May 5, 2009
University Park, Pa. - Junior Kevin Foley has been named 2009 First-Team All-Big Ten selection, becoming the sixth Nittany Lion named to the prestigious team. After an impressive and dramatic finish at the 2009 Big Ten men's golf championships, Kevin Foley finished in second, the best finish of any Nittany Lion in conference championship history. Foley's name now joins Matt Abbott, Dirk Ayers, Jim Fuller, Mark Leon and Robert Rohanna in the Penn State record books as First-Team All-Big Ten selections.
"Kevin came into our program earned Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors and has continue his growth as a player in many ways since," said head coach Greg Nye. "He earned this award, and is very deserving."
Foley's post-season honor is his first First-Team All-Big Ten in his career. Foley was named Second-Team All-Big Ten selection in 2007 where he was also named Big Ten Freshmen of the Year. The 2008 All-American catapulted his team to a fourth place finish in the Big Ten championships. Joining Foley on the team is Big Ten Player of the Year, Jorge Campillo of Indiana, Alex Martin of Indiana, Chris Deforest and Scott Langley of Big Ten Champion team Illinois and Bo Hoag of Ohio State.
Senior Chad Bricker was selected to represent his team as Penn State's Big Ten Sportsmanship Award honoree. Bricker was selected among 10 other student-athletes who have distinguished themselves through good sportsmanship, good academic standing, good citizenship outside of sports and ethical behavior. This is the first post-season honor that Bricker has received. Other honorees are Illinois' Langley, Indiana's Campillo, Iowa's Chris Brant, Michigan's Nick Pumford, Michigan State's Newman, Minnesota's Pisani, Northwestern's Andy Dekeuster, Ohio State's Hoag, Purdue's Tyler Duncan and Wisconsin's Pat Duffy. These 11 student-athletes are now candidates for the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award, as the conference office will honor one male and one female student-athlete from each institution at the end of the school year.
"Chad has experienced successes and challenges while representing our program and has always handled them in a unselfish way, and has truly been a good sportsman throughout his four years when representing the team," said Nye.
Penn State looks to continue their success in Regionals in two weeks at the Galloway National Golf Club in Galloway, New Jersey.