UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State Athletics was heavily involved with the 41st IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon (THON) held at the Bryce Jordan Center this weekend.

More than 700 dancers began standing at 6 p.m. on Friday and did not sit down or sleep until Sunday at 4 p.m. to raise awareness for the fight against pediatric cancer in the largest student-run philanthropy in the world.

Since 1977, THON has partnered with The Four Diamonds Fund at Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital with one goal in mind: conquering childhood cancer.  THON went to new heights on Sunday when a record of more than $12.37 million was raised for 2013.  To date, more than $100 million has been raised by THON.

Several Penn State student-athletes spent 46 hours on their feet in the annual dance marathon.  Representing the Student Athlete Advisory Board (SAAB) were Kristin Carpenter from the women's volleyball team and Annie Abdo from the field hockey squad.  Katlyn Elliott from women's golf and Marika Racibarskas from women's volleyball represented Penn State Hockey this weekend.

Additionally, Perry Hammershlag and Nicole Symeonides from the Lionetts squad and Paige McManus and Nicole Camporeale from Penn State cheerleading danced in THON.

Several teams and coaches played an active role in THON events throughout the weekend, in addition to squads participating in Saturday's annual pep rally and team dance competition.

We would also like to wish GoPSUsports.com student writers Matt Allibone and Kelsey Detweiler, along with Penn State Athletic Communications student assistant Angelis Lau the best of luck as they dance over the weekend, and the several student assistants actively involved with THON.

From start to finish, take a look through the updates from the involvement Penn State Athletics had in THON over the weekend on GoPSUsports.com. 

Friday Coverage:

4:45 p.m. - VIDEO: Pre-Dancing Interviews with Student-Athletes
Just over one hour from beginning the quest of spending 46-straight hours on their feet, we caught up with Marika Racibarskas from women's volleyball and Katlyn Elliott from women's golf for their final thoughts before the start of THON 2013. 

5 p.m. - VIDEO: Coach Chambers Addresses Crowd, Donates $14,200
Head coach Patrick Chambers pledged to donate $10 to THON 2013 for every student in attendance at Penn State's clash against Iowa on Thursday night in the Bryce Jordan Center.  On Friday evening, just before heading to the airport with the Nittany Lions for their trip to Michigan, Chambers addressed the crowd at THON and presented a check for $14,200.  Take a look.

Saturday Coverage:

8 a.m. - VIDEO: Hour 14 Interviews from Penn State Athletics Dancers
GoPSUsports.com caught up with women's volleyball student-athletes and 2013 dancers Marika Racibarskas and Kristin Carpenter just before 8 a.m. on Saturday morning for an update on how things were going 14 hours into the 46-hour dance marathon.  Additionally, we talked with GoPSUsports.com student writer and broadcaster Kelsey Detweiler, who is also dancing, for an update.  In addition to an interview, we asked all three what time they felt like it was.  Dancers are normally asked to avoid looking at the clock, and they rarely know what time it is.  Take a look at an hour 14 update from three Penn State Athletics representatives dancing in THON for the fight against pediatric cancer.

2 p.m. - VIDEO: Football Hosts THON Make-A-Wish Event
Seventy members of the Nittany Lion football team welcomed 28 THON Make-A-Wish children and their families to a special tour of the Lasch Football Building on Saturday afternoon.

The Make-A-Wish event is circled on the calendar for the Nittany Lions every year.  The THON families gathered inside the home of Penn State football to take photos, get autographs, tour the facility with the Nittany Lions, eat ice cream from the Penn State Creamery and take a photo in the locker room.

Head coach Bill O'Brien spoke to the group after it received the facility tour and signed autographs with the THON kids.  Take a look at the Make-A-Wish event at the Lasch Football Complex on Saturday.

Photo Gallery - THON Make-A-Wish

4:10 p.m. - PHOTO - Teams Participate in Athlete Hour
Student-athletes from across Penn State Athletics spent time with THON families and children inside the practice gym of the Bryce Jordan Center on Saturday afternoon for Athlete Hour.

