Jan. 28, 2016
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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State women's gymnastics team is back in action against Big Ten opponent Illinois Friday night at 7 p.m. inside Rec Hall. Penn State hasn't competed since Jan. 16 against Nebraska. The Nittany Lions were schedule to compete against Maryland last weekend, but the meet was postponed due to winter storm Jonas.
No. 19 Illinois (1-2, 1-1 B1G) is coming off a 196.900-195.150 loss to No. 3 Michigan in its 2016 home opener last Friday night.
For the Fighting Illini against Michigan, Mary Jane Horth shared the uneven bars title with a score of 9.900 and Giana O'Connor tied a career-high 9.925 to capture the floor exercise title.
In the Road to Nationals rankings, Illinois ranks 19th in team average score (195.242), 26th on the vault (48.725), tied for 33rd on the uneven bars (48.575), 13th on the balance beam (48.908) and 11th on the floor exercise (49.033). With only two meets completed, the Nittany Lions rank 32nd in average score (194.350), 33rd on the vault (48.588), 17th on uneven bars (49.000), 47th on the balance beam (48.050) and 32nd on the floor exercise (48.713).
In the individual RTN rankings, O'Connor ranks 17th in the all around with her season average of 39.242 and she also is tied for 13th on the floor exercise with her average of 9.900. For Penn State (0-2, 0-1 B1G), a pair of Nittany Lions rank in the top-25 on the uneven bars as Kiera Brown is tied for eighth (9.887) and Sabrina Garcia ranks tied for 18th (9.850). Also for Penn State, Briannah Tsang leads the Nittany Lions on the balance beam with her average score of 9.838 (T24).
The Friday night meet will be THON & Social Media night. Fifty percent of all ticket proceeds will go to THON and we will be giving away selfie sticks to the first 200 fans. Also, the first 10 fans that tag use #PSUWGYM at the meet will receive a free PSU gymnastics t-shirt. Following the meet, fans will have the chance to take a selfie with the team.
Single meet tickets are available for all home meets in advance and at the door on the event night at a cost of $8 for adults and $5 for youth. Group tickets (20 or more) can be purchased in advance for a reduced rate of $4 each.
FOLLOW ALONG
Fans can follow along with the action Friday with live stats and a live video stream for free courtesy of GoPSUsports.com
REC HALL BAG POLICY
No backpacks or duffle bags are permitted during varsity athletic events, other athletic and non-athletic events at this venue. No bags or purses larger than 8.5"x11"x6" will be permitted. All other bags will be searched upon entrance to the facility.
SERIES VS. ILLINOIS
Penn State owns a 10-3-0 record in the regular season against Illinois. In last season's regular season meeting inside Huff Hall, the Illini prevailed over the Nittany Lions, 196.400-195.600.
In the regular season meeting against Illinois last season, the Nittany Lions set a school record team score on the vault (49.550) and a trio of record book performances.
The 49.550 broke the school record that was first set on Feb. 16, 2003 in a tri-meet at West Virginia with Rutgers (49.500).
NITTANY LION DEBUTS
Five Nittany Lions made their debut on Jan. 9, 2016 against North Carolina State. Five of the seven freshmen competed along with junior transfer Kiera Brown.
In their debuts, freshman Jessica Jones won the floor exercise title with her score of 9.850 and Brown won the uneven bars with a score of 9.950. Brown's score of 9.950 tied the number three performance in school history.
YOUTH MOVEMENT
The 2016 roster is comprised of 14 student-athletes, which includes seven freshmen. Eight of the 14 Nittany Lions are newcomers to the program, as Kiera Brown will be a junior this season for Penn State. Brown joins the Nittany Lions after transferring from the University of Georgia.
The 2016 Nittany Lions do not feature any seniors, but will be led by a quartet of juniors. The Nittany Lions also return Briannah Tsang, who was the 2015 Big Ten Co-Freshman of the Year.
VAULT RECORD FALLS
On Jan. 31, 2015, at Illinois, Penn State posted the best team score in school history on the vault with a 49.550.
The 49.550 broke the school record that was first set on Feb. 16, 2003 in a tri-meet at West Virginia with Rutgers (49.500).
The previous record of 49.500 was equaled on two other occasions; 2004 NCAA Regionals and vs. Cornell, Iowa and Yale on Jan. 23, 2010. Both were home competitions.
