The Big Ten broke into some unchartered waters this year by forming the first of its kind All-Conference Cheer and Dance Teams. The Big Ten is the first power conference to honor individuals on the cheerleading and dance teams around the Big Ten. Each Big Ten school had a number of honorees land on the First or Second All-Big Ten teams, the Academic All-Big Ten team or the Community Service All-Big Ten team.
To form the teams, coaches from around the Big Ten evaluated video submissions from among the 900 cheer and dance team members across the conference. Coaches graded each submission based on a number of technical aspects, but coaches could not vote for students from their schools.
Below is the full list of Penn State cheer and dance team members who were recognized by the coaches of the Big Ten:
- Jojo Alves — Helmetta, NJ — Coed Cheer Second Team
- Carl Biggie — Erie, PA — Coed Cheer Academic Team
- Rory Coughlin — Mechanicsburg, PA — All Female Cheer Academic Team
- Veronica Echeverri — Easton, PA — All Female Cheer Second Team
- Alexandra Fleece — Baltimore, MD — All Female Community Service Team
- Caitlyn Gesuelli — Middletown, NJ — Dance Second Team
- Alexis Hoopes — Springfield, PA — All Female Cheer Second Team, All-Female Cheer Academic Team
- Jacqueline Hovis — Grove City, PA — Dance First Team
- Rachel Hufnagle — Richmond, VA — Coed Cheer Academic Team
- Ariana Ibelli — Westwood, NJ — Dance Second Team
- Carter Kelly — Linwood, NJ — Coed Cheer First Team
- Megan Lowe — Red Lion, PA — All Female Cheer Second Team, All-Female Cheer Academic Team
- Madison McCahan — Everett, PA — Coed Cheer Community Service Team (Honorable Mention Community Service Athlete of the Year)
- Meghan Mineweaser — Harmony, PA — All Female Cheer Second Team
- Connor Quiggle — Leesburg, VA — Coed Cheer Second Team
- Ashley Rossi — Ringoes, NJ — Dance Academic Team
- Alexis Ruff — Pittsburgh, PA — Coed Cheer First Team (Honorable Mention Female Athlete of the Year)
- Danielle Sekelsky — Bethel, PA — All Female Cheer First Team (Honorable Mention Athlete of the Year), All-Female Cheer Academic Team (Honorable Mention Scholar-Athlete of the Year)
- Jillian Smith — Mocanaqua, PA — All Female Cheer First Team
- Kara Travanti — Pittsburgh, PA — Dance Community Service Team
Congrats to all who were honored in the first set of formal awards for those who help provide the spirit of the college sports scene on gameday.
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