Posluszny, Connor earn Bednarik nods

Penn State's Paul Posluszny, winner of the 2005 Bednarik Award, and Dan Connor are among the semifinalists for the 2006 honor, which is presented to the nation's top defensive player.

Members of arguably the nation's top linebacker unit, Posluszny and Connor are among 15 semifinalists for the prestigious honor, which is presented by The Maxwell Football Club. The award was first presented in 1994 in honor of former Philadelphia Eagles standout Chuck Bednarik.

Three finalists will be announced in early December and the winner of the Bednarik Award will be announced during the Home Depot College Football Awards Show on Thursday, Dec. 7 on ESPN. The award will formally be presented at the Maxwell Football Club's Awards Dinner on March 2, 2007 at Harrah's in Atlantic City, N.J.

Sunderland names wrestling co-captains

Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling head coach Troy Sunderland has announced that veteran wrestlers Aaron Anspach (Columbia, Pa.), Phil Davis (Harrisburg, Pa.) and James Yonushonis (Philipsburg, Pa.) have been named team captains for the 2006-07 season.

Anspach is a fifth-year senior who went 14-8 last year as a part-time starter for the Lions, splitting time with eventual qualifier Joel Edwards at heavyweight. Anspach has a 21-11 career record and a 3-2 dual match mark.

Davis, a junior, is a two-time All-American who was the 2006 Big Ten Champion at 197. He turned that stellar performance into a spot in the NCAA finals at 197. Davis ended last year with a 25-4 mark. He is ranked No. 1 in all three national polls heading into the new campaign.

Yonushonis returns for his senior campaign after earning All-American honors in 2005-06. The fifth-year senior placed eighth at 174 last year in Oklahoma City, capping off a break-out season that saw him go 24-9 overall. Yonushonis is ranked as high as No. 3 in the national polls heading into the year.