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From soccer to wrestling, these are the athletes with Penn State ties at the Paris Olympics

jon sauber
·5 min read

The 2024 Summer Olympics have arrived, with the opening ceremony set to take place Friday. From gymnasts to wrestlers, there are more than two dozen athletes taking part in the games in Paris who have connections to Penn State and Centre County.

Let’s take a look at the athletes with ties to the area.

Team USA

Miles Chamley-Watson, fencing

Chamley-Watson attended Penn State from 2008-2012. He previously competed in the 2012 and 2016 Summer Games, earning a bronze medal in Rio in 2016 as part of the men’s foil team. This year he will be the men’s replacement for the United States in the event.

Margherita Guzzi Vincenti, fencing

Vincenti was at Penn State from 2009-2013, where she was a four-time All-American and 2010 national champion. She will compete in the individual epee, as she did as a Nittany Lion, in Paris.

Phia Gladieux, field hockey

Gladieux is currently a senior at Penn State and has been an All-American the last three seasons and first team All-Big Ten the last four seasons.

Stephen Nedoroscik, gymnastics

Nedoroscik competed at Penn State from 2017-2020, earning the 2020 Nissen-Emery Award for the best senior male collegiate gymnast in the country.

Stephen Nedoroscik, a specialist on the pommel horse, practices his routine at EVO Gymnastics. Nedoroscik is the 2024 National Champion on the pommel horse.
Stephen Nedoroscik, a specialist on the pommel horse, practices his routine at EVO Gymnastics. Nedoroscik is the 2024 National Champion on the pommel horse.

Kayla Canett, rugby

Canett won a national title at Penn State in 2017. This is her second Olympic Games after competing in the 2020 Tokyo Games.

Alyssa Naeher, soccer

Naeher attended Penn State from 2006-2009 where she established herself as one of the best goalkeepers in the country. She was a two-time first team All-American, and won the bronze medal with Team USA in Tokyo.

Alyssa Naeher of the USA blocks a shot during penalty kicks in the victory over Canada in the final of the 2024 SheBelieves Cup at Lower.com Field on April 9, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. Naeher attended Penn State from 2006-2009.
Alyssa Naeher of the USA blocks a shot during penalty kicks in the victory over Canada in the final of the 2024 SheBelieves Cup at Lower.com Field on April 9, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. Naeher attended Penn State from 2006-2009.

Sam Coffey, soccer

Coffey began her career at Boston College before joining Penn State from 2019-2021. This will be the first Olympic Games she competes in.

Alexis Holmes, track and field

Holmes was at Penn State for two years before transferring to Kentucky. She finished fourth at NCAAs with Penn State in the 400m in 2019.

Joe Kovacs, track and field

Kovacs was a Nittany Lion from 2008-2012 and is a two-time Olympic silver medalist in the shot put.

Joe Kovacs places fourth in the shot put at 72-3 1/2 (22.03m) during the London Athletics Meet at London Stadium.
Joe Kovacs places fourth in the shot put at 72-3 1/2 (22.03m) during the London Athletics Meet at London Stadium.

Aaron Russell, volleyball

Russell played at Penn State from 2012-2015, earning first team All-American status in 2014 and 2015. He was also a member of the bronze medal winning USA team at the 2016 Summer Games.

Haleigh Washington, volleyball

Washington excelled in college as a Nittany Lion from 2014-2017, earning first team All-American honors three times. She has competed for Team USA at the 2020 Tokyo Games, winning a gold medal.

Penn State’s Haleigh Washington hits the ball over Howard’s Khaila Donaldson during the Dec. 4, 2015 NCAA women’s volleyball tournament first round match.
Penn State’s Haleigh Washington hits the ball over Howard’s Khaila Donaldson during the Dec. 4, 2015 NCAA women’s volleyball tournament first round match.

Matt Anderson, volleyball

Anderson spent 2006-2008 at Penn State and, like Russell, was on the 2016 iteration of Team USA that won a bronze medal in the 2016 Summer Games.

