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Let's Go State

Let's Go State

By Penn State Athletics

Let's Go State, the official podcast of Penn State athletics, provides an all-access look at one of the nation’s premier college athletic programs.
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Let's Go State - Talor Battle

Let's Go StateFeb 18, 2020

00:00
13:50
Brenna O'Connor - Adaptive Athletics

Brenna O'Connor - Adaptive Athletics

Ability Athletics Director Brenna O'Connor joins host Brian Tripp to discuss her team's work on reestablishing adaptive athletics at Penn State and how others can get involved!

Mar 27, 202419:22
Cheickna Traore - Track & Field

Cheickna Traore - Track & Field

Penn State track & field standout Cheickna Traore joins host Tyler Millen to recap an outstanding indoor season and share his journey in the sport.

Mar 21, 202410:44
THON 2024 - Field Hockey | Brie Barraco, Lauren Delgado, Caroline Myers

THON 2024 - Field Hockey | Brie Barraco, Lauren Delgado, Caroline Myers

Penn State Field Hockey student-athletes Brie Barraco, Lauren Delgado and Caroline Myers discuss participating as dancers in THON 2024.

Mar 11, 202418:51
Fencing - International Student-Athletes

Fencing - International Student-Athletes

International student-athletes Kateryna Chorniy, Tit Nam Cheng, Samantha Catantan, and Arwen Borowiak discuss their experiences competing on the Penn State fencing team!

Feb 23, 202425:48
Jacques Bouquot & Katelyn Roberts - Black History Month

Jacques Bouquot & Katelyn Roberts - Black History Month

Penn State men's and women's ice hockey student-athletes Jacques Bouquot and Katelyn Roberts discuss their paths in the sport in celebration of Black History Month.

Feb 13, 202418:15
Jay Harry - Baseball 2021-2023

Jay Harry - Baseball 2021-2023

Former Penn State baseball standout Jay Harry joins host Brian Tripp as he enters his first full professional season in the Minnesota Twins organization. 

Feb 08, 202419:10
National Girls and Women in Sports Day Roundtable

National Girls and Women in Sports Day Roundtable

A roundtable discussion featuring Penn State women's soccer student-athlete Rowan Lapi, women's soccer head coach Erica Dambach, Senior Associate AD Kristina Petersen, and Deputy AD Brandi Stuart.

Feb 07, 202429:03
Grace Harrell - Women's Gymnastics

Grace Harrell - Women's Gymnastics

Penn State women's gymnastics junior Grace Harrell joins host Brian Tripp to discuss her journey in the sport as a black student-athlete during Black History Month.

Feb 06, 202416:07
Jennifer James - Pink Zone Founding Member

Jennifer James - Pink Zone Founding Member

Penn State Associate AD for Events Jenn James joins host Brian Tripp ahead of Saturday's annual Lady Lion basketball Pink Zone game! Jenn began her Penn State career as a student manager with the women's basketball program and was a founding member of PA Pink Zone. In addition to her role with Penn State Athletics, Jenn continues to serve as a Pink Zone Board Member today!

Feb 02, 202421:36
Wrestling 23-24 | Cael Sanderson - Episode 06

Wrestling 23-24 | Cael Sanderson - Episode 06

Penn State wrestling head coach Cael Sanderson joins host Brian Tripp on this week's episode of "Let's Go State - The Official Podcast of Penn State Athletics."

Jan 30, 202411:12
Men's Lacrosse 2024 Season Preview

Men's Lacrosse 2024 Season Preview

Jack Posey, TJ Malone, and Matt Traynor preview the 2024 Penn State men's lacrosse season with GoPSUsports.com's Brian Tripp.

Jan 30, 202424:39
Wrestling 23-24 | Bernie Truax - Episode 05

Wrestling 23-24 | Bernie Truax - Episode 05

Three-time All-American Bernie Truax joins the Let's Go State Podcast to discuss his first season competing with the Nittany Lions and a hot start to Big Ten competition. 

