London Olympics: Penn State Alum Grabs Bronze, Others Still in Hunt

Natalie Dell, the first Penn Stater to ever participate in rowing events at the Olympic Games, won the bronze medal Tuesday as a member of the American Women’s Quadruple Sculls team.

The medal marks the first for a Penn State alum in this year’s Olympics in London, but others remain in contention.

Nicole Fawcett, Christa Harmotto, Alisha Glass and Megan Hodge continue their strong play in Olympic pool play having beaten second-ranked Brazil earlier in the week and knocking off China Tuesday afternoon.

Hodge was particularly effective with a match high 18 kills in Tuesday’s victory. The U.S. women’s team looks like an early favorite to move on from pool play, and ranked No. 1 in the world, a favorite to win gold at these Olympics. 

-Women’s Volleyball Schedule –

Matt Anderson has been very strong for the U.S. men’s volleyball team, providing the US with strong play at the net. Undefeated in pool play, the men look to equal the women’s dominating performance and are, too, a favorite to win the Olympic tournament. 

-Men’s Volleyball Schedule-

Erin McLeod and Carmelina Moscato squeaked forward in the women’s soccer tournament as members of team Canada. McLeod has been steady in goal while Moscato has provided solid defense in front of her throughout the tournament. 

-Women’s Soccer Schedule-

Penn State student Miles Chamley-Watson was eliminated Tuesday in the fencing tournament but was able to make it to the field of 32 for Team USA. Doris Willette will compete in the foil competition later today.  Daniel Gomez-Tanamachi was eliminated earlier in the week. 

-Fencing Schedule-

Penn State athletes have won 24 medals, including five gold medals, in Olympic competition. Former men’s gymnastics assistant coach, Kevin Tan, is the most recent Penn Stater to medal, winning a team bronze at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Olympic track and field will begin in the coming days, and several Penn State alums are active in many events.

• Dominique Blake: (Jamaica: Track and Field, 400 meter)
• Shana Cox (Great Britain: Track and Field, 400 meter, 4×400)
• Kirsten Nieuwendam*: (Suriname: Track and Field, 200 meter)
• Bridget Franek: (USA: Track and Field, 3,000-meter steeplechase)
• Ryan Whiting: (USA: Track and Field, Shot put)

-Track and Field Schedule-