10:10 p.m. - VIDEO: Pep Rally Dance Competition Highlights
One of the THON highlights every year comes on Saturday night when the teams of Penn State Athletics hop on stage and compete in a dancing competition during the annual pep rally.  In all, 11 different teams competed in the 2013 version of the dance-off.

With resounding approval from a packed house in the Bryce Jordan Center, the Nittany Lion men's swimming team was named champion of the team dancing competition, largely thanks to its use of a prop pool to create a swimming scene mid-dance.  We have highlights of every team dancing on Saturday night at THON.  Take a look.

Photo Gallery - THON 2013 Pep Rally

Sunday Coverage:

12:55 p.m. - VIDEO: Coach O'Brien Addresses THON 2013
Head coach Bill O'Brien took the stage at THON on Sunday afternoon, urging the dancers to push through the "fourth quarter" of the 46-hour marathon.  O'Brien spoke before a capacity crowd inside the Bryce Jordan Center.  Take a look.

4:12 p.m. - VIDEO: THON 2013 Reveal - $12,374,034.46
THON 2013 reached new heights on Sunday afternoon when it was revealed that this year's efforts raised $12,374,034.46 for fight against pediatric cancer.  Watch a truly inspiring moment in front of a capacity crowd in the Bryce Jordan Center during the revealing of this year's total.  Congratulations to everyone involved in THON 2013.

Follow GoPSUsports.com's Tony Mancuso on Twitter @GoPSUTony

By Mike Esse, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - It has been over a week since its last game, but Bob Warming's squad did some celebrating over the weekend after Michigan defeated Michigan State Saturday night to clinch a share of the Big Ten regular season crown for the first time since 2005.

"On Saturday night I was just watching GameTracker hoping that (Michigan State) would either tie or lose," said senior captain Jacob Barron. "When I saw the goal, the last 15 or 20 minutes I was just waiting and waiting and when it finally happened it was a great feeling."

For the seniors, they were able to earn the conference title, something they all came to Penn State to do. Coming off a 0-6 Big Ten season in 2011, it seemed unlikely, but Warming was able to keep the team focused on their goal of winning the conference, no matter how unlikely it seemed.

"I couldn't believe it at first," said senior captain Brian Forgue. "We needed two things to happen in two separate games on two separate nights with the Indiana vs. Northwestern game and the Michigan vs. Michigan State game."

"Fortunately they both came through and that was a culmination of our hard work this year in the big ten and it was an unbelievable feeling, one that I haven't had since I have been here."

Now the Nittany Lions will move on to the conference tournament on Friday where they will be the No. 1 seed, which means they will get a first round bye. By the time they hit the field in Evanston, Ill. on Friday it will have been nine days since the blue and white took the field.

However, for a team with a few injuries on the defensive side of the ball the extra time off will serve as an advantage. Penn State will be able to get players like Eli Dennis back because of the first round bye, as well as being able to have more days of training.

"I think it actually helps us," said Forgue. "It is going to make the trip a lot easier and we have some time to do the right things nutritionally, get the right amount of rest and come out firing on Friday."

As for who their first round opponent will be, Penn State will face the winner of Michigan State and Indiana, two teams they played very close with in the regular season. Penn State fell to Indiana 1-0 in double overtime in its Big Ten home opener on Sept. 29 and beat the Spartans at home 2-1 on Oct. 14.

Being able to have more than a week to prepare for two teams isn't something that happens often in post-season play, but Forgue, Barron and the Penn State leaders are making sure they can draw every advantage possible from being the number one seed.

"It focuses us," said Forgue. "We can go back to the game plan from both of those games and tighten some things up where we need to. We know we are going to play one of two teams instead of one of six so we will put a good focused game plan together for either team."

By Ryan Mellon, Special to GoPSUsports.com from the College of Communications
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State goalkeeper Emmanuel Martin is 3,849 miles away from home in Cormontreuil, France.

But he is right at home keeping opposing teams from scoring no matter where the goal is located.

Martin, 23, came to America in August of 2011 to join Penn State's men's soccer team.

Before making the trip to America, Martin gained significant experience playing in France for Stade de Reims at the U-16 and U-18 levels. Stade de Reims is one of 128 clubs in the Championnat de France Amateur 2, or CFA 2. The club is known for being one of the most successful clubs in France, owning six titles in their league.

