Lions land at No. 18 in TrackWire rankings
After posting solid performances at last weekend's New Balance Collegiate Games, the Nittany Lion women's track and field team, led by head coach Beth Alford-Sullivan, has been picked No. 18 in the latest TrackWire 25 power rankings. Arizona State tops the rankings, while Big Ten foe Michigan sits in second, and Louisiana State appears in third.
According to TrackWire.com, "The Trackwire 25 projects a hypothetical score for the NCAA meet, factoring in injury reports and other variables supported by information gathered from coaches and NCAA-qualfying competitions across the country. This projection is generated by scoring the Dandy Dozen, a power ranking of the top 12 athletes and relay squads in each NCAA event."
Heavyweight named Co-Wrestler of Week
Penn State Nittany Lion heavyweight Aaron Anspach has been named Big Ten Co-Wrestler of the Week for the week ending Feb. 4. Anspach shares the honor with Ohio State's T.J. Enright.
Anspach entered the weekend's Big Ten duals with Northwestern and Iowa ranked No. 13 nationally, but has jumped to third after two impressive wins last week.
The Lions' heavyweight gave notice to his national prowess by beating the No. 4 and No. 6 ranked heavyweight wrestlers in less than 48 hours.
Anspach downed No. 4 Dustin Fox, 5-2, last Friday night to help No. 13 Penn State beat No. 10 Northwestern, 25-8.
The PSU senior recorded two takedowns in the first period and gave up only two escape points.
Two days later, Anspach downed No. 6 Matt Fields of Iowa, 4-2, in the Lions' 24-13 win over the sixth-ranked Hawkeyes.
Anspach did not give up a takedown in the match once again and posted his lone takedown in the first period and added an escape point and a riding time point in the process.
The two wins improved Anspach to 14-2 overall and 5-1 in the Big Ten. This is Anspach's first weekly honor.
Ramos receives honor as Player of the Week
Penn State junior Tommy Ramos has been honored as Big Ten Gymnast of the Week, the league office announced yesterday, for his standout performances in the No. 2 Nittany Lions' home meet against No. 1 Michigan on Sat., Feb. 3.
The conference award is the first of his career.
He joins teammate Matt Cohen as Penn State award-winners this season after the senior captain earned it for his efforts at the Temple Invitational in January.
Ramos captured two individual titles, setting personal and team season-high scores in claiming victories on the still rings and high bar.
The nation's No. 1 ranked competitor on the rings, Ramos performed his routine brilliantly, drawing a 9.700 from the judges.
Then, with the meet already decided in the Wolverines' favor, he bested each competitor from Michigan's No. 1-ranked high bar team.