Jan 24, 202410:35
Mike Gambino - Baseball Head Coach

Mike Gambino - Baseball Head Coach

Baseball head coach Mike Gambino joins host Brian Tripp to discuss his first fall in Happy Valley and the state of the program heading into the 2024 season.

Dec 19, 202330:31
Ali Brigham & Michela Barbanente - CBS Sports Externship

Ali Brigham & Michela Barbanente - CBS Sports Externship

Nittany Lion student-athletes Ali Brigham (women's basketball) & Michela Barbanente (softball) discuss the opportunity to participate in an externship with CBS Sports thanks to development & enrichment programs here at Penn State.

Dec 12, 202320:37
Wrestling 23-24 | Mitchell Mesenbrink - Episode 04

Wrestling 23-24 | Mitchell Mesenbrink - Episode 04

Redshirt freshman Mitchell Mesenbrink joins the Let's Go State podcast to discuss his background in wrestling and his first season in Happy Valley!

Dec 05, 202311:17
Jeff Tambroni - Men's Lacrosse Head Coach

Jeff Tambroni - Men's Lacrosse Head Coach

Penn State men's lacrosse head coach Jeff Tambroni joins host Brian Tripp to discuss the evolution of the men's lacrosse program over the last decade in Happy Valley.

Dec 05, 202326:06
Wrestling 23-24 | Carter Starocci - Episode 03

Wrestling 23-24 | Carter Starocci - Episode 03

3x National Champion Carter Starocci joins host Brian Tripp to discuss his return for the 2023-24 season and how he's approaching his final season in Happy Valley. 

Nov 28, 202310:06
Wrestling 23-24 | Beau Bartlett - Episode 02

Wrestling 23-24 | Beau Bartlett - Episode 02

Returning All-American Beau Bartlett joins host Brian Tripp to discuss his approach and mindset entering the 2023-2024 season. 


Nov 16, 202310:24
Wrestling 23-24 | Aaron Brooks - Episode 01

Wrestling 23-24 | Aaron Brooks - Episode 01

3x National Champion Aaron Brooks chats with GoPSUsports.com's Brian Tripp ahead of the 2023-24 season!

Nov 09, 202309:18
Owen Rose & Ryan Merk - Men's Volleyball

Owen Rose & Ryan Merk - Men's Volleyball

Penn State men's volleyball standouts Owen Rose and Ryan Merk have built an outstanding relationship on and off the court! The pair helped the Nittany Lions to last year's national semi-finals and competed for Team USA over the summer. Learn more about their experiences on this week's episode of "Let's Go State - The Official Podcast of Penn State Athletics."

Sep 12, 202322:07
Carson Dyck - Men's Hockey

Carson Dyck - Men's Hockey

Penn State men's hockey junior forward Carson Dyck joins host Brian Tripp to discuss his journey to Happy Valley and spending this past summer living in Italy.

Sep 05, 202315:46
Cayden Kainalu - Tik Tok Workshop for Student-Athletes

Cayden Kainalu - Tik Tok Workshop for Student-Athletes


Tik Tok's sports division visited Penn State to educate and inform student-athletes about using the social media app to create content and capitalize on their platform while participating in sports as a Nittany Lion. During the visit to Happy Valley, Cayden Kainalu chatted with host Brian Tripp about the opportunity to connect with student-athletes and their visit to Happy Valley!

Aug 25, 202321:03
Al Groh - Former College Football & NFL Head Coach

Al Groh - Former College Football & NFL Head Coach

Longtime college football and NFL coach Al Groh visited Happy Valley last week to observe several days of meetings and practice at Penn State. In fact, Groh mentored current Penn State coaches Anthony Poindexter and Marques Hagans during the start of their coaching journey at the University of Virginia. He took a few minutes to chat with host Brian Tripp about his observations at Penn State and to reflect on his outstanding career. 

Aug 16, 202317:58
"B1G Life Series" - Alina Lebedeva, Julie Gough, Taylor Trammell

"B1G Life Series" - Alina Lebedeva, Julie Gough, Taylor Trammell

Penn State student-athletes Alina Lebedeva (WTEN), Julie Gough (WHKY), and Taylor Trammell (WVB) share their perspectives on the Big Ten's immersive "B1G Life Series: Selma to Montgomery" educational trip. The trio discusses their experience, the opportunity to interact with other student-athletes, and the impact this event had on each of them. 