Martin said playing 60 games in the CFA 2 prepared him in a more technical and tactical sense of play.

"The French education for goalkeeper is a good one," Martin said. "I bring some good technical skill and it helps me on the field to play my game."

Martin said the style of play between France and the Big Ten is slightly different, citing more tactical play in France and more physical play in the conference.

Martin's role on the team at Penn State extends beyond just keeping the ball out of the net. Assistant coach Bo Oshoniyi, who works primarily with the goalkeepers on the team, said Martin brought leadership with him.

"Manny played at a high level over in France, so I think he was a natural leader when he came in to Penn State," Oshoniyi said.

"I definitely think he has helped some of the younger guys deal with the everyday life of college soccer and the grind that it can be with the academics."

Oshoniyi brings some leadership of his own to the Penn State coaching staff having won all-America goalkeeper honors twice at Southern Connecticut State University and playing with the Columbus Crew and Kansas City Wizards of Major League Soccer.

For Martin, who hopes to go to the MLS one day, Oshoniyi's experience can certainly be very helpful.

After gaining experience in the Premier Development League this summer with the Reading Union, that plan could become a reality.

"I think he could have an opportunity," Oshoniyi said. "If he did get that opportunity, he would run with it and make the most of it."

While Martin's American soccer experience is not over yet, he is certainly glad the opportunity was given.

"I can tell you right now I'm really thankful to be in the United States and to be at Penn State for the great education," Martin said.

"I like playing with these guys and the coaches and the environment is really good. I'm really thankful for that."

By Mike Esse, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - It was only fitting for a match that had four Penn State goals, to have all of them come off the foot of a Nittany Lion senior in what was their last game together on Jeffery Field.

By Mike Esse, GoPSUsports.com Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - In what will be its last match on the turf of Jeffery Field, senior day is on the minds of the 10 seniors on the Penn State men's soccer team (9-4-2, 3-1-1). However, there is a little more at stake when they face Ohio State (6-9-1, 0-4) on Sunday at 1 p.m. as a win for the Lions would put them in position to be at least in the hunt for the Big Ten regular season title.

"Obviously it is a big day since it is the last game on Jeffery Field for the seniors," said captain John Gallagher. "It is definitely a big day. We want to get a win and we need to get a win if we want to win the Big Ten."

Gallagher, along with senior captains Brian Forgue and Jacob Barron have been the vocal leaders for the Lions in 2012. The team has won three straight matches including a 1-0 double overtime victory on Oct. 21 against a ranked Northwestern team.

With the combination of senior day and a Big Ten championship on the line, it has been stressed that they must stay focused on Ohio State and then take in the experience with their families and friends after the match.

"We just have to focus first on beating Ohio State and working on the things that we have done in practice the last couple days," said Barron. "If we win, we can enjoy senior day with all of our parents and everyone else."

However, the thought of potentially beating Ohio State in their last career home match, being in a good position to win the conference title and celebrating it with not only their teammates, but also their families, hasn't escaped the minds of some of the Nittany Lions.

"That would be awesome, that would be ideal," said Forgue. "The last four years here have been some of the best I have ever had. Getting to compete for this university and play on these types of facilities day in and day out."

"I'm definitely going to miss it, but if we go out with a win and potentially line ourselves up to win the Big Ten that's exactly what we are working towards."

Third-year head coach Bob Warming loves senior day because it is a confirmation that his players have made it through their college experiences at Penn State and are prepared to go into the world and do something great.

What Warming hopes his seniors take out of the ceremony on Sunday and their experience at Penn State as a whole is a lifelong connection with the program and the value of their time at Penn State.

Warming wants his seniors to emulate what a past alumnus did during alumni weekend a few weeks ago, and that is come back to the program no matter how long ago they graduated.

"Penn State soccer alum Dick Packer, who graduated 57 years ago, came back 57 years later and is as passionate as can be about Penn State soccer," said Warming. "I told all of these seniors, I want somebody in this room, hopefully multiple guys, 57 years from now back in the locker room with the team and talking about how valuable their experience was at Penn State."

