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PSU caravan set for May 11 Altoona stop

College digest

UNIVERSITY PARK — The Penn State Coaches Caravan will return to the roads of Pennsylvania in May with seven stops across the Commonwealth.

One of the stops will be a lunch stop in Altoona on May 11.

James Franklin, the 2016 Big Ten football coach of the year, Director of Athletics Sandy Barbour and several head coaches will embark on the four-day, seven-stop tour from May 8-11.

Franklin is scheduled to participate in all seven Coaches Caravan stops. At each event, alumni, friends and fans will hear updates on the Nittany Lions’ 31-sport athletic program, learn about the 2017 football season and get to know more about the academic and athletic achievements of 800 student-athletes.

Each of the Coaches Caravan events will feature a meet and greet with Franklin and the other Nittany Lion head coaches during the lunch or evening receptions prior to the programs.

The caravan will roll out of Happy Valley on May 8, with stops in York (lunch) and Philadelphia/King of Prussia (evening reception), followed by stops in Hazleton (lunch) and Harrisburg (evening reception) on May 9, Pittsburgh for an evening reception on May 10 and Altoona (lunch) and Williamsport (evening reception) on May 11.

Villarrial honored

LORETTO — Saint Francis football coach Chris Villarrial was named the ECAC FCS coach of the year.

Villarrial will be presented with the award tonight at the ECAC Awards Banquet at MetLife Stadium. Villarrial earned the award after winning back-to-back NEC coach of the year honors.

Villarrial led the Red Flash to a 7-5 record, its first-ever NEC regular season title and the program’s first FCS playoffs bid. Saint Francis went 5-1 in NEC play to capture its first conference title since becoming a Division I program in 1996.

Nickal recognized

UNIVERSITY PARK — Penn State sophomore wrestler Bo Nickal was named Big Ten wrestler of the week.

The honor is the fourth for Nickal, who won twice last year and now twice this year, and the third for Penn State this season.

Elsewhere:

n For the fourth consecutive week, Penn State Altoona men’s volleyball’s sophomore libero Waldemar Rivera Berrios was picked the North Eastern Athletic Conference’s defensive player of the week. Rivera-Berrios was also amed the ECAC Division III South Region player of the week, while freshman outside/opposite hitter Brandon Arentz was selected the ECAC Division III South Region rookie of the week.

n Mount Aloysius freshman tennis player Trent McErlane was named the AMCC player of the week on Monday for his play in the Mounties’ victory over Westminster.

n The AMCC announced its 2016-2017 Women’s Swimming All-Conference Team on Tuesday afternoon, and it included Penn State Altoona freshman Emily Booz, who was voted the AMCC newcomer of the year and a first-team all-conference swimmer.

n The Mount Aloysius women’s bowling team finished fifth at the James Brown Invitational last weekend and came out with a 10-2 mark.

n Saint Francis freshman basketball guard Keith Braxton won another NEC rookie of the week Award, announced by the conference on Monday.

n Penn State Altoona freshman Aaron Sharp was selected the AMCC’s pitcher of the week in baseball on Monday afternoon.

n For the sixth-straight week a Penn State men’s gymnastics freshman notched Big Ten freshman of the week honors as Favian Valdez garnered the award for the fourth time.

n For the third time this season, a Juniata men’s volleyball player was named the Continental Volleyball Conference player of the week. The honors this week go to freshman setter Michael Young.

n Saint Francis goalie Kate Wilke and center Kelly Fehr were named the Collegiate Water Polo Association defensive player and rookie of the week, respectfully, for their efforts in five matches last weekend.

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