The Best and the Brightest

"Athletics is for education and recreation, nothing else. Winning is important only in that you learn more."-Coach Harry Groves, 5/21/2011 at the Alumni "Run".

With Coach Groves' words, we must point out that Penn State is excelling not only on the track, but in the classroom and in the world beyond.

Penn State's academic success was honored recently with a record number of Spring Academic All-Big Ten athletes in all sports.  But at the head of the class were 2 PSU Track athletes with perfect 4.0 grade-point averages, also tops in the Big Ten, Emily Giannotti and Katie Rodden.  A tip of my cap goes to both.

Emily Giannotti

Katie Rodden

Thirty-four track and field athletes attained All-Big Ten honors:

Men's Track and Field (13)
Bernard Bennett-Green	Sr.	Journalism	Drexel Hill, Pa.
Ryan Brennan	Jr.	Security And Risk Analysis	Chester, N.Y.
Robert Cardina	So.	Communications	Lancaster, Pa.
Robert Creese	Jr.	Mathematics	Mount Airy, Md.
Thomas Damiani	So.	Science	Dalton, Pa.
Matthew Fischer	Sr.	Marketing	Kennett Square, Pa.
Russell Hedrick	Sr.	Energy Engineering	Schwenksville, Pa.
Jonathan Hendershot	Sr.	Supply Chain And Information Systems	Nazareth, Pa.
Daniel Jordan	Sr.	Recreation, Park, & Tourism Management	Boalsburg, Pa.
Alex Kenney	Gr.	Communication Arts and Sciences	State College, Pa.
Michael McClelland	Jr.	Communication Arts and Sciences	Washington, Pa.
Aaron Nadolsky	Sr.	Communication Arts and Sciences	Altoona, Pa.
Nicholas Scarpello	Sr.	Advertising/Public Relations	Jamison, Pa.
Women's Track and Field (21)
Leigha Anderson	Jr.	Labor Studies and Employment Relations	Carlisle, Pa.
Abigail Benson	Jr.	Nutritional Sciences	Elma, N.Y.
Shelley Black	Jr.	Kinesiology	Hanover Township, Pa.
Dynasty Boxley-McGee	Jr.	Journalism	Ypsilanti, Mich.
Megan Boyer	Sr.	Human Development & Family Studies	Millersburg, Pa.
Rachel Casciano	Jr.	Advertising/Public Relations	Wyomissing, Pa.
Gabrielle Cocco	Sr.	Journalism	Allentown, Pa.
Kelsey Couts	Sr.	Interdisciplinary Digital Studio	Powell, Ohio
Emily Giannotti	Sr.	Counselor Education	Coudersport, Pa.
Lauren Kenney	Jr.	Kinesiology	State College, Pa.
Marta Klebe	Sr.	Supply Chain and Information Systems	Chesterbrook, Pa.
Erin Knabe	So.	Science	Califon, N.J.
Danielle Kocjancic	Sr.	Communication Sciences & Disorders	Kane, Pa.
Melanie Leszcynski	Jr.	Marketing	Audubon, Pa.
Olivia Mangan	Sr.	Psychology	Huntingdon Valley, Pa.
Lauren Mills	Jr.	Nutritional Sciences	West Chester, Pa.
Sarah Palmer	Jr.	Kinesiology	Gansevoort, N.Y.
Gwenndolyn Porter	Sr.	Kinesiology	Clearfield, Pa.
Kathleen Rodden	Jr.	Kinesiology	Ardmore, Pa.
Kiah Seymour	So.	Communications	Washington, D.C.
Sarah Underwood So.		Undeclared	Alexandria, Va.

Of personal note are the superb performances of Olivia Mangan, daughter of our Chief Laundry and Morale Officer Larry Mangan, our very own newest Author Nick Scarpello, and Jonathan Hendershot, son of former Holder of the Golden Putter Dennis Hendershot,   And Baseballs Taylor Skerpon, son of vaulter Don Skerpon.

