COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Maddie Naumann (volleyball) and Anthony Pecorella (football) were named Maryland's Big Ten Outstanding Sportsmanship honorees, the conference announced on Tuesday.
Twenty-eight total student-athletes from the Big Ten's 14 institutions earned the distinction. The nominees were chosen from a group of 350 students honored throughout the academic year who had displayed positive sportsmanship.
One member of each varsity sports team on every campus was chosen by his or her institution as a Sportsmanship Award honoree, and two Outstanding Sportsmanship Award winners were then selected from each institution. All of the Sportsmanship Award winners have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. In addition, these honorees must be in good academic standing and must have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting.
Naumann has been an exemplary student-athlete and model teammate for the volleyball program throughout her time in College Park. The Texas native is one of the most active student-athletes on campus with her impact felt in a variety of spaces.
Naumann spent this past school year as the SAAC Director of Community Engagement and will spend this next year as the Director of Community and Clinical Opportunities.
She’s also the team liaison with Team IMPACT, a foundation that connects young children with athletic teams. Naumann is now a two-time Academic All-Big Ten selection after earning the honor again this past fall. She’s pursuing a dual major in Psychology and Philosophy.
Pecorella has been an outspoken advocate for mental health awareness, specifically amongst student-athletes. The senior punter started an Instagram account called Healthy Minds, where he encourages athletes to share their battles with mental health.
He was also a key contributor in promoting Maryland’s Mental Health Awareness game this past season, working with noted author and motivational speaker Rachel Baribeau to promote the game and raise awareness for the cause.
A vocal leader on the team, Pecorella ranks third all-time at Maryland in career punting average (42.4 yards). He’s a two-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar and is one of Maryland’s top representatives in working with the Team IMPACT Program.
Twenty-eight total student-athletes from the Big Ten's 14 institutions earned the distinction. The nominees were chosen from a group of 350 students honored throughout the academic year who had displayed positive sportsmanship.
One member of each varsity sports team on every campus was chosen by his or her institution as a Sportsmanship Award honoree, and two Outstanding Sportsmanship Award winners were then selected from each institution. All of the Sportsmanship Award winners have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. In addition, these honorees must be in good academic standing and must have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting.
Naumann has been an exemplary student-athlete and model teammate for the volleyball program throughout her time in College Park. The Texas native is one of the most active student-athletes on campus with her impact felt in a variety of spaces.
Naumann spent this past school year as the SAAC Director of Community Engagement and will spend this next year as the Director of Community and Clinical Opportunities.
She’s also the team liaison with Team IMPACT, a foundation that connects young children with athletic teams. Naumann is now a two-time Academic All-Big Ten selection after earning the honor again this past fall. She’s pursuing a dual major in Psychology and Philosophy.
Pecorella has been an outspoken advocate for mental health awareness, specifically amongst student-athletes. The senior punter started an Instagram account called Healthy Minds, where he encourages athletes to share their battles with mental health.
He was also a key contributor in promoting Maryland’s Mental Health Awareness game this past season, working with noted author and motivational speaker Rachel Baribeau to promote the game and raise awareness for the cause.
A vocal leader on the team, Pecorella ranks third all-time at Maryland in career punting average (42.4 yards). He’s a two-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar and is one of Maryland’s top representatives in working with the Team IMPACT Program.
