Dec. 15, 2015
Preseason Coaches Poll
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- The Penn State women's gymnastics team is ranked 17th in the National Association of Collegiate Gymnastics Coaches/Women Preseason Coaches' Poll, which was announced Tuesday morning. The Nittany Lions are one of nine Big Ten teams in the preseason poll.
Other Big Ten teams include: No. 7 Michigan, No. 11 Nebraska, No. 15 Illinois, No. 20 Minnesota, No. 22 Ohio State, No. 26 Michigan State, No. 29 Iowa and No. 32 Maryland.
Penn State finished the 2015 season ranked No. 22 in the NCAA to mark the 13th straight season the program has finished among the top-25 nationally. The Nittany Lions posted one school record, a 49.550 on the vault at Illinois on Jan. 31, and two top-10 scores in program history; a 49.450 on the vault in a quad-meet vs. Brockport, Iowa State and Penn (2/28) also ranks No. 7 in the record books and the 197.025 team score vs. Michigan State (2/7) is tied for the fifth best score in school history.
In the postseason, Penn State posted its top score at the Big Ten Championships in program history and added two top-10 scores into the NCAA Regional record books. The 196.725 on March 21 in Ann Arbor, Michigan is the top score in Big Ten Championships history for the Blue and White, topping the 196.650 from 2003. The Lions scored 49.200 on the vault to rank No. 5 in the Regional record books, while the 49.050 on the uneven bars is tied for No. 7 in the school's regional history.
Penn State opens the 2016 campaign with a double dual meet against North Carolina State at 4 p.m. on Jan. 9. While the women's team competes against NC State, the men's program takes on Army. The first 400 fans in attendance at Rec Hall will receive an exclusive white out t-shirt. At the meet, kids can get their face painted, receive airbrushed tattoos and a caricature artist will be present. There will be an autograph session following the conclusion of the meet.
Single meet and season tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by contacting 1-800-NITTANY, online at www.GoPSUSports.com/tickets or in person at the Bryce Jordan Center.