On the World Stage
the warmup
On the World Stage
Penn State athletes took home medals and memories from Olympic Games
By Susan Field Contributed photos (2)
Penn State women’s soccer coach Erica Walsh (first row, third from left) celebrates winning the gold medal with the rest of the US women’s soccer team.
Penn Staters showed their athletic prowess against the world’s best, as they were part of one gold, two silver, and one bronze medal-winning effort at the Summer Olympic Games in August in Beijing. Several current and former Penn State studentathletes, one athletic-department staff member, and two coaches represented nations from around the world. Erica Walsh, Penn State women’s soccer coach, was an assistant coach for the US women’s soccer team, which won the gold medal when they defeated Brazil, 1-0, in overtime. “You go into an event like the Olympics and you have huge expectations, but it surpassed every expectation I had,” Walsh says. “The whole thing was pretty nerve-wracking because you put in so much time, effort, and preparation into it. We lost our first game but from that point on, we got stronger and stronger. By the time the gold-medal game came around, there was so much confidence and excitement, plus thousands of screaming people in the stadium!” Also coming home with medals were fencers Adam Wiercioch (’04) from Gliwice, Poland, and redshirt-sophomore Doris Willette from Lafayette, California. Wiercioch, a four-time All-American for the Nittany Lions, won silver with the Polish team in épée. Willette, who is half Chinese and the 2007 NCAA champion in foil, went to Beijing as an alternate for the Americans in the team foil competition, in which they won silver. Winning bronze in the US men’s
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gymnastics team competition was Penn State men’s assistant coach and former sixtime All-American Kevin Tan (’04). Tan, whose given name is Kai Wen, also is of Chinese decent. After the American team lost two of its top athletes to injury right before the competition, some doubted whether the team would stand on the awards podium, but not Tan, who was Kevin Tan (left) sports his bronze medal while posing with Penn team captain. State head coach Randy Jepson. “I’ve been with these guys for a long time and I know what they’re who competed in the 100-meter hurdles capable of,” he says. “My focus never changed for Trinidad and Tobago. Jan-Hendrik Jagla on what we were able to do. The audience and (’04) competed for the German national media thought we were out of it but we blew basketball team. Nonpatat Panchan (’05), a away their expectations. It’s a heck of a story!” two-time NCAA champion from Thailand, Tan and some of his Olympic teammates competed in the men’s foil competition. are currently touring the US with the 2008 Competing in the Paralympics in Beijing in Tour of Gymnastics Superstars. September was Penn State athletic department Other Penn State competitors in Beijing employee Maggie Redden (’07), who competed were American cyclers Michael Friedman in the 100- and 200-meter races. and Bobby Lea, 2005 graduates of Penn While in Beijing, Penn Staters said the State Lehigh Valley. amount of e-mails, text messages, and phone Penn Staters representing other countries calls from the State College and Penn State were Erin McLeod (’05), goalkeeper for community was overwhelming. Willette the Canadian national women’s soccer says, “I could feel the love from anywhere team, Olutoyin (Toyin) Augustus (’01), who in the world. It was actually amazing that competed for Nigeria in the 100-meter everyone believed in me so much and they hurdles, and Aleesha Barber, a redshirt junior, wanted me to do so well.” T&G
On the World Stage
Penn State athletes took home medals and memories from Olympic Games
By Susan Field Contributed photos (2)
Penn State women’s soccer coach Erica Walsh (first row, third from left) celebrates winning the gold medal with the rest of the US women’s soccer team.
Penn Staters showed their athletic prowess against the world’s best, as they were part of one gold, two silver, and one bronze medal-winning effort at the Summer Olympic Games in August in Beijing. Several current and former Penn State studentathletes, one athletic-department staff member, and two coaches represented nations from around the world. Erica Walsh, Penn State women’s soccer coach, was an assistant coach for the US women’s soccer team, which won the gold medal when they defeated Brazil, 1-0, in overtime. “You go into an event like the Olympics and you have huge expectations, but it surpassed every expectation I had,” Walsh says. “The whole thing was pretty nerve-wracking because you put in so much time, effort, and preparation into it. We lost our first game but from that point on, we got stronger and stronger. By the time the gold-medal game came around, there was so much confidence and excitement, plus thousands of screaming people in the stadium!” Also coming home with medals were fencers Adam Wiercioch (’04) from Gliwice, Poland, and redshirt-sophomore Doris Willette from Lafayette, California. Wiercioch, a four-time All-American for the Nittany Lions, won silver with the Polish team in épée. Willette, who is half Chinese and the 2007 NCAA champion in foil, went to Beijing as an alternate for the Americans in the team foil competition, in which they won silver. Winning bronze in the US men’s
8
gymnastics team competition was Penn State men’s assistant coach and former sixtime All-American Kevin Tan (’04). Tan, whose given name is Kai Wen, also is of Chinese decent. After the American team lost two of its top athletes to injury right before the competition, some doubted whether the team would stand on the awards podium, but not Tan, who was Kevin Tan (left) sports his bronze medal while posing with Penn team captain. State head coach Randy Jepson. “I’ve been with these guys for a long time and I know what they’re who competed in the 100-meter hurdles capable of,” he says. “My focus never changed for Trinidad and Tobago. Jan-Hendrik Jagla on what we were able to do. The audience and (’04) competed for the German national media thought we were out of it but we blew basketball team. Nonpatat Panchan (’05), a away their expectations. It’s a heck of a story!” two-time NCAA champion from Thailand, Tan and some of his Olympic teammates competed in the men’s foil competition. are currently touring the US with the 2008 Competing in the Paralympics in Beijing in Tour of Gymnastics Superstars. September was Penn State athletic department Other Penn State competitors in Beijing employee Maggie Redden (’07), who competed were American cyclers Michael Friedman in the 100- and 200-meter races. and Bobby Lea, 2005 graduates of Penn While in Beijing, Penn Staters said the State Lehigh Valley. amount of e-mails, text messages, and phone Penn Staters representing other countries calls from the State College and Penn State were Erin McLeod (’05), goalkeeper for community was overwhelming. Willette the Canadian national women’s soccer says, “I could feel the love from anywhere team, Olutoyin (Toyin) Augustus (’01), who in the world. It was actually amazing that competed for Nigeria in the 100-meter everyone believed in me so much and they hurdles, and Aleesha Barber, a redshirt junior, wanted me to do so well.” T&G