I Am Thankful For All the People I Have Had the Pleasure to Meet in My Capacity as Web-Site Idiot

Dennis Hendershot, one-time Holder of the Golden Putter and father of Jon Hendershot acted as our Official NCAA Indoor Championships Corespondent. Jon jumped 7' 0.5" at the championships for a 10th place finish.  I congratulate both of them as representatives of the very best Penn State Track and Field Golfers can aspire to.  Here's his observations from the weekend...

Lupita Nyong’o, on accepting her Oscar for Best Supporting Actress, ,said the following in her speech - “It doesn’t escape me for one moment that so much joy in my life is due to so much pain in someone else’s.” While Nyong’o’s thoughts in saying that go far deeper than the realm of sports, it did provide for me the backdrop for what impacted me the most while watching most all of what happened at the NCAA’s in Albuquerque this past weekend.

The emotions of the sport. The pure joy of reaching a personal best on the big stage, and the sheer disappointment of not meeting your own or others expectations. “The thrill of victory; the agony of defeat” - someone’s thrill is someone else’s agony - and often they happen in the same moment. It is with those thoughts that I reflect on the emotions that I captured during the two day event. My snapshots of the weekend:

-           The camaraderie I witnessed in several events, most notably the men’s high jump and pole vault, where the competitors embraced each other during the event and shared each others successes and failures, even as they were vying with each other to be better at their expense.

-           Perhaps the most poignant moment of the last night - the unbridled exhilaration of the Oregon women’s 4x400 relay team at coming from behind at the tape to win over Texas by 2/100th of a second, overcoming a 5-½ point deficit n the team standings, and in so doing to capture from Texas the Women’s team championship by ½ point; the entire Oregon contingent rushed the infield and had to be restrained by officials, while next to all this the heart wrenching pain of all 4 Texas runners who would not be consoled while laying on the infield after the race.

-           The anger of the Texas A&M men’s 4x400 3rd leg at being intentionally pushed out of the race on the third turn by the Florida runner, and the near altercation that ensued on the tarmac after the leg finished, officials breaking them apart before possibly coming to blows.

-           The delight of James Harris having won the men’s high jump and getting 3 attempts of a record height of 7’9-½”; the deep, deep disappointment of James Harris after tripping himself in the final turns while in the lead of his heat of the 400 meter finals, disqualifying himself from any possibility of double medals.

-           The joy of the PSU women’s 4x400 team, who trailed by as much as 10-15 meters for most of the race, and even a bit more at the beginning of the final leg, and saw Kia Seymour erase that deficit in the final half lap to out-lean the leader at the tape to win, and set a new PSU record.

-           The dismay by all of us who don’t live in Eugene, to have to watch the highly under girded Oregon track program (not sure they do the field part) win both team championships. I am sure Phil is very happy.

-           My own pleasure at watching Penn State’s Yvonne Britton course her way through the Women’s Pentathlon to a very respectable 7th place finish, with an ease and a smile that were indeed infectious

-           And, of course, the excitement of two dudes who took full advantage of the trip to Albuquerque, to fulfill one of their life’s passions (tongue in cheek) and visit the ‘house’ of Walter White.

Woah. I can’t believe I started with Lupita Nyong’o, and closed it out with Walter White.

The Golden Putter Takes A Vacation!

Last year's winner of the Golden Putter, Dennis Hendershot, father of PSU's vertical specialist Jon Hendershot brought Horace to Myrtle Beach for a little green action.

Actually Horace only made an appearance, as Dennis putts from the left side and some Idiot Officer never anticipated something as dangerous as that.  The Putter will be available for the Coach Groves Putting Challenge at the Reunion.  At least for those of us who putt from the correct side!

Some PSU Track Alumni Happenings at the Opening Meet!

First up, Jon Hendershot won the high jump with a leap of 7 feet 1/2 inch!  Jon is the son of Holder of the Golden Putter Dennis Hendershot.  Good opening effort, Jon.