The relationship of the seniors, as well as the rest of the team has not gone unnoticed in 2012 and the leadership that has developed has led to the Nittany Lions being on the brink of their first conference championship since 2005.

"Everybody on the team is real close with each other, but for the seniors that leadership expectation brought us all together," said Gallagher. "Guys haven't had to do that from their freshman year to now, but since they have this year we all just came together and led the team."

Sunday will be another tough Big Ten test for the Nittany Lions as Ohio State comes in after nearly beating No. 1 ranked Akron on Wednesday, reminding Warming of his Penn State team from a year ago.

"Ohio State is an absolute handful, they are certainly the Penn State of last year," said Warming. "They are the team that nobody wants to face right now."

Kickoff on Sunday is set for 1 p.m. at Jeffery Field.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - With its last-minute, 1-0 victory over Northwestern in double overtime Oct. 21, Penn State men's soccer clawed its way back in the running for the 2012 Big Ten regular-season title. The Nittany Lions (9-4-2, 3-1-1 B1G) top the conference standings with 10 points, edging rivals Indiana (3-1-0 B1G) and Northwestern (3-1-0 B1G) by a single point.

While the Nittany Lions have just one conference clash remaining against Ohio State, the Hoosiers and Wildcats will play two more matches, including a Nov. 1 matchup between the teams in Bloomington, Ind., to close the regular season. With multiple variables still yet to be set, the Lions' hunt for their first Big Ten title since 2005 is still alive.

For each of the following scenarios, Penn State must defeat the Buckeyes at Jeffrey Field Sunday afternoon. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.

Northwestern visits Madison, Wis., for a showdown with Wisconsin at 1 p.m. Sunday, while Indiana faces Michigan State at the same time in East Lansing, Mich. If both the Wildcats and Hoosiers lose, the Nittany Lions would be declared Big Ten champions, while a tie by both teams would result in at least a share of the conference crown for the Blue and White.

A second scenario involves either one of the teams losing this weekend, but winning the Nov. 1 matchup. For example, if Indiana loses to Michigan State Sunday, but defeats Northwestern in the final regular-season match, Penn State would be the conference champion. The same situation exists if Northwestern loses to Wisconsin before downing Indiana.

In the event of a tie with Ohio State, Penn State would need Indiana and Northwestern to lose their games this weekend and tie each other Nov. 1 to collect the Big Ten championship. With a loss to Ohio State, the Nittany Lions would need the same sequence of events to share the title with Indiana and Northwestern. 

With the win over Northwestern, Penn State finished the 2012 season undefeated on the road in Big Ten action with a 2-0-1 record, the first time it has done so since finishing 6-0-0 in the conference in 2005. The Lions opened conference play with a 1-0 victory over Wisconsin on the road Sept. 21 before battling to a 1-1 draw with Michigan Oct. 6. After a heartbreaking 1-0 loss in double overtime against Indiana at home Sept. 29, Penn State rebounded with a 2-1 win over Michigan at Jeffrey Field Oct. 14.

By Mike Esse, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - On a team loaded with seniors and loaded with talent, every piece of the puzzle must be put together in order to have success in the Big Ten Conference. A piece of this puzzle that has drastically improved as the season has progressed has been senior defender John Gallagher's ability to create chances off set pieces and become a versatile player for the 8-4-2 Nittany Lions.

Gallagher has produced two goals in the past two matches for Penn State, both of which have been games the Lions have won. Gallagher continued his success on set pieces by forcing an own goal off of a corner kick against Michigan State Oct. 14. Three days later, the lefty scored a goal in the 22nd minute, with his right foot.

His success, however, hasn't simply just appeared on the scene in the 2012 season, it has been produced by the work put forth off the field by Penn State's senior captain.

"We have these free kick dummy's and I come out either before or after practice and set them up in positions on the field that I know I am going to be aiming toward during the games and I take maybe 20 or 30 to focus on driving them and getting them in the right spots," said Gallagher. "It helps because my deliveries have been a lot better this year than they were last year and one of my goals was to have every set piece I take be a scoring opportunity for us."