All six gymnasts posted scores of 9.850 or better on the event, marking the first time Penn State has seen all six performers top the 9.850 mark on any event since it occurred in 2014 on the floor exercise at the NCAA Regional.
Six of the top-10 all-time team vault scores have come on the road, including the school record performance at Illinois.
The Lions also tied for the No. 7 spot on the vault list with a 49.450 vs. Brockport, Iowa State and Penn on Feb. 28. They equaled the score from last season at New Hampshire w/Bridgeport & George Washington on March 8.
NITTANY LIONS ON BTN
The Penn State women's gymnastics team will be featured twice on the Big Ten Network during the 2016 season.
The women's program enters the 2016 campaign ranked 17th in the NCAA and was picked fourth in the Big Ten Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Nittany Lions are slated to host Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota and Rutgers on Saturday, March 12 live on BTN starting at 1 p.m.
The 2016 Women's Big Ten Championships are hosted by the University of Nebraska inside the Devaney Center on March 19 in two sessions, starting at noon and 5 p.m. Both sessions will be live on BTN.
THE FIRST TEAM TO TWENTY
The 2014 edition of the Nittany Lions became the first group of gymnasts to crack the 20-win plateau during the regular season in school history.
With two victories at the Big Ten Quad in Ann Arbor, Mich., the team moved past the 2007 squad for the most regular season victories in school history.
The 2007 team finished the year with a 19-4 overall mark and finished third at the NCAA Regional Championships.
In 2014, Penn State finished fifth at the Big Ten Championships, but followed that up with a second place showing, behind eventual co-national champion Florida, at the NCAA Regional and advanced to the NCAA Championships for the 17th time in program history.
Top 5 Single Season Victories
20-3 2014
19-4 2007
18-5 2005
17-3 1982
16-0 1981
16-3 1991
THOMPSON CLOSING IN ON 150 WINS
Head coach Jeff Thompson is in his 17th season as a collegiate head coach and is closing in on his 150th career regular season victory. In his career, Thompson has compiled a 146-102 record.
In his sixth season at the helm of Penn State, Thompson has earned 60 regular season victories and is 74-20 overall. Add that to his 72 wins while at Auburn and the Highland Heights, Ky., native sits at 146 career wins. His overall record while at Auburn was 72-82.
In 2014, the Nittany Lions owned a 20-3 regular season record and set a school record for regular season victories on March 15 in the Big Ten Quad in Ann Arbor.
The previous school record was held by the 2007 squad, which finished 19-4 and placed third at the NCAA Regional Championships.
THOMPSON IN ELITE COMPANY
Head coach Jeff Thompson headed back to the NCAA Championships for the second time as a head coach and his first as the leader of the Nittany Lions in 2014.
Thompson's first appearance at the national meet came with Auburn in 2003 and he led the Nittany Lions back to the national summit for the first time since the program went in 2009.
He is just the third head coach in NCAA history to navigate two different programs to the NCAA Championships, joining K.J. Kindler (Iowa State & Oklahoma) and Judi Markell (Penn State and Florida).
Thompson took Auburn to the championships during his fourth season at the helm of the program. The Tigers finished 12th at the 2003 NCAA Championships, posting a team score of 193.525.
The Highland Heights, Kentucky, native guided Penn State to their 17th appearance at the NCAA Championships in his fourth year, as well. The Blue and White finished 12th with a team score of 194.825.
BIG TEN GYMNASTS TO WATCH
Penn State's Kiera Brown and Briannah Tsang were selected by the Big Ten women's gymnastics coaches as "Gymnasts to Watch" for the upcoming season.
Brown, a transfer from Georgia, will be a junior this year for the Nittany Lions. At Georgia, Brown was named All-SEC after she finished tied for second on the uneven bars at the 2014 SEC Championships. She also finished the 2014 season tied for 19th nationally on the uneven bars.
Tsang enters her sophomore season with the Nittany Lions after being named the 2015 Big Ten Freshman of the Year. Tsang was also named to the All-Big Ten second team. Last season, she competed in all 12 of the team's meets, including the NCAA Regional Championships. In 2015, she won at least one event title in each of her first seven career meets and posted at least one event win in eight of her 12 competitions.
2016 NITTANY LION SCHEDULE
The 2016 Nittany Lion schedule features 13 of the 36 ranked teams in the preseason coaches' poll.