Jul 28, 202323:45
Jack & Emma Harvey - Swimming | World Championships

Jack & Emma Harvey - Swimming | World Championships

Penn State's Jack and Emma Harvey are set to compete for Bermuda in the 2023 World Championships beginning July 22 in Japan. The siblings joined host Brian Tripp to discuss their careers and the anticipation of competing internationally together.

Jul 20, 202313:29
John Harrar - TBT | Men's Basketball

John Harrar - TBT | Men's Basketball

Men's basketball alum John Harrar joins host Brian Tripp to discuss Penn State's inaugural entry into this summer's The Basketball Tournament with the Happy Valley Hoopers. John also reflects on his time at Penn State, the success of the program, and updates fans on his playing career. 

Jul 05, 202327:14
Seth Lundy - Atlanta Hawks

Seth Lundy - Atlanta Hawks

Former Penn State men's basketball standout Seth Lundy joins host Brian Tripp to discuss his first week as a member of the NBA's Atlanta Hawks. Lundy was selected 46th overall in the second round of last Thursday's NBA Draft.

Jun 29, 202312:20
Kathy Drysdale - Lady Lions (1988-1992) & Director of Marketing and Fan Experience

Kathy Drysdale - Lady Lions (1988-1992) & Director of Marketing and Fan Experience

This week's episode features Kathy Drysdale, who was a standout with the Penn State Lady Lions basketball team from 1988-1992, and currently works with the department as a Director of Marketing and Fan Experience. Her son Dereck Lively II completed his freshman season at Duke and is expected to be a first round pick in the upcoming NBA Draft. Kathy discusses her experiences playing at Penn State, her unique story, and watching her son blossom into a top NBA prospect.

Jun 13, 202331:06
Clarisa Crowell - Softball Head Coach

Clarisa Crowell - Softball Head Coach

Penn State softball head coach Clarisa Crowell joins host Brian Tripp to recap the program's outstanding 31-16 season. Coach Crowell discusses the remarkable team and individual achievements from 2023 and spotlights the strong comradery among the female head coaches at Penn State. 

Jun 06, 202325:13
Tyler Merkley & Rachel Gearing - Track & Field

Tyler Merkley & Rachel Gearing - Track & Field

Graduate students Tyler Merkley and Rachel Gearing are among 13 Nittany Lions heading to the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships June 7 - June 10 in Austin, TX. Tyler and Rachel share more about their unique journeys to Penn State and discuss their outstanding collegiate careers.

May 31, 202320:07
Josh Pate - The Late Kick Podcast | College Football Analyst

Josh Pate - The Late Kick Podcast | College Football Analyst

CBS Sports and 24/7 Sports podcast host Josh Pate joins Brian Tripp to discuss his visit to Happy Valley earlier this spring to take an inside look at the Penn State football program. Pate hosted a special edition of his popular show "The Late Kick Podcast" live from the Lasch Building and had an opportunity to meet with coaches and student-athletes within the program. He shares insight from his visit and his outlook on the 2023 Penn State football season. 

May 30, 202323:46
Kirk Diehl - Director of the Varsity 'S' Club

Kirk Diehl - Director of the Varsity 'S' Club

Kirk Diehl serves as the Director of the Varsity 'S' Club for Penn State Athletics and has been apart of the Nittany Lion family for roughly three decades. On this week's episode of "Let's Go State - The Official Podcast of Penn State Athletics," Diehl discusses his current role with the department and his previous experiences working with the Penn State football program for roughly 20 years under coaches Joe Paterno and Bill O'Brien. 

May 24, 202326:42
Mental Health Awareness

Mental Health Awareness

Penn State Athletics is joining the rest of the nation by recognizing the value of mental health awareness throughout the month of May. Two of the department's counselors, Heidi Christy and Katy Pohland joined "Let's Go State" podcast host Brian Tripp to discuss a variety of topics surrounding mental health and collegiate athletes and the initiatives underway within Penn State Athletics. 

