NICO
MEGALUDIS
A three-time All-Ameri-
can and two-time :nalist at
125, Megaludis opted for a
redshirt during his fourth
season in order to take a step back, dial
down the pace for a year – albeit only
slightly – and focus on technique while
also competing in international freestyle
events.
But, as one would expect from the former
three-time state champ from Murrysville,
Pa., who has built a reputation as one of
PSU's hardest workers, he's still been
grinding in the Lorenzo Wrestling Complex
almost every day, setting an example for
his teammates and eagerly awaiting the
opportunity to close out his career on top
of the podium.
"I've been in competing mode most of
[my career]," he said before the season.
"I'm going, going, going, going. You watch
me in a match and I'm 600 miles per hour.
Now it's time to get my technique better.
Instead of staying a>er practice and doing
10 minutes of conditioning, now I'll spend
10 minutes on technique."
ZAIN
RETHERFORD
A>er claiming All-Amer-
ica honors with a :>h-place
:nish at 141 as a true fresh-
man, Retherford opted to
redshirt in year two. And like Megaludis,
he led by example in the practice room
during the year o;.
"If I'm talking to anyone on our team
and I'm asking who is the great example
of commitment and diet and training and
just lifestyle, [Megaludis and Retherford]
are the two names that would come up,"
Sanderson said this past season.
A>er overcoming a minor injury early
on, Retherford returned to compete in the
Dave Schultz Memorial, an international
freestyle tournament, and wrestled at 65
kg/143.3 pounds in early February. While
there has been no oerward.
Wrestler Matt Brown was one of five Penn Staters saluted in March for their aca-
demic accomplishments. Brown, who claimed the 174-pound national champi-
onship at the recent NCAA tournament in St. Louis, joined Nia Grant of the women's
volleyball team as winners of the Ernest B. McCoy Memorial Award. In addition,
women's lacrosse player Tatum Coffey and fencer David Gomez-Tanamachi were
presented with the John W. Oswald Award, while former Penn State fencer Heather
Nelson earned the Graduate Student Service Award.
The athletes were among a group of 27 honorees who were recognized at a ceremo-
ny March 22 at Eisenhower Auditorium.
The McCoy Award is presented annually to one senior female and one senior male
student-athlete who have combined successful athletic participation with academic
excellence. The award is named for Ernie McCoy, the longtime dean of Penn State's
College of Physical Education, who also served as the university's athletics director.
Brown, a native of West Valley City, Utah, capped a stellar career with the
wrestling team by claiming the national championship with a 5-4 victory over Pitt's
Tyler Wilps. During his run to the NCAA title, Brown became Penn State's 24th
three-time All-American. He went 5-0 at nationals and ended his season with a 29-
3 record. Brown was the national runner-up in 2013 and the fifth-place finisher in
2014, helping Penn State win its third and fourth consecutive NCAA crowns.
Grant, who is majoring in communications, completed her career at Penn State
this past fall, having helped the Nittany Lions win back-to-back NCAA champi-
onships in 2013-14. She also claimed her second career AVCA All-America honor,
having garnered honorable mention recognition in 2013. Grant earned her first ca-
reer Big Ten postseason accolade in 2014 with a unanimous selection to the All-Big
Ten team, while also picking up her second consecutive AVCA All-Northeast Region
honor. Her .431 hitting percentage ranked first in the Big Ten and fourth nationally.
Off the court, the two-time Academic All-Big Ten selection also earned 2013-14 Big
Ten Distinguished Scholar Athlete honors last season.
Coffey is a 2014 Big Ten Distinguished Scholar, 2013 CoSIDA Academic All-Amer-
ican and a 2012 third-team IWLCA All-America honoree. Gomez-Tanamachi fin-
ished 13th at the NCAA Fencing Championships in the men's foil event.
Nelson, who completed her eligibility with the 2014 NCAA champion fencing
team, is one of two Penn State graduate students to earn the 2015 Graduate Student
Service Award. The honor recognizes graduate students who have best combined
high academic achievement with leadership in university or other public activities.
Brown among academic honorees
