Jarod Crespo is having himself quite the senior season.

In just 22 games, the 23-year-old defenseman has scored a career high of four goals, including a senior night hat trick against RIT. His point total of 11 has also surpassed a career mark, two of those coming this past Saturday against Notre Dame.

But while Crespo continues to surpass personal benchmarks, the work he puts in that doesn’t appear on the scoresheet is even more impactful.

At the beginning of the season, Penn State men’s hockey announced that Crespo would don the “A” on his chest as one of the team’s alternate captains. He would join Dane Dowiak, and later Ben Schoen and Reese Laubach, as the veterans who would attempt to lead the Nittany Lions to a national championship.

So far, Crespo has excelled in his role.

“He’s himself. He’s becoming so comfortable in the leadership role that he has, and being the best Jarod Crespo,” Guy Gadowsky said. “He wants to lead. He wants to lead in physical play, and shots, and goals, and assists. He wants to help the ushers do a good job; he just wants to lead everywhere.”

But Crespo’s ability to maximize his version of himself is more than a one-man effort. The recent emergence of Jackson Smith as a force on the blue line has helped Crespo excel both on the ice and in the locker room.

“I think we’re really coming into our own as a D-pair, excelling both offensively and defensively,” Crespo said. “Playing with [Smith] has been really fun in one way, but it’s also been a learning experience of playing with a guy that’s pretty offensive.”

Learning to play more of a two-way game has been beneficial for Crespo’s confidence and skillset. Being able to learn from a freshman on the team shows how much he and the team understand the value each athlete brings, irrespective of age.

As much as Crespo is learning from Smith, the relationship is a two-way street.

“He’s an amazing teammate,” Smith said. “He creates a lot offensively and defensively. He’s really good and really reliable as well. We’re just clicking together.”

Smith even admitted that Crespo often has to cover for him after making mistakes on the ice, as can be expected from the experienced player and leader that is No. 24.

The connection between the two has been particularly apparent in recent games. In Saturday’s contest against the Fighting Irish, Smith called for the puck from Crespo, who promptly passed it over to his defensive partner. Smith was able to capitalize by ripping a one-timer from just inside the blue line, finding the back of the net, and extending Penn State’s lead.

Jackson Smith with the one-timer!pic.twitter.com/ci4dWKskWa

— Onward State (@OnwardState) January 18, 2026

The audible on-ice communication goes to show the growing synergy between the pairing, as the two continue to produce night in and night out for the Nittany Lions.

“Our offensive stride has really taken another step,” Smith said.

No matter who Crespo may connect with on a goal, whether it be Smith or otherwise, the vision remains the same: to be the final team standing in Las Vegas, Nevada, come April.

Crespo will continue to use his position to lead by example as Penn State fights for a tournament spot down the stretch.

“It means the world that guys want me in the [alternate captain] position,” he said. “But for me, it’s just doing everything I can to elevate our team to the highest level and get us a national championship.”