Set pieces have been where Gallagher has thrived in the second half of the season and his practice and ability to know where teams will line up on set pieces have resulted in his teammates being in a good position to get a shot on net. Gallagher has been working toward this improvement since the summer has the team has shown improvement in the set piece plus and minus category that he closely monitors.

First knowing where his team will be and then picking up where his opponent is lined up, Gallagher focuses on a specific plan of attack before he puts the ball in play. This pre-kick focus allows him to pick a spot on the field and force the defense to make a decision on the ball.

"On corners a lot of teams line up the same way so there is a pretty specific spot I like to put it, but yeah it is just whipping it in there hard," said Gallagher. "Just like against Michigan State, if you drive in a good ball nice and hard anything can happen and I think that was proven by the own goal."

Head coach Bob Warming stressed the importance of being able to make sure that Gallagher gets Penn State players on the right end of it and now Gallagher is doing exactly that after missing a few games in early October.

"In his time off he probably hit a thousand crosses out here and I think his quality of crosses has improved since then," said Warming. "It's just practice, practice, practice. His legs were ready to fall off because he kicked so many balls."

As well as improving on set pieces, Gallagher has spent time in the racquetball courts to work on his footwork with both foots as he feels opponents view him as a one footed player. In his last season in Happy Valley, he has made it a point to prove opponents wrong and show that he can play anywhere and score with either foot.

"Johnny has played every where," said Warming. "He has played as a forward, wide midfield and has played in the back. He is getting to become a better and better soccer player and there's not many left footed guys that can run like that and pass that well."

Gallagher and the Nittany Lions will travel to Evanston this weekend to take on Northwestern before coming home one last time to play Ohio State on Oct. 28 for senior day.

By Mike Esse, GoPSUsports.com Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - After playing close with No. 10 Indiana and earning a draw at conference foe Michigan, the Penn State men's soccer team (6-4-2, 1-1-1) welcomed No. 3 Akron (8-1-2, 3-0-0) to Jeffery Field on Wednesday. The Zips, who only have one loss on the year, scored two first half goals to hand Penn State their second home setback of the season.

Even with the shutout loss, the Nittany Lions looked at the positives post-game after only allowing what head coach Bob Warming called the slickest passing team Akron has ever had to only three shots in the second half.

"I don't think we will play anyone this year that will pass the ball like that," said Warming. "Our speed of thought improved as we went along in the game we got more tackles and started winning some balls and I think that will transfer over into Sunday."

However, after playing a team that moves as fast as Akron did Wednesday night, the pace of future opponents will look slower for Warming's team and that is an adjustment they will have to make against Michigan State.

Warming has been able to get a few players on the field that didn't get a lot of minutes earlier in the season to make some of those adjustments, including Eli Dennis and Hasani Sinclair who both saw big minutes Wednesday. Dennis came on in the 15th minute replacing senior defender Brian Forgue, who sat for the first time all season.

"Eli came in and did a great job so he really came in and gave us a boost when Forgue had to come out," said senior midfielder John Gallagher. "If we need Eli again he will step in and do his role."

Sinclair, who has seen his minutes rise in the past five matches, had a big opportunity with seven minutes remaining in the first half but could not connect on a cross from Julian Cardona. However, Sinclair's role has grown to getting more shots on net and adding to the variety of players on the offensive end for Penn State. Sinclair's personal goal while on the field is simple.

"Basically I just want to help the team try and score and work as hard as I can to help the team," said Sinclair.

Moving forward to Michigan State (5-6-1, 1-1), a team that outshot Penn State 11-4 in a 1-0 Spartan home victory, the Nittany Lions will look right back to the Akron match to see what they need to do to notch their first victory in five matches.

Gallagher said he doesn't think they will face a team like the caliber of Akron and it will allow them to have confidence when they play the Spartans at Jeffery Field on Sunday at 3 pm.

"Akron is number 3 in the nation right now, everyone on that team can play and has a great touch so for us to be able to come out and compete as well as we did is going to be great for us against Michigan State," said Gallagher.

The Spartans and Nittany Lions have played each other tight going 2-2-1 in their past five meetings. Each team has split their past two matchups including a 2-1 win at Jeffery Field in 2010, the last time both teams met on the Penn State campus.