Next, Matt Groves placed 4th in the Open 1000 M event (2:36.38).  A distance I have never run, and one I'm glad I didn't.  Matt then joined The Dawson twins and Kevin Fuller for 4th place in the Distance Medley (10:01;07).  Turns out it was the Dawsons and the Fullers in the DM (Owen, Kyle, Brian and Kevin).

And, oh yeah, the Mens 4 x 200 team ran the 5th fastest collegiate time ever! (1:25.52).

Golden Putter Brings Record to Holder!

Horace the Golden Putter is the prize for the longest putt on the 18th Green at the Coach Harry Groves Golf Tournament every year.  The winner gets the use of the gilded implement for the whole year.*

This year Dennis Hendershot was the (lucky?) recipient.  He is the father of PSU's vertical specialist Jon Hendershot.  Dennis happens to be left-handed, a situation I had never expected when I purchased the beauty.  Hence, Dennis thought he would never actually get to use it.**

BUT, then he had something miraculous happen!

He was finishing his greatest round ever***, and was able to "turn the other cheek" as it were and use the putter to sink the penultimate gimmee to seal his personal record!

* Except for Jeff Sanden who actually held the Golden Putter for 15 total seconds.  Sorry, Jeff.
** See above.
*** Details available only for donations of $100 or more on the right side bar! (Your secret is safe with me, Dennis!)

Horace, The Golden Putter, is in Good Hands

 One of the good things about being somewhat connected to the organization of the Annual Coach
Groves Golf Tourney is that I get to meet new people and renew old friendships.  When I purchased the Golden Putter a few years ago to make an Award for the tourney, I hoped it would become a talked-about and worthy item.

With this year's Reunion I finally got the chance to meet the Putter's namesake, Horace Ashenfelter III, which was a big thrill.  He seemed somewhat surprised at the beautiful golden prize and delighted we thought of him enough to name it after him.

 That's Jeff Sanden, last year's winner of the Longest Putt Award on Hole 18 at the tourney holding Horace for the actual 15 seconds of the full year I had promised!  What can I say, I am sometimes a little off on my facts...

This year's longest putt was made by Dennis Hendershot, father of PSU's 7-foot  High Jumper Jon Hendershot.  I was pleased to meet a new friend and amazed at some of the shared memories of the Slate Belt we have in common.  Dennis is actually a bone fide golfer in a league and everything, but won't be able to use Horace since he is left-handed.  I never dreamt I would need a left-handed version at any point in the tourney's history.  I suppose I will now inquire with Ned Flanders at The Leftorium to see if I can pick one up for the future.  Dennis promises updates and photos from Horace's travels this year.  That's Dennis with Coach Groves in a photo Coach has asked me to forward to him.  I suppose I'll send it to Jess Riden, she will know what to do with it.

Third Place Ain't Bad

Dennis Hendershot, Kevin O’Brien, John McGraw, Bob Gabel (-2)

In third place in our wonderful tournament came this rather game foursome.  Two of them won awards in the skills contest.  And with Kelly's history, maybe "the shot of the day" came from their group as well.  We're still trying to figure that one out.  

Dennis Hendershot braved the rigors of the Elks Club Course for the first time and came away with "Horace" The Golden Putter!  He even received the item and will keep it til next year when he promises to return.  As a lefty, he can't use it, but we should see updates from him as he travels around in the next year.  Dennis is the father of Jon Hendershot of vertical leaping fame.

Bob Gabel, former winner of the Golden Putter, put a tee shot on the green and won the Closest to the Pin Award this year.  The prize is being readied as we speak.

John McGraw relates he had a hot and cold tourney (which beats my frigid round) and as a State College local now, just may be able to hone his skills enough to challenge for the Cup next year.

Kelly O'Brien's game has already improved from when he golfed with me a couple of years ago, and there were no near misses this year that I have been made aware of.  He also attempted to garner attention with some sharp duds, only to be thwarted by the purple/orange pants from Paul Mundy.  Better luck next year!