Claxton, Cornley earn Big Ten recognition
Penn State junior forward Geary Claxton, one of two players to rank in the top five in scoring and rebounding in the Big Ten, earned All-Big Ten selection for the second-consecutive year when the conference announced the 2007 All-Big Ten teams yesterday.
Claxton, who was a third-team selection in 2006, was named to the All-Big Ten second team by the media voters and to the third team by the coaches. He is the fifth Nittany Lion to earn All-Big Ten selection in two or more seasons and the first since Joe Crispin (2000 and 2001). Penn State sophomore Jamelle Cornley, the 2006 Big Ten Freshman of the Year, was named an honorable mention selection by both the coaches and media.
Claxton and Cornley will lead Penn State into the first round of the Big Ten Tournament tomorrow. Penn State, the No. 11 seed, will face No. 6 seed Illinois at 5:05 p.m. (ET) on ESPN2. Claxton has posted a double-double in each of his previous three Big Ten Tournament games and brings averages of 16.3 ppg and 11.7 rpg in Big Ten Tournament play into the game.
Clark earns accolade from pitching Web site
Craig Clark's pitching outing last Saturday at No. 1 North Carolina has earned him the Northeast Regional Performance of the Week by the online pitching magazine, InsidePitching.com. Clark's performance on Saturday helped the Nittany Lions to an upset victory in extra innings over the Tar Heels for their first win over a ranked team since 2002.
Although he got a no-decision, Craig Clark turned one of the most impressive performances of his career in Penn State's 3-2 win over No. 1 North Carolina on Saturday. Clark had a big part in helping the Nittany Lions to their first win over a ranked team since 2002 as he threw eight innings and allowed just four hits, with three of them coming in one inning. Using his array of pitches to keep the high powered Tar Heel offense off balance, Clark retired nine straight at one point after giving up the two UNC runs and also had a string in which he set down 15 of 17 hitters. He allowed only one hit and three baserunners in his final five innings of work. After he came out, Penn State went on to tie and then win the game in extra innings.
Paterno, staff to head annual coaches clinic
Head coach Joe Paterno and his staff will welcome several hundred coaches for Penn State's Annual Football Coaches Clinic, on April 13-14 on the University Park campus.
The clinic will feature lectures and demonstrations by Paterno and the entire Nittany Lions' staff, who have guided Penn State to 22 wins in its last 27 games, including victories in the 2006 FedEx Orange Bowl and 2007 Outback Bowl. The Nittany Lions have a combined record of 20-5 the past two seasons and are one of only 13 teams in the nation with at least 20 wins during that time.
The 2007 spring clinic will feature sessions with the Nittany Lions' offensive and defensive coaching staffs and provide on-field demonstrations with members of the Nittany Lions' squad, which will be in the midst of spring drills. Clinic attendees will have an opportunity to observe a practice on April 13 and an intrasquad scrimmage on Saturday, April 14 in Beaver Stadium.
D'Errico, Wilson sign to play for Penn State
Two players have signed National Letters of Intent to join the Penn State women's volleyball team for the 2007 season. Alyssa D'Errico and Arielle Wilson will be eligible to suit up for the Nittany Lions next season.
"Although we're small in numbers, the impact that Alyssa and Arielle will have on our program in the next few years will be significant," said head coach Russ Rose.
