Blue White Illustrated

V A R S I T Y V I E W S Sound as a Pound Penn Staters get ready to go for the gold at the London Olympics BY RYAN JONES Blue White Contributor T he youngest member of the U.S. men's national volleyball team might also be its best. Matt Anderson turned 25 in April, just four years removed from leading Penn State to a national champi- onship and a relative baby on a team that features a number of players in their mid 30s. A lot of those guys have played in multiple Olympic Games, but Anderson will be making his Olympic debut later this month. Knowing that, it might be too much to expect big things from Anderson, a for- mer Nittany Lion All-American who left school after his stellar junior season to play professionally in South Korea in 2008. But a look at what Anderson has al- ANDERSON ready accomplished with the nation- al team confirms it might be impossi- ble to expect too much. Anderson was named top spiker in Olympic qualifying play this spring, leading the defending gold medalist Americans to the NORCECA Continen- tal Qualification Tournament title. He hasn't let up since, leading the U.S. attack in FIVB World League play through the early summer. If the Americans defend the Olympic gold they secured in Beijing four years ago, the 6-foot-10 Anderson figures to be a huge reason why. Anderson leads a slew of former Li- ons taking part in London 2012. Fe- lix Aronovich, a senior-to-be on the Penn State men's gymnastics team, 44 A U G U S T 2 1 , 2 0 1 2 will represent his native Israel at the Games based on his performance in May at the European Gymnastics Championships. Aronovich actually qualified twice, first via an Olympic test event last January that was sufficient for the International Gymnastics Fed- eration, and the second time in May at the behest of the Israeli Olympic Committee. An All-American last sea- son, Aronovich helped the Nittany Lions to a third-place finish at nation- als. Adding to the international flair of the Lions' Olympic contingent is Daniel Gomez-Tanamachi, a Mexico City na- tive who earned a spot on the Mexican fencing team. A standout in foil, Gomez-Tanamachi earned honorable mention All-America status as a jun- ior last season. Senior Miles Chamley- Watson, a three-time All-American, se- cured a place on the U.S. foil squad, while former two-time NCAA women's foil champion Doris Willette made BASEBALL Three Nittany Lions taken in MLB draft Selected in the Major League Baseball draft in June, three Penn Staters have a chance to take the next step toward the big leagues, with one prospect set to begin his journey in a very familiar ball- park. First baseman and Pittsburgh native Jordan Steranka was cho- sen in the 21st round by his hometown Pirates and is expected to begin his career with the State College Spikes, the Pirates' Class the U.S. squad as an alternate. Penn Staters will be a multination- al presence in the women's soccer com- petition, as well. Goalkeeper Erin McLeod and defender Carmelina Moscato, both former Nittany Lion standouts, will suit up for the Cana- dian women's national team, while cur- rent Penn State head coach Erica Walsh will serve as an assistant for the U.S. women's squad. At press time, qualifying was ongo- ing for the U.S. track and field teams, but at least one athlete with Penn State ties already had earned a trip to Lon- don. Ryan Whiting, a Nittany Lion vol- unteer assistant coach who starred col- legiately at Arizona State, finished sec- ond in the shot put at the U.S. Team Trials to earn his Olympic bid. Brid- get Franek, a 2010 Penn State grad and school record-holder in the stee- plechase, was set to compete for an Olympic bid in the same event as BWI went to press. A affiliate, who play their home games at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. Steranka had not signed with the Pirates as of mid-June but was expected to do so after recovering from mononucleosis. Another Penn Stater, sopho- more pitcher Joe Kurrasch, was likewise drafted by his hometown team. Kurrasch is a transfer from Cal-Berkley who grew up in the Bay Area. He was the first Nittany Lion chosen, going in the eighth round to the San Francisco Gi- ants. Junior pitcher John Walter of Haddonfield, N.J., was also draft- ed, going to the Kansas City Roy- als in the 29th round. N O T E B O O K TRACK & FIELD All-America honors Penn State capped its season in 8 Penn Staters claim June with eight All-America per- formances at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Des Moines, Iowa. The men's 4x400-meter relay squad consisting of sophomore Aaron Nadolsky, sophomore Brandon Bennett-Green, junior Casimir Loxsom and sophomore Brady Gehret finished with a time of 3 minutes, 1.58 seconds at the event, which was good enough for fourth place. Gehret also earned All-America status individually, placing sixth overall in the open 400-meter race with a time of 45.44 seconds. Shot putter Joe Kovacs, the Big Ten Field Athlete of the Year, earned his third career All-Ameri- ca honor and a fourth-place finish with a throw of 64 feet, 3 inches. Javelin throwers Laura Loht, a sophomore, and freshman Lau- ren Kenney also earned All-Amer- ica laurels with their three-four finish in Des Moines. Loht had a personal-best toss of 169-4, while Kenney followed with a 167-10. Less than a week after NCAAs, All-American Rebekka Simko broke a 27-year-old school record in the 800. The sophomore fin- ished in 2:03.09 at the American Milers' Series in Indianapolis. WOMEN'S LACROSSE Matthews named assistant coach Brooke Matthews, a midfielder who played on three national championship teams at North- western, is joining Penn State's staff as an assistant coach. Head coach Missy Doherty made the announcement June 21. After wrapping up her playing career in 2011, Matthews spent a season at Mount St. Mary's as an assistant coach. W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M

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