May 08, 202324:51
Dollar Dog Roundtable - April 12, 2023

Dollar Dog Roundtable - April 12, 2023

Join host Brian Tripp, Penn State Baseball's Tyson Cooper, Director of Marketing and Fan Experience Rebecca Plescia, and State College Spikes Director of Communications Joe Putnam as they discuss the impact and planning of the baseball team's recent Dollar Dog night promotion! On Tuesday night, Penn State rallied to beat West Virginia in front of 2,700 fans who consumed 5,287 hot dogs during the game. Learn more about what has become the hottest ticket this spring in Happy Valley. 

Apr 12, 202315:33
Shane Sparks - Big Ten Network (wrestling) | 2023 Nationals Preview

Shane Sparks - Big Ten Network (wrestling) | 2023 Nationals Preview

Big Ten Network wrestling broadcaster Shane Sparks joins GoPSUsports.com's Brian Tripp to preview the 2023 NCAA Wrestling Championships. The pair discuss Shane's career, covering Big Ten wrestling, and the field for Nationals.

Mar 15, 202318:59
Nikki Jupe - Assistant AD for Performance Nutrition Services

Nikki Jupe - Assistant AD for Performance Nutrition Services

Assistant AD for Performance Nutrition Services Nikki Jupe joins GoPSUsports.com's Brian Tripp to discuss managing the dietary needs for more than 800 student-athletes on campus! She explains the educational tools available for student-athletes and the importance of meeting specific fueling for individuals and programs.

Mar 13, 202325:52
Jack & Matt Traynor - Penn State Men's Lacrosse

Jack & Matt Traynor - Penn State Men's Lacrosse

Brothers Jack and Matt Traynor are following in their older brother's footsteps as standouts on the Penn State men's lacrosse team. They sat down with GoPSUsports.com's Brian Tripp for this week's episode of "Let's Go State - The Official Podcast of Penn State Athletics."  The trio discuss how the Traynor family got involved in lacrosse, their love for Penn State, and their relationship with head coach Jeff Tambroni. 

Mar 07, 202320:54
Men's Volleyball - 2023 Coaches Roundtable

Men's Volleyball - 2023 Coaches Roundtable

Penn State men's volleyball head coach Mark Pavlik is joined by Ohio State head coach Kevin Burch, UCLA head coach John Speraw, and USC head coach Jeff Nygaard to discuss the state of the sport across the United States. The quartet evaluate the current level of play in NCAA, the continued growth of the game, and what's in store for the future of men's volleyball with conference realignment. 

Feb 28, 202357:01
Athletic Performance Podcast: Episode 4 | Year-Round and Olympic Cycle Sports

Athletic Performance Podcast: Episode 4 | Year-Round and Olympic Cycle Sports

Athletic Performance Podcast: Episode 4 | Melissa Boldt, Will Otto

In our fourth episode, Melissa Boldt and Will Otto discuss the unique challenges of training student-athletes for year-round competitions. The pair explains the value of conversations with coaches and athletes and providing benchmarks throughout the year to establish goals. 

Feb 20, 202328:07
Greg Kerkvliet - Clarion Dual Recap

Greg Kerkvliet - Clarion Dual Recap

Greg Kerkvliet wrapped up the 2022-23 dual slate with a third period fall against Clarion on Sunday at Rec Hall. Penn State completed its undefeated season with a 40-6 dual meet victory. Following the match, Kerkvliet joined GoPSUsports.com's Brian Tripp to recap the action.

Feb 19, 202304:37
Roman Bravo-Young - Maryland Dual Recap

Roman Bravo-Young - Maryland Dual Recap

Roman Bravo-Young joins GoPSUsports.com's Matt Noah to recap his electrifying 28-13 tech fall victory to help Penn State secure the Big Ten regular season crown on Sunday at Rec Hall. 

