Penn State alumna Emily Kaplan appeared on ESPN’s Around The Horn for the first time Friday afternoon to debate the latest sports news with three other ESPN personalities.

Kaplan studied journalism at Penn State and graduated from the College of Communications back in 2013. She currently works as a national hockey reporter for ESPN and co-hosts ESPN’s “ESPN On Ice” podcast alongside fellow sportswriter Greg Wyshynski.

Kaplan joined fellow sportswriters from around the country to debate topics including how Kevin Durant’s absence will affect the Golden State Warriors, the upcoming game seven showdown between the Toronto Raptors and the Philadelphia 76ers, and the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Sports reporters earn points on Around The Horn for delivering well-made arguments related to the day’s news. Kaplan won Friday’s program using her wealth of hockey knowledge and gave a shoutout to women’s hockey players during her victory speech.

Before the show began, Kaplan talked about her time at Penn State and her love of bagels. One anecdote she shared was about how she was the first person to knock on Joe Paterno’s door the night he was fired in 2011. She recalled being coached over the phone on how not to get arrested for trespassing and even spoke to Sue Paterno, but didn’t receive a comment.

Many Penn Staters praised Kaplan for her career milestones, first appearing on the show and then winning it all on what was a proud night for the College of Comm.

Guest personalities rotate frequently on Around The Horn, so this may be the first of many appearances for Kaplan on the program, especially as the Stanley Cup Playoffs heat up.

About the Author

Matt DiSanto

Matt proudly served as Onward State’s managing editor for two years until graduating from Penn State in May 2022. Now, he’s off in the real world doing real things. Send him an email ([email protected]) or follow him on Twitter (@mattdisanto_) to stay in touch.

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