Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1486024
D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 2 15 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M Olu Fashanu And Hunter Nourzad Will Return To Offensive Line Olu Fashanu, one of the fastest-rising draft pros- pects in college football this year, has decided to put the NFL on hold, announcing on Nov. 28 that he will return to Penn State's offensive line next fall. The redshirt sophomore left tackle tweeted that he wasn't ready to leave PSU's program just yet. "For the last three years, I've been blessed to have the opportunity to be around a group of extremely hardworking individuals," he wrote. "Ev- eryone in this program has pushed me to become a better football player, and more importantly, a bet- ter man. Having the opportunity to play in Beaver Stadium in front of the best fans in the world this past year has been great, and I will never forget the moments that were created with this team this season. "Although playing in the NFL is a goal of mine, there is still more that I want to achieve personally and collectively as a program. After several con- versations with my parents and coaches, I will be returning to Penn State for the 2023 season. "I want to thank my family, teammates and coaches who have helped me get to this point in my life. My work here is far from over, and I look forward to getting back to work with my brothers." Fashanu was projected as a first-round draft pick even though he has only started nine games for the Nittany Lions to date. He has not been available since limping off the field late in the team's loss to Ohio State on Oct. 29. Penn State had been hoping that Fashanu would be able to return from his undisclosed injury at some point this season, but it was unclear as of late November whether he will be available for the team's bowl game. Regardless of whether Fashanu plays in the post- season, he will be back to man his first-team spot next season. So, too, will interior lineman Hunter Nourzad. Nourzad, who started seven games at left guard as a redshirt senior this fall, announced in No- vember that he will be back for Penn State's 2023 season. The Cornell transfer could play center or guard next year. The return of Fashanu and Nourzad means that the Lions should have at least three starters back on next year's line. Landon Tengwall, who started the team's first five games at left guard as a red- shirt freshman, is expected back after suffering an unspecified season-ending injury prior to the Michigan game. — Greg Pickel PENN STATE'S TOP PERFORMERS Sophia Gladieux — Field Hockey A junior forward from Boyertown, Pa., Gladieux was named both Big Ten Player of the Year and Big Ten Offen- sive Player of the Year after finishing the regular season with 20 goals and 3 assists. She added another goal in Penn State's 2-1 loss to Michigan in the Big Ten Tourna- ment semifinals and scored twice in the Nittany Lions' NCAA Tournament opener against Louisville, helping lift the team to a 5-0 victory. Gladieux became the sixth Penn Stater to claim the league's top individual honor, and the first since Kiley Kulina in 2001. She also made the first-team All-Big Ten squad for the third year in a row. Connor MacEachern — Men's Ice Hockey Penn State pulled off some eye-opening victories in the first few weeks of the season, none bigger than a 4-2 road win over No. 1 Minnesota on Nov. 10. MacEachern, a senior forward from Brooklin, Ontario, scored twice against the Golden Gophers, including what would turn out to be the winning goal in the third period. He also assisted on an empty-net goal late in the third to clinch Penn State's second victory over a No. 1-ranked opponent in a seven-day span. (The Lions shut out then-No. 1 Michigan 3-0 on Nov. 4.) Through 14 games, MacEachern was tied for second on the team with 11 points on 5 goals and 6 assists. Jalen Picke — Men's Basketball Penn State won five of its first six games, and Pickett was one of the main reasons for the team's hot start this season. A super senior guard from Rochester, N.Y., now in his second year at Penn State after transferring from Siena, Pickett was ranked second in the Big Ten in assists with an average of 7.5 per game (45 total) heading into a matchup against Lafayette on Nov. 25. He was fourth in the conference with a 4.5 assist-to-turnover ratio and 12th in scoring at 14.7 points per game. In addition, the 6-foot-4, 209-pounder was lead- ing the Nittany Lions in rebounding at 6.7 boards per game. Perhaps not surprisingly given all his other stats, Pickett was also fourth in the Big Ten in minutes per game at 33.8. Kashauna Williams — Women's Volleyball The graduate outside hitter from Los Angeles reached a career milestone — 1,500 kills — with an outstanding performance against ninth-ranked Minnesota on Nov. 19 at Rec Hall. Williams finished with 20 kills on .368 hitting against the Golden Gophers, helping fuel a five- set victory by the No. 14 Nittany Lions. Since transfer- ring from Long Beach State in the offseason, Williams has been an offensive force for Penn State, leading the team with 352 kills through 29 matches while ranking ninth in the Big Ten with an average of 3.45 kills per set. — Matt Herb