Warming said that there are a few areas that his players will focus on before Sunday, but his team is familiar with Michigan State and remembers the 1-0 loss from a year ago.

"For some guys focus is getting rest, for others a little technical training," said Warming. "I drove down on Sunday and watched them play against Ohio State, they present a really good challenge for us. We lost up at their place on a free kick and I think our guys will be excited to play against them."

By Mike Esse, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Brian Forgue defines the phrase student-athlete. Student: He is on track to graduate a semester early with close to a 4.0 grade point average while being a part of the Athletic Directors Leadership Institute and the student athlete advisory board. Athlete: The senior defender has played every single minute in the 2012 season. That is 935 minutes.

"Brian is a Penn State guy," said head coach Bob Warming, who began to rattle off Forgue's achievements off the field. "He is a pretty good role model in terms of what it means to be a Penn State guy."

Forgue, a native of Glenmoore, Pa., said that on his first official visit to Penn State, he got a feeling that he didn't get anywhere else. After that visit, Forgue recalled his mother  telling him she never saw the smile leave his face during his visit, and that is when he knew he had to go to Penn State.

"I have grown to love this place from my first visit to now," he said. "That pride in this university has never really waivered for me."

From the first time he stepped foot on campus, Forgue knew what a great opportunity he had in being a student athlete at Penn State. Playing soccer for the Nittany Lions has given him a reason and a need to not only play hard on the field, but to represent his school off of it.

Forgue is a member of the Athletic Directors Leadership Institute, which his comprised of 64 student-athletes from all sports and they study leaders and how to properly lead their respective teams.

"It is just a wonderful tool to reflect on our own leadership style and mold that identity as a leader," said Forgue.

On top of that, he is also the student athlete advisory board representative for men's soccer which launched his involvement with Penn State's dance marathon, THON, which helps raise money for children with pediatric cancer.

"I have been given such a phenomenal opportunity to not only do what I love day in and day out and that is play soccer, but to represent an incredible university doing it," said Forgue. "That is the main reason why I feel giving back is important."

Through THON, Forgue leads the THON wish program for the men's soccer team where families are brought into the multi-sport complex during THON weekend and spend time with members of the team and get to play soccer with division one athletes.

It is a chance for kids who are battling cancer to at the same time enjoy a pick up game of soccer with Forgue and his teammates. Opportunities like those are the most fulfilling for Penn State's captain.

"It gives us a great opportunity to give back and get to know these kids and give them all access to a Penn State student athlete," said Forgue. "It's a wonderful thing, possibly the most rewarding thing I have done since I've been at Penn State."

"Given the platform that the student athlete is on, especially at a place like Penn State, you have to use it in a positive form and as a way to give back."

Knowing all of the work Forgue does to give back, fellow senior defensemen Jacob Barron acknowledged Forgue's work off the field and sees an easy translation of it on the field.

Barron recalled when he first transferred to Penn State and how Forgue was the one that helped him transition.

"When I transferred here he was really welcoming and easy to talk to and helped me get used to everything," said Barron. "He is a great guy to be with and you feel really comfortable when you are with him."

As far as the game of soccer goes, Forgue has seen an increase in minutes from a year ago where he was primarily a sub for Bob Warming's defense, but had no problem with doing what's best for the team.

His role might have changed in 2012, but the overall focus remains the same, putting team success before personal success.

"My personal role is to not be an individual and make this back line as cohesive as possible," said Forgue. "If I have to play every minute and be a leader on the back line, then that is what I am going to do."

Warming has seen improvement in Forgue's game ranging from his passing to his organizational skills on the back line, but the biggest improvement he thought the senior made was turning negatives into positives.

Once Forgue was able to that, his game on the field has evolved through watching more film and trying to correct the negatives on the field. In terms of how much time he spends on the field, Forgue credits his coaching staff and their focus on keeping guys rested and healthy.

"The objective here is to have the guys we started the season with still going strong at the last game of the season," said Forgue.

Forgue and the Nittany Lions will try to get their second Big Ten win of the season as they travel to Ann Arbor to play Michigan Saturday at 7 p.m.