The Nittany Lion non-conference home schedule is highlighted by a quad meet with No. 3 Alabama, No. 16 Denver and Cornell on Feb. 20. The Nittany Lions also welcome to Rec Hall, No. 11 Nebraska (Jan. 16) and No. 15 Illinois (Jan. 29).
Lions Post Tenth Best Season Opening Score in School History
The tally of 194.125 is the 10th highest season opening score in school history and their best first meet mark since a 194.675 in 2015.
Three of the top-10 scores have come under the watch of head coach Jeff Thompson.
Five of them have been recorded at home, with four others accomplished at the Super Six Challenge; 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2007.
195.775 Morgantown, W.Va. 2012
195.075 University Park, Pa. 1999
194.875 University Park, Pa. 2006
194.850 Gainesville, Fla. 2005
194.800 University Park, Pa. 2009
194.675 University Park, Pa. 2015
194.600 Tuscaloosa, Ala. 2004
194.575 Fayetteville, Ark. 2007
194.375 Athens, Ga. 2003
194.125 University Park, Pa. 2016
THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME
Penn State enjoys one of the most historic collegiate gymnastics venues in the country and they take pride in giving the home crowd something to cheer for, including a lot of wins.
Since 1975, Penn State owns a 223-54 overall record in home meets. The Nittany Lions are 220-54 at Rec Hall and are 3-0 in meets contested inside the Bryce Jordan Center.
The loss to North Carolina State on Jan. 9, 2016, snapped a seven-meet winning streak inside Rec Hall. The seven-meet winning streak was the fourth-best in program history.
Penn State swept its last two home meets in 2014 and was unblemished in its five home dates in 2015.
The longest unbeaten streaks in school history are as follows: (Streaks are listed by meets, not wins. Meaning if Penn State hosted three teams needed to be victorious vs. all three opponents to extend the streak.)
1. 1977-82 28 meets
2. 1999-2001 11 meets
3. 1975-77 10 meets
4. 2014-15 7 meets
5. 2013-14/2009-10/2005 6 meets
8. 2007/1992-93 5 meets
10. 2011/1991/1986-87 4 meets
NITTANY LIONS WELCOME THREE IN 2017
Tess McCracken, Kristen Politz and Mikayla Waddell have signed their National Letters of Intent to attend Penn State University and participate in women's gymnastics for the 2017 season, head coach Jeff Thompson announced on Nov. 11, 2015.
McCracken, who trains at World Olympic Gymnastics Academy (WOGA) in Plano, Texas, has been coached by Laurent Landi, Cecile Canqueteau-Landi and Natasha Boyarskaya.
She was the 2012 Texas level 10 state champion on balance beam as well as second place on uneven bars while tallying a third place in the all-around. McCracken went on to compete in the USA Junior Olympic National Championships where she finished in the top-10 in the nation on uneven bars and balance beam.
Politz currently trains at Rebound Gymnastics in Marlboro, New Jersey, and is coached by Bob and Diane Ferrell.
Politz is a five-time consecutive Junior Olympic National Championship qualifier where she first qualified at the age of 12 and placed first on floor exercise and first in the all-around at the National Invitational Tournament.
In 2015, she finished sixth in the nation on the uneven bars at the USA Gymnastics Junior Olympic National Championships. During the same season, she was third on the balance beam at the Region Seven Championships and earned the title of New Jersey State champion in the all-around several weeks earlier by sweeping the titles on all four events.
In 2014, she finished first in the region on floor exercise and followed it up with a fourth place finish at the Junior Olympic National Championships.
Waddell, who trains at ENA Gymnastics in Paramus, New Jersey, is coached by Craig and Jennifer Zappa and John Wojtczuk and she, too, comes to Penn State with a great history.
In 2014, Waddell finished fourth in the nation on balance beam and seventh in the nation on Vault at the Junior Olympic National Championships.
She was also named the Region Seven vault, balance beam and all-around champion in 2014 as well as the state champion on balance beam. In 2013, she was the Region Seven champion on balance beam and in 2012, as a Level 9, she was the national champion on vault and balance beam at Eastern Nationals.
LOOKING AHEAD
The Nittany Lions hit the road for a two-meet road trip. Penn State heads to Michigan State for a 2 p.m. meet on Feb. 6 and ends the trip at Ohio State on Feb. 13 with a 4 p.m. start time.