Maxwell Holt, volleyball

Holt overlapped with Anderson as a Nittany Lion, being a part of the program from 2006-2009. He was also a member of the 2016 Summer Games team that won the bronze medal.

Aaron Brooks, wrestling

Brooks recently wrapped up his career at Penn State, winning his fourth straight NCAA title in March. He defeated fellow former Nittany Lion David Taylor to earn his spot at 86 kg with Team USA.

Aaron Brooks celebrates his win over Zahid Valencia in the 86 kg championship bout during the U.S. Olympic Team Trials at the Bryce Jordan Center on April 19, 2024.
Aaron Brooks celebrates his win over Zahid Valencia in the 86 kg championship bout during the U.S. Olympic Team Trials at the Bryce Jordan Center on April 19, 2024.

Kyle Dake, wrestling

Dake did not attend Penn State but is a member of the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club. He earned bronze at 74 kg in the 2020 Tokyo Games.

Zain Retherford, wrestling

Retherford was a three-time national champion at Penn State, attending the school from 2013-2018. He will compete at 65 kg for Team USA after defeating fellow former Nittany Lion Nick Lee for the spot on the roster and then qualifying the weight for the country in May.

Kyle Snyder, wrestling

Snyder, like Dake, did not attend Penn State, but has had international success as a member of the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club. He joined the NLWC in 2019 and went on to win silver at the 2020 Tokyo Games, after winning gold at the 2016 Summer when he was still in college at Ohio State. Like in those instances, he will be wrestling at 97 kg in Paris.

Kyle Snyder wrestles Isaac Trumble in their second bout of their best-of-three series final at 97 kg during the U.S. Olympic Team Trials at the Bryce Jordan Center on April 20, 2024.
Kyle Snyder wrestles Isaac Trumble in their second bout of their best-of-three series final at 97 kg during the U.S. Olympic Team Trials at the Bryce Jordan Center on April 20, 2024.

Around the world & other local connections

Jessica Pegula, USA Tennis

Pegula is the daughter of Penn State board of trustees’ member Terry Pegula, who also is the namesake for the Nittany Lions’ Pegula Ice Arena for the university’s hockey teams. He and his wife Kim helped fund the arena.

Roman Bravo-Young, Mexico wrestling

Bravo-Young attended Penn State from 2018-2023, winning two national titles as a Nittany Lion. He will wrestle at 57 kg for Mexico in Paris.

Penn State’s Roman Bravo-Young high-fives Micah Parsons after pinning Iowa’s Brody Teske in the 133 lb bout of a match on Jan. 27, 2023.
Penn State’s Roman Bravo-Young high-fives Micah Parsons after pinning Iowa’s Brody Teske in the 133 lb bout of a match on Jan. 27, 2023.

Cheickna Traore, Ivory Coast track and field

Traore spent the 2023-2024 season with Penn State after transferring from Ramapo College. He then won the national title in the 200m with a time of 19.95.

Handal Roban, St. Vincent and the Grenadines track and field

Roban just wrapped up his sophomore year at Penn State, and will compete in the 800m in the 2024 Summer Games.

Mohammed Cisset, Mali soccer

Cisset just completed his freshman year at Penn State and will compete for Mali as one of the team’s defenders in Paris.

Gabe Castano-Garcia, Mexico swimming

Castano-Garcia was at Penn State from 2017-2021 and previously competed in the 50m at the 2020 Tokyo Games.

Emma Harvey, Bermuda swimming

Harvey swam at Penn State from 2019-2023 and will be competing alongside her brother, Jack, in Paris.

Jack Harvey, Bermuda swimming

Jack Harvey, Emma’s brother, is heading into his senior year and will be making his Olympic debut at the Paris Games.

Sam Zakutney, Canada gymnastics

Zakutney was at Penn State from 2017-2020, where he was a four-time All-American for the Nittany Lions.

Samantha Catantan, Phillipines fencing

Catantan wrapped up her fourth season as a Nittany Lion this spring, and will be competing in her first Olympics in Paris.