MEDIA
Rothrock by utmb nominated for Best new sports event by sportstravel
We're honored to share that Rothrock by UTMB has been named a finalist for Best New Sports Event at the 2026 SportsTravel Awards!
State Games of America heads to Happy Valley where a familiar face awaits
When Eric Engelbarts was named executive director of the Happy Valley Sports and Entertainment Alliance in 2023, he looked at a RFP and realized it was pretty familiar — because he had written it.
State College prepares to host State Games of America
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (WJAC) — State College is preparing to welcome athletes from across the nation for its first time ever hosting the State Games of America.
Happy Valley, Penn State to host 2026 State Games of America
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State and Happy Valley will welcome more than 8,000 amateur athletes and supporters of all ages as the region hosts the 2026 State Games of America and Pennsylvania Senior Games.
State Games of America to Bring Thousands of Athletes to Centre County
Centre County will welcome more than 8,000 athletes from across the country starting this week for an Olympics-style multi-sport festival.
New Ground Orchestra Festival: Free Concert Celebrates Female Musicians, Mental Health Support in State College
The New Ground Orchestra Festival in State College will culminate in a free final concert at Penn State’s School of Music Recital Hall on July 31, featuring an inclusive program with works by both male and female composers.
Happy Valley to host national ‘State Games of America' for the first time. What to know
An estimated crowd of more than 7,000 amateur athletes, coaches and families is expected to descend on Happy Valley starting Friday for the biennial “State Games of America,” a 10-day, Olympic-style sports festival that welcomes competitors from at least 45 states.
State Games of America comes to Happy Valley
CENTRE COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) — The State Games of America, an Olympic-style competition featuring more than 30 sports, will begin in earnest this weekend in Happy Valley.
PIAA ANNOUNCES SPRING CHAMPIONSHIP SITES THROUGH 2030 The PIAA Board of Directors approves of six PIAA Spring Championship sites for the next four spring sports seasons.
MECHANICSBURG, Pa. – The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association, Inc. (PIAA) Board of Directors has approved the host sites for its Spring Sport Championships for the next four-year championship cycle, 2026-27, 2027-28, 2028-29 and 2029-30 school years seasons, reaffirming partnerships with two of Pennsylvania's premier collegiate institutions.
Happy Valley, PA preparing to welcome athletes from across the nation for the State Games of America
The Happy Valley Sports & Entertainment Alliance (HVSEA) and The Happy Valley Adventure Bureau (HVAB) are gearing up to welcome more than 8,000 athletes and their families from across the country when the State Games of America come to Happy Valley, PA July 24 to Aug. 2.
Powered by the National Congress of State Games and hosted by the Keystone State Games, this Olympic-style multi-sport festival will bring athletes from across the nation to compete in more than 40 sports.
Back Mountain Triathlon Athlete Stories: Cone brings perspective of competitor and organizer
For most sports fans, the words “Happy Valley” conjure up images of a sea of blue and white, the deafening roar of 100,000 football fans, and the legendary turf of Beaver Stadium.
But on June 14, the iconic home of the Nittany Lions will serve as the backdrop for an entirely different kind of competition. Roughly 1,800 athletes from all over North America will run onto the field, during the fourth annual IRONMAN 70.3 Pennsylvania Happy Valley.
Paula Findlay Claims Fourth Ironman 70.3 North American Championship
Paula Findlay began racing in 2006, as she recently shared on The Women’s Race Podcast hosted by fellow professional triathlete Jackie Hering. Now in her 21st season of competition, the Canadian star continues to perform at the highest level, capturing her fourth Ironman 70.3 North American Championship title this weekend in Happy Valley, Pennsylvania.
The term “masterclass” may be overused, but it is difficult to find a better description of Findlay’s performance. She executed her race with precision from start to finish, building a decisive advantage and never giving her competitors an opportunity to challenge for the win.
On the Ground at Ironman 70.3 Happy Valley: Here's what we learned from the pro panel and the key storylines to watch ahead of the Ironman 70.3 North American Championship.
There is always a certain buzz when you drive up to the Athlete Village and start to feel the pre-race energy among both age-groupers and pros. Today in Happy Valley was no different.
This marks the seventh stop of the 2026 Ironman Pro Series, as well as the Ironman 70.3 North American Championship. Here are the key storylines and insights that emerged from the pro panel ahead of tomorrow’s race.
‘This community comes out': Athletes, spectators relish Ironman 70.3 Happy Valley
On Sunday, athletes swam at Bald Eagle State Park, cycled up Nittany Summit and ran through Penn State’s Beaver Stadium at the Ironman 70.3 Pennsylvania Happy Valley North American Championship.
North American champions crowned at Ironman 70.3 Happy Valley
Ironman 70.3 Pennsylvania Happy Valley returned for its fourth year on a cloudy and mostly comfortable Sunday, and for the first time the event served as both a Pro Series stop and the North American Championships .
Inside look at the 2026 Ironman 70.3 Pennsylvania Happy Valley triathlon
More than 1,600 took part in Sunday’s Ironman 70.3 Pennsylvania Happy Valley North American Championship, a triathlon that covers 70.3 miles of swimming, cycling and running in Centre and Clinton counties.
Foley Prevails in Epic Duel While Findlay Cruises to a Third Straight North American Championship Title in Happy Valley, Pennsylvania
The 2026 IRONMAN® 70.3® Pennsylvania Happy Valley North American Championship delivered a thrilling day of elite competition in central Pennsylvania, as American Trevor Foley and Canadian Paula Findlay captured North American Championship titles and maximum Experience Oman IRONMAN Pro Series points against a deep field of global talent.
State College Set to Host IRONMAN 70.3 Pennsylvania Happy Valley North America Championship on Sunday, June 14
The IRONMAN® 70.3® Pennsylvania Happy Valley North America Championship triathlon returns to State College, Pa. this weekend, bringing together one of the most competitive professional fields in North America alongside more than 1,700 amateur athletes. As part of the 2026 Experience Oman IRONMAN Pro Series, the event marks the first time Happy Valley has hosted both an IRONMAN Pro Series event and the IRONMAN 70.3 North America Championship, elevating the race to one of the premier stops on the global triathlon calendar. Athletes will take on a 70.3-mile (113 km) course beginning with a 1.2-mile swim in Foster Joseph Sayers Reservoir at Bald Eagle State Park, a scenic 56-mile bike ride through the beautiful rolling hills of Centre and Clinton Counties and culminate with a 13.1-mile run on the campus of Penn State University including a unique finish line experience outside of iconic Beaver Stadium.
Penn state student starts 61-day, 3,500-mile triathlon for charity. How to follow along
Penn State doctoral student Matthew Hollingham, 25, officially began his 3,500-mile triathlon for charity Sunday — and he’ll continue to swim, run and cycle from the Arctic Circle to Africa until July 30.
‘It’s Going to Bring a Lot of Joy to People Here.’ Long-Planned Skatepark Opens in State College
State College celebrated the grand opening of its long-awaited public skatepark on Friday, marking the culmination of more than a decade of efforts and the fulfillment of a dream for many in the community.