Women’s Track and Field: Bridget Franek talks about her tough 3000 meter race and Penn State being Big Ten champions.
Men’s Gymnastics: Penn State all-arounder Nick Grant has been honored as Big Ten Men’s Gymnastics 
Freshman of the Week for the second time this season, the conference announced on Monday. Grant, who also earned the award on Jan. 18, was recognized for his standout performance versus Ohio State last weekend.
The Nittany Lions have claimed a total of four conference freshman of the week accolades this season after Felix Aronovich won on Jan. 11 and Jan. 25.
Grant shined in Penn State’s road dual with the Buckeyes, winning his fourth floor exercise and vault titles of the season. His mark of 15.100 in the floor exercise helped the Nittany Lions win the event and was just .100 short of a career high. In the vault, Grant’s score of 15.850 was a career best and tied the Penn State high for the 2010 season. Grant has a total of nine top three finishes combined in the floor exercise and vault this season.
This weekend, Grant and the Nittany Lions host a 7 p.m. tri-meet that will feature match-ups with No. 6 Minnesota and No. 11 Temple on Saturday at Rec Hall. Penn State has dominated the head-to-head series with Minnesota, compiling a 10-2 record, but fell to the Golden Gophers a year ago in Minneapolis, 345.850-344.500. The Nittany Lions have more wins against Temple, 74, than any other opponent in program history, including two last season.
Women’s Basketball: Penn State Lady Lion senior Tyra Grant and freshman 
Alex Bentley took home Big Ten accolades for their outstanding performances during the 2009-10 season. Grant was named to the All-Big Ten first team for the second consecutive season by both the coaches and media, while Bentley was an All-Big Ten third team selection by the coaches and an honorable mention All-Big Ten choice by the media. Additionally, Bentley was a unanimous pick for the Big Ten All-Freshman team.
Grant, who is a semifinalist for the Naismith Player of the Year Trophy and a finalist for the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award, is second in the Big Ten and 20th nationally with a 18.8 scoring average this season. She is on pace to become the fourth player in school history to reach 2,000 points, needing just 26 more 
tallies to accomplish the feat. Grant also ranks in the Top 10 in the Lady Lion record books in career free throws made (4th/472), three-point field goals made (5th/172), field goals (8th/665), minutes played (9th/3,740) and games started (t-10th/97).
Bentley leads the team and is fifth in the Big Ten with a 3.89 assist average. The Indianapolis native has 19 double-digit scoring games this season, including three 20-point games.
The rookie guard ranks ninth on Penn State’s freshman season scoring list (328) and sixth in freshman season assists (109). Bentley was also the Jan. 18 Big Ten Co-Freshman of the Week and was named to Dead River Company Classic All-Tournament team.
Baseball: Penn State junior Ben Heath is one of 53 Division I catchers named to the Watch List for 
the Coleman Company Johnny Bench Award delivered by Papa John’s Pizza, as announced by the Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission Monday. Named in honor of the former Cincinnati Reds’ great, the award is presented to the top catcher in Division I.
Heath is one of five Big Ten catchers named to the list. The field will be narrowed to 10 semifinalists, whom will be announced on May 19. Three finalists will be announced on June 2 prior to the NCAA Regionals and Major League Baseball Draft. All finalists will be brought to Wichita and the winner will be announced at the 13th Annual Greater Wichita Sports Banquet on July 1.
Enjoying an impressive start to the season, Heath hit three home runs over the weekend to lead the Nittany Lions to a 2-1 record at the Big Ten/BIG EAST Challenge.
His two home runs in a game and already three for the season both tie career-highs. Overall, Heath is hitting .333 (6-for-18) with two doubles, four RBI and six runs scored. His four runs scored against Notre Dame doubled his previous career-high of two set on numerous occasions.
Heath impressed behind the plate as well, throwing out the only potential base stealer, while also catching all 25 innings in back-to-back walk-off wins against Cincinnati and Seton Hall. Penn State was one of five Big Ten teams to post a winning record at the challenge.