Feb 13, 202306:56
Athletic Performance Podcast: Episode 3 | Seasonal Training Plans

Athletic Performance Podcast: Episode 3 | Seasonal Training Plans

Athletic Performance Podcast: Episode 3 | Kristina Jeffries, Matt Dorn, Michael Schroeder

In our third episode, Penn State's Athletic Performance coaches discuss the differences in seasonal training plans for student-athletes. The trio talks about sport-specific planning, maximizing the NCAA hour allotment, and how to train athletes away from the surfaces they compete on. 

Feb 13, 202319:48
Alex Facundo - Wrestling Episode 11

Alex Facundo - Wrestling Episode 11

Penn State wrestling's Alex Facundo joins host Brian Tripp on this week's episode of "Let's Go State - The Official Podcast of Penn State Athletics." Alex describes how he fell in love with the sport, why he decided to attend Penn State, and his ongoing growth throughout the 2022-23 season.

Feb 07, 202308:21
Athletic Performance Podcast: Episode 2 | GPS Load Monitoring

Athletic Performance Podcast: Episode 2 | GPS Load Monitoring

Athletic Performance Podcast: Episode 2 | Jared Jarvi, Adam Gahm, Jessica Burke - GPS Load Monitoring

In our second episode, Penn State Athletic Performance coaches Jared Jarvi, Adam Gahm, and Jessica Burke discuss the use of GPS technology in measure student-athlete performance. Among other topics, the trio explains what makes Catapult a useful tool and the influence of sports science in training. 

Feb 06, 202320:30
Levi Haines - Wrestling Episode 10

Levi Haines - Wrestling Episode 10

Freshman wrestler Levi Haines joins host Brian Tripp on this week's episode of "Let's Go State - The Official Podcast of Penn State Athletics." Haines shares insight into his unique journey to Happy Valley and the progress he has made on the mat during his freshman campaign! 

Feb 01, 202310:59
Athletic Performance Podcast: Episode 1 | Rhian Davis - Assistant AD for Athletic Performance

Athletic Performance Podcast: Episode 1 | Rhian Davis - Assistant AD for Athletic Performance

Athletic Performance Podcast: Episode 1 | Rhian Davis - Assistant AD for Athletic Performance

In our first episode, Rhian Davis overviews the structure and mission of the Athletic Performance department at Penn State. She shares more on the resources available to student-athletes, the role of the staff in developing student-athletes, and the foundation of modeling programs for training Olympic sports teams on campus. 

Jan 31, 202319:10
Max Dean - Iowa Dual Recap

Max Dean - Iowa Dual Recap

Penn State defeated Iowa 23-14 on Friday night in front of a record setting crowd at the Bryce Jordan Center. Max Dean's thrilling 2-0 win over Jacob Warner at 197 pounds helped seel the dual meet victory. After the match, he chatted with GoPSUsports.com's Matt Noah on the Let's Go State podcast! 

Jan 28, 202307:41
Shayne Van Ness - Post Michigan State Dual

Shayne Van Ness - Post Michigan State Dual

Shayne Van Ness completed a strong weekend with a third period pin against Michigan State's Braden Stauffenberg in Penn State's 34-6 victory on Sunday. After the match, he joined host Brian Tripp to recap the weekend and discuss his performance.

Jan 22, 202305:21
Aaron Brooks - Michigan Dual Recap

Aaron Brooks - Michigan Dual Recap

Aaron Brooks joins the Let's Go State Podcast following Penn State's thrilling 30-8 victory over Michigan on Friday night in the Bryce Jordan Center. Brooks recorded a 14-4 major decision at 184 pounds over #9 Matt Finesilver. He discusses the performance with co-hosts Zach Gershman and Matt Noah. 

Jan 21, 202306:10
Cody Sanderson - Wrestling Episode 09

Cody Sanderson - Wrestling Episode 09

Penn State wrestling associate head coach Cody Sanderson joins host Brian Tripp to discuss his role and experiences within the program. Sanderson is in his 14th season in Happy Valley working with his younger brother, head coach Cael Sanderson. Sanderson also talks about what makes Penn State special and provides his insight into working with several of the team's individuals. 

Jan 18, 202311:32