Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1534903
M A Y 2 0 2 5 13 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M Tessa Janecke — Women's Ice Hockey Janecke played a starring role in Team USA's tri- umph at the International Ice Hockey Federation Women's World Championship in Czechia. The Orangeville, Ill., native scored 3 goals in the tour- nament, including the winner in overtime against Canada in the gold medal game April 20. Janecke, whose goal came just over 17 minutes into the overtime period, was named player of the game following the Americans' 4-3 victory over the tournament's defending champions. She also scored twice in a 5-0 vic- tory over Switzerland in the preliminary round and was named player of the game following a 4-0 win over Czechia on April 11. A rising senior forward for Penn State, Janecke is the school's all-time leader (men's or women's) with 153 points on 63 goals and 90 assists. Meagan Ricks — So ball The senior first baseman from Winter Haven, Fla., has been a big part of a Penn State lineup that is making school history with its offensive prowess. Through 47 games, Ricks was batting .364 with 45 runs scored, second best on the team in both categories. During Penn State's 10-2 victory over Maryland on April 25, Ricks went 3 for 4, with 2 doubles and a solo home run on the first at-bat of the game. Ricks' big day helped Penn State break the school record for most runs in a season. The run- rule victory over the Terrapins in the opener of a three-game series gave Penn State 296 runs on the season, surpassing the 289 runs the team amassed during the 2016 campaign. Michael Schwob — Men's Volleyball Schwob had 35 assists to help Penn State hit .290 as a team and added 3 aces in its 3-0 sweep of host Princeton on April 26 in the championship game of the EIVA Tournament. It was the fifth match in a row in which Schwob had 3 aces — a streak that included tournament wins over Har- vard (3-0, April 23) and the New Jersey Institute of Technology (3-0, April 24). Following PSU's vic- tory over the Tigers in the final, the sophomore setter from Annapolis, Md., was named the EIVA Tournament's Most Outstanding Player. He also made the all-tournament team alongside redshirt sophomore outside hitter Matthew Luoma, redshirt junior libero Ryan Merk and redshirt senior outside hitter Will Kuhns. Ma Traynor — Men's Lacrosse Traynor was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, marking the third time in the past three seasons that a Nittany Lion received the honor. A senior midfielder and team captain, Traynor totaled 44 points on 30 goals and 14 assists during the regu- lar season. That included a career-high 7 goals in the Nittany Lions' 10-4 victory over Johns Hopkins on April 12. The Downingtown, Pa., native had 2 more goals and an assist in the Lions' 13-12 win over the Blue Jays in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament on April 26. Through 11 games, Traynor was leading the conference with 47 points, and he had moved up to fifth in school history with 110 career goals. — Matt Herb PENN STATE'S TOP PERFORMERS Penn State Fourth In Directors' Cup Standings On the heels of its second national championship of the 2024-25 ath- letic year, Penn State is fourth in the Learfield Directors' Cup Division I standings. In the rankings issued April 22, PSU had amassed 750 points, including 415 points during the winter. The wrestling team supplied 100 points by winning its 12th national championship in the past 14 tournaments. In addition, the men's ice hockey team accrued 83 points for reaching the Frozen Four for the first time in program history, while the men's gymnastics team contrib- uted 73 points with a fifth-place finish at nationals, the team's best showing since 2016. Penn State went into the winter season having already amassed 335 points in the fall. The women's volley- ball team led the way by earning 100 points with its eighth national cham- pionship. The football team contributed 75 points by making the College Football Playoff semifinals, and the women's soccer squad added 73 points by reaching the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament. The only schools currently ahead of Penn State are Stanford (904 points), North Carolina (896.75) and Ohio State (794.75). There are six Big Ten schools in the top eight, with Wisconsin fifth (693.7), Michigan sixth (652), USC seventh (642) and Nebraska eighth (638.75). — Matt Herb to roll for preseason camp, and he figures to be a dominating presence in Jim Knowles' defense. In his first three seasons, the former five-star high school prospect has compiled 85 tackles, including 23 for loss and 15 sacks. Edwards has Dennis-Sutton going 32nd overall to Philadelphia. "Penn State does not sign defenders with a low athletic floor," he wrote. "Dennis-Sutton has the ceiling to reach this point, and the Eagles would be more than obliged to take him in the first round given their track record addressing the offensive and defensive lines early." Other Possibilities Looking for an under-the-radar player who could develop into a first-rounder? Look no further than redshirt junior offensive lineman Olaivavega Ioane. Four guards went in the top 32 picks this year, so he's got a leg up simply by playing an in-demand position. For now, the 6-foot-4, 334-pound Ioane likely isn't viewed by pro personnel as a first-rounder. But he's already a second-team All-Big Ten pick and mauler. He could rise on draft boards with a good year. Another player to watch is junior cornerback A.J. Harris. He was a unanimous third-team All-Big Ten selection in 2024 and is one of the Big Ten's top returners at his position. A strong senior season could send his stock skyrocketing. ■ Levi Haines, the third-place finisher at 174 pounds at this year's NCAA Championships, signed autographs along with his fellow Penn State wrestlers at Beaver Stadium prior to the Blue-White Game. PHOTO BY MARK SELDERS/PENN STATE ATHLETICS