2025 - 2026 Season Highlights
Penn State Adaptive Athletics
The "New Era" in the Spotlight
The Penn State Adaptive Athletics program has taken center stage this winter, literally and figuratively. The team was honored in front of thousands of Nittany Lion fans at the Pegula Ice Arena during the Men’s Hockey game vs. Notre Dame (Jan 17) and at the Bryce Jordan Center during the Men’s Basketball matchup vs. Rutgers (Feb 18).
These recognitions underscore the university’s commitment to making Adaptive Athletics a core pillar of the Penn State brand.
History on the Hardwood
This season, Penn State Adaptive Athletics made history by launching its first ever Division III Wheelchair Basketball team in the National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA). The team is coached by Penn State Adaptive Athletics Director, Brenna O'Connor, who is supported by former University of Arizona Wheelchair Basketball player, Samantha McMinn.
Winning Start: The team secured its first-ever victory in its inaugural season, setting a competitive tone for the program.
Tournament Play: The Nittany Lions have been road warriors, competing in tournaments across the Northeast.
Hosting the Best: The team is preparing to host its own NWBA tournament in State College on the weekend of February 21, bringing elite adaptive competition to the local community.
Elite Preparation & Presentation
The program’s commitment to a "Division I experience" was on full display this winter:
Professional Standards: Athletes participated in a professional media day and photoshoot, receiving the same high-end creative treatment as Penn State’s D1 scholarship athletes.
Sled Hockey Classic: In a major fundraising effort for the State College Coyotes, some Penn State Adaptive Athletes faced off against the Penn State Men's D1 Hockey team in the "Sled Hockey Classic" at Pegula Ice Arena. The event successfully bridged the gap between adaptive and standing sports while supporting local hockey initiatives.
Championship Track & Field Season
The Nittany Lions have been a constant presence at high-level collegiate meets, with athletes competing in:
Nittany Lion Challenge (Jan 17)
Penn State National Open (Jan 30)
Sykes & Sabock Challenge (Feb 7)
With the indoor season concluding, the team is now transitioning into a rigorous spring outdoor season, where they look to build on their early-season momentum.
Our Adaptive Athlete Profiles
These athletes embody the very best of the Nittany Lion spirit, and Rise Above: Friends of Penn State Adaptive Athletics is honored to have played a part in their path to the collegiate level. We are immensely proud to watch these students represent our university and wear the
Blue and White for Penn State.
Track & Field (Sprinter)
Lee Asher '29
Lee Asher is a dynamic ambulant sprinter and a core member of the foundational group of athletes helping to rebuild the Penn State Adaptive Athletics program. Focusing on the 100m and 200m dashes, Lee brings explosive speed and a high-performance training mindset to the Nittany Lion track roster.
Key Events: 100m and 200m Dash
Hometown: Binyamin, Israel
Fun Fact: Lee is the program's first international student-athlete recruited in the modern era, traveling over 5,800 miles from Binyamin to State College to join the Nittany Lions.
Track & Field (Sprinter)
WHeelchair Basketball
Jack Cunningham '29
Jack Cunningham is an elite sprinter from Springfield, PA, known for his speed as a "blade runner." A double below-the-knee amputee, Jack’s athletic prowess has been recognized since his youth. Now competing for Penn State, he focuses on sprint events, aiming to establish himself as one of the fastest adaptive runners in the country.
Key Events: 100m, 200m, and 400m Dash & Wheelchair Basketball
Hometown: Springfield, PA.
Fun Fact: Featured in Sports Illustrated as a rising youth athlete.
Track & Field (Sprinter)
Wheelchair Basketball
Sled Hockey
Angel Guzman '29
Angel Guzman joined the Nittany Lions from Los Angeles as part of an elite recruiting class. A versatile athlete with a background in sled hockey, Angel now focuses on the technical and physical demands of wheelchair racing as well as wheelchair basketball. He is a key contributor to the team’s sprint and mid-distance segments.
Key Events: 100m, 200m, 400m, Sled Hockey, Wheelchair Basketball
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Fun Fact: Former sled hockey player for the LA Kings; scored their first championship goal in 2024.
Track & Field (Sprinter)
Esther-Faith Henn '28
Esther-Faith Henn is a dynamic wheelchair racer from Ohio and a key member of the program's Class of 2028. A former state champion, she specializes in mid-distance events. Her arrival at Penn State marks a significant step in the program's growth as she competes in major national collegiate meets.
