PSU student-athletes honored

When Tyler Collums, PSU fullback, wasn’t on the field or in class, he was at home taking care of his children, age 2 and 2 months. Yet with all those distractions, Collums graduated with a 4.0 grade point average and a master’s degree in physics.
“It was difficult but doable. It took a lot of support,” Collums said. “I’ve got to stay up late with the baby anyway, so there was enough time to study if you made time for it.”
Collums was one of 23 student-athletes recognized Thursday for their accomplishments on the field, but mainly for their accomplishments of the field.
Collums was one of two student-athletes to earn a 4.0 GPA. The other was Luke Naccarato, PSU baseball third baseman who is graduating in management.
The student-athletes said their grades have an impact beyond their athletic success.
“I think grades are as important, if not more important than sports,” said Sarah Brannock, PSU volleyball setter with a 3.68 GPA in biology. “Very few of us are going to be professional athletes. I think it’s important for our future careers and our lives ahead of us.”
But the athletes said it was not easy to keep their grades up in the middle of practices, road trips, team meetings and such.
“Sometimes, you’ll come home and you’ll just want to go to bed,” said Zac Robinson, PSU offensive lineman with a 3.66 GPA in plastics engineering. “You have to make the extra effort to succeeed. You’ve got to make up the studying time whenever you can.”
Those recognized at the ceremony include: Brian Barta, football; Brannock; Abby Buche, softball; Collums; Pierce Curran, football; Nick Dellasega, football; Noah Dumpert, men’s track and field; Lucinda Fortney, women’s cross country and track and field; Kenny Hallacy, football; Gabe Halsey, men’s track and field; Katelyn Hinkin, women’s basketball; Dennis Kimzey, football; Kiley Lund, women’s track and field; Patrick Martin, baseball; Naccarato; Erica Ogle, women’s cross country and track and field; Greg Rawlings, baseball; Robinson; Laura Toman, volleyball; Audra Tope, women’s track and field; Eileen Treff, softball; and Liz Witte, women’s basketball.