colorado Springs, Colo., for the trials.
This year's Games will feature 88 countries and over 7,100 international athletes. The competition is like a smaller version of the Olympic Games, said Hank Tatarchuk, the director of sports and venues.
"It gives an opportunity for the future leaders of the world to meet, greet and compete," Tatarchuk said. "What we're really trying to do is help them get a better understanding of the different cultures of the world, while participating in a competitive setting."
Athletes 17-to-28 years of age are eligible. They must be enrolled in studies or have earned their degree during the past year.
This year several Nittany Lions will try to etch their names amongst the world's best, while a few Penn State coaches will also be making the trip.
A look at the Penn State contingency:
John Amaechi is heading home.
The sophomore center will begin training with Great Britain's team next month. This will be his second appearance at the Games as a representative of the United Kingdom.
"I'm not particularly a patriotic person, but it is something special to be playing for Great Britain, representing England, Scotland, Wales," Amaechi said. "We don't like to embarrass ourselves, so we go out and give our best shot, give our best showing for our entire country."
In many ways the Games will be an extension of the college season for Amaechi. He will square off against familiar foes when Britain takes on the U.S. team.
However, Amaechi looks forward to going up against the high caliber U.S. college players.
"I'm not sure that I have enough of a rapport with any of those guys that it will be a huge factor," Amaechi said. "But, especially as a national team, they're really dominant in the game."
Penn State Coach Emmanuil Kaidanov will take the reigns of the U.S. fencing team for the fifth time this summer.
Kaidanov, the Lions' coach for the past 11 years, coached Penn State to back-to-back NCAA titles in 1990 and 1991. Having seen success first hand, Kaidanov knows that at the Games, the U.S. has "modest chances because all of the American fencers are amateurs."
However, two top-notch Penn State amateurs will step it up at the Games. Coaching Assistant Suzanne Paxton (women's foil) and sophomore Andy Gearhart (men's foil) will represent the U.S. team.
Junior Olga Chernyak, who also qualified for the Games, may not be eligible to compete because she is not yet an American citizen. Chernyak emigrated from the Soviet Union five years ago. Although she may apply for U.S. citizenship on May 17, Chernyak said the process takes about six months.
Four Penn State gymnasts must pass through Colorado Springs, Colo., before advancing on to the World University Games.
Men's gymnasts Mike Masucci and Tony Pansy and women's gymnasts Allison Barber and April Polito will compete at the World University Trials on June 12. The top 10 all-arounders, five men and five women, will move on to the Games in Buffalo.
"It's going to be really hard to make the squad, so I was just happy to make the trials," Pansy said. "I really wanted to get this experience."
Pansy has a solid background in gymnastics, which includes honors earned at the USA Championships and at a meet in Portugal. Currently the freshman is a member of the U.S. Junior National team.
One of Pansy's top challengers is teammate Masucci, who is currently a member of the U.S. Senior National team. The senior boasts an extensive background of international experience.
Masucci expects the trials to be a different setting from collegiate competition.
"There are a lot bigger skills thrown at this level. Everybody really goes all out for this meet," Masucci said. "Seeing so many new faces really gets me all pumped up."
For Barber, the trials and the Games mark the beginning of the end. The senior will start her gradual descent from a long career in gymnastics this summer.
"It's fun to have this opportunity because it means my career is not totally over," Barber said. "This is just the stepping stone to the end."
For both Barber and Polito, the trip to the trials was an unexpected one. The invitations to compete were extended to the top 10 gymnasts from the NCAA Championships.
"I wasn't in the top 10, but some of those who were declined the invitation," Polito said. "I didn't want to pass up this chance because I wanted the experience for myself and because it will help with Penn State's recruiting."
The gymnasts will compete in the team, all-around and individual event competitions.
Like Amaechi, Nigel Sparks of the soccer team will go head to head with the U.S. team this summer. However, Sparks will help anchor the Canadians. The senior midfielder was the Big Ten player of the year and a third team All-American.
Also part of the Penn State contingency in the soccer arena will be Assistant Sports Information Director Jeff Brewer. He was selected to be the Venue Press Chief for soccer, which puts him in charge of over 800 international journalists.
For the first time ever, there will be a swimmer from Penn State in the Games. Four-time All-American Fran McDermid was selected to race in the 200m freestyle and 800m relay. McDermid, who has won four Big Ten Championships in the last two years, was selected solely on the basis of speed. This season she swam one of the two fastest times (a 1:48.3 in the 200m freestyle), which qualified her for the Games.
"It's really exciting because Penn State isn't usually represented at this level," McDermid said. "I'm really happy because making the national team has been a goal of mine for a long time."
McDermid is stepping up her training for the Games.
"It's nice to make it, but I can't dwell on that for too long," the senior said. "I've known people who've gone in the past and they say the competition is just incredible."
The road to the University Games for the track teams passes through Eugene, Ore., where the USA National Championships will be held on June 15-17.
For the men's team, Antonio Davis (triple jump) and Brian Milne (discus) have already qualified for the USA Championships.
For the women's team, six athletes still have a shot at making the Games. Stacy Gibbs has already qualified for the Championships in the javelin, while Jen Crouch and Dayna Holston are within a few feet of qualifying in this event. In the 5,000, Kelli Hunt, Kim Kelly and Kris Kelly are only a few seconds away from advancing to the Championships.
Solid performances at the Championships will earn the athletes a spot at the Games. But even if the female athletes qualify, Track Coach Teri Jordan said not all of them would compete.
"They have been competing since last August and most of them have to begin again next August," Jordan said. "The javelin throwers most likely will go on if they make it, but the long distance runners will be too worn out to compete."
Being a setter on a team that was co-champion of the Big Ten would seem like more than enough to be proud of. But Salima Davidson has even more coming her way.
In mid-January, she was selected from 130 women to be on the national team. Davidson, who has never competed internationally, believes she is ready for the challenge.
"Just being able to represent my country and be around all of these players is so exciting, I can't put it into words. This is the biggest honor I have ever received," Davidson said.
Davidson will be working with ex-teammate Leanne Kling. Currently, Kling is practicing with the national team in San Diego. But her heart is still here in State College.
"I miss all of my old teammates and am really looking forward to playing with Lima (Davidson) again," Kling said.
On the men's side, outside hitter David Muir has already reached the first step in advancing to the Games. Muir was one of four American volleyball players waived past the preliminary selection and right into the tryouts.
Muir will tryout with 16 other athletes in Colorado. Only 12 players will advance on to Buffalo.
Also, Assistant Coach Mark Pavlik will be an assistant coach for men's volleyball.