Key Events: 400m and 800m
Hometown: Grove City, Ohio
Fun Fact: When you can't find her on the track, Esther-Faith may be drawing as art is another passion of hers.
Track & Field (THROWER)
Max Malec '29
Max Malec is a two-sport athlete and the first official signee of the program’s modern era. Whether he is on the ice or in the throwing circle, Max brings a competitive edge to the Nittany Lions. Beyond athletics, he is pursuing a career in media as a co-host for a sports-focused podcast.
Key Events: Sled Hockey, Shot Put
Hometown: Scranton, PA
Fun Fact: Co-host of the Gloves Off podcast and was the first recruit of the 2029 Penn State Adaptive Athletics class.
Track & Field (THROWER)
Lucas Resch '29
Lucas Resch is a field specialist from Colorado with a long history of competitive success in adaptive sports. Lucas, a multi-sport athlete in high school, now focuses his explosive power on the collegiate throwing circle.
Key Events: Discus, Shot Put
Hometown: Sterling, CO
Fun Fact: Co-host of the Gloves Off podcast and was the first recruit of the 2029 Penn State Adaptive Athletics class.
Track & Field (Sprinter)
Lee Asher '29
Lee Asher is a dynamic ambulant sprinter and a core member of the foundational group of athletes helping to rebuild the Penn State Adaptive Athletics program. Focusing on the 100m and 200m dashes, Lee brings explosive speed and a high-performance training mindset to the Nittany Lion track roster.
Key Events: 100m and 200m Dash
Hometown: Binyamin, Israel
Fun Fact: Lee is the program's first international student-athlete recruited in the modern era, traveling over 5,800 miles from Binyamin to State College to join the Nittany Lions.
Track & Field (Sprinter)
WHeelchair Basketball
Jack Cunningham '29
Jack Cunningham is an elite sprinter from Springfield, PA, known for his speed as a "blade runner." A double below-the-knee amputee, Jack’s athletic prowess has been recognized since his youth. Now competing for Penn State, he focuses on sprint events, aiming to establish himself as one of the fastest adaptive runners in the country.
Key Events: 100m, 200m, and 400m Dash & Wheelchair Basketball
Hometown: Springfield, PA.
Fun Fact: Featured in Sports Illustrated as a rising youth athlete.
Track & Field (Sprinter)
Wheelchair Basketball
Sled Hockey
Angel Guzman '29
Angel Guzman joined the Nittany Lions from Los Angeles as part of an elite recruiting class. A versatile athlete with a background in sled hockey, Angel now focuses on the technical and physical demands of wheelchair racing as well as wheelchair basketball. He is a key contributor to the team’s sprint and mid-distance segments.
Key Events: 100m, 200m, 400m, Sled Hockey, Wheelchair Basketball
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Fun Fact: Former sled hockey player for the LA Kings; scored their first championship goal in 2024.
Track & Field (Sprinter)
Esther-Faith Henn '28
Esther-Faith Henn is a dynamic wheelchair racer from Ohio and a key member of the program's Class of 2028. A former state champion, she specializes in mid-distance events. Her arrival at Penn State marks a significant step in the program's growth as she competes in major national collegiate meets.
Key Events: 400m and 800m
Hometown: Grove City, Ohio
Fun Fact: When you can't find her on the track, Esther-Faith may be drawing as art is another passion of hers.
Track & Field (THROWER)
Max Malec '29
Max Malec is a two-sport athlete and the first official signee of the program’s modern era. Whether he is on the ice or in the throwing circle, Max brings a competitive edge to the Nittany Lions. Beyond athletics, he is pursuing a career in media as a co-host for a sports-focused podcast.
Key Events: Sled Hockey, Shot Put
Hometown: Scranton, PA
Fun Fact: Co-host of the Gloves Off podcast and was the first recruit of the 2029 Penn State Adaptive Athletics class.
Track & Field (THROWER)
Lucas Resch '29
Lucas Resch is a field specialist from Colorado with a long history of competitive success in adaptive sports. Lucas, a multi-sport athlete in high school, now focuses his explosive power on the collegiate throwing circle.
Key Events: Discus, Shot Put
Hometown: Sterling, CO
Fun Fact: Co-host of the Gloves Off podcast and was the first recruit of the 2029 Penn State Adaptive Athletics class.
