March 17, 2016
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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State women's gymnastics team heads to Lincoln, Neb., for the 2016 Big Ten Women's Gymnastics Championships Saturday inside the Bob Devaney Sports Center. Penn State will compete in the evening session at 5 p.m. EDT along with Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska and Ohio State. Illinois, Iowa, Maryland and Rutgers compete in the morning session at noon EDT.
Both sessions are live on the Big Ten Network with Shawn Johnson and Dean Linke on the call.
The rotation order for Penn State follows as: bye, floor exercise, vault, bye, uneven bars and balance beam.
The Nittany Lions recently recorded a second-place finish at the Big Five Qualifier with the fourth-best score in program history (197.125). At the meet, junior Nicole Medvitz tied the fifth-best score on the balance beam in school history with her career-best 9.975.
Minnesota captured the top spot at the Big Five Qualifier, and the 2016 Big Ten Women's Gymnastics regular season title, with its score of 197.425. The Golden Gophers secured the meet title with their program-best 49.675 on the balance beam.
Overall, Minnesota finished first with a 197.425, followed by Penn State (197.125), Michigan (196.875), Iowa (196.650) and Rutgers (194.550).
Following the meet, a trio of Nittany Lions received All-Big Ten honors. Kiera Brown and Briannah Tsang received All-Big Ten First Team plaudits, while Nicole Medvitz garnered All-Big Ten Second Team honors.
SCOUTING THE FIELD
Heading into the meet, Michigan ranks seventh in the regional qualifying score (RQS) rankings, Nebraska is 12th, Minnesota is 16th, Iowa is 18th, Illinois is 25th, Penn State ranks 28th, Ohio State is 29th, Michigan State is 36th, Maryland is 38th and Rutgers ranks 40th.
Individually, Michigan's Olivia Karas and Minnesota's Lindsay Mable lead the Big Ten in the all-around with their RQS of 39.500, Karas leads the Big Ten on the vault (9.935), Penn State's Kiera Brown leads the Big Ten on the uneven bars (9.905), Illinois' Sunny Kato leads the Big Ten on the balance beam (9.915) and Michigan's Nicole Artz' leads the Big Ten on the floor exercise (9.940).
During the regular season, the Nittany Lions went 6-3 against the Big Ten.
Penn State opened up the Big Ten regular season with a pair of losses to Nebraska (196.150-194.575) and Illinois (195.725-195.025) before winning three-straight Big Ten meets.
Following the pair of Big Ten losses, the Blue and White recorded three-straight Big Ten wins to improve to 3-2 on the year.
Penn State tallied wins at Michigan State (195.700-195.175), Ohio State (195.925-195.675) and Maryland (196.350-195.350).
The Nittany Lions capped off the 2016 Big Ten regular season with a second-place finish at the Big Five Qualifier.
Minnesota finished first with a 197.425, followed by Penn State (197.125), Michigan (196.875), Iowa (196.650) and Rutgers (194.550).
In 2013, the Big Ten began crowning a regular season Big Ten Champion based on conference standings.
PSU BIG TEN REGULAR SEASON FINISHES
2016 - 6-3 - T-3rd
2015 - 6-3 - 4th
2014 - 5-2 - T-3rd
2013 - 4-3 - 4th
NITTANY LION BIG TEN SCORES AND FINISHES
2015 196.725 4th
2014 196.475 5th
2013 195.825 6th
2012 195.700 6th
2011 196.375 2nd
2010 196.525 2nd
2009 196.525 3rd
2008 195.625 3rd
2007 196.475 2nd
2006 194.925 3rd
2005 196.125 2nd
2004 196.625 2nd
2003 196.650 3rd
2002 192.550 7th
2001 196.425 2nd
2000 196.675 2nd
1999 195.500 2nd
1998 194.725 3rd
1997 194.300 5th
1996 190.775 7th
1995 192.375 3rd
1994 194.025 2nd
1993 192.400 2nd
1992 190.900 2nd
B1G CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY
Penn State will be competing in its 25th Big Ten Women's Gymnastics Championships.
The Nittany Lions competed in their first B1G Championship in 1992 and finished runner-up to Michigan.
Penn State has finished runner-up at the Championships a conference record 11 times.
Penn State has won 23 individual event and all-around titles in program history. The 23 titles rank tied for fourth in conference history.
The seven all-around titles claimed by Nittany Lion gymnasts are second all-time in B1G history.
Penn Staters own two of the four event records, with Nikki Smith (balance beam, 2000) and Katie Rowland (vault, 2003) both totaling 10.000 scores on their respective event.
ALL-BIG TEN HONORS
Kiera Brown, Nicole Medvitz and Briannah Tsang garnered All-Big Ten honors following the Big Five Qualifier.
Brown and Tsang were named to the All-Big Ten First Team, while Medvitz was named to the All-Big Ten Second Team.
Brown and Tsang are the 27th and 28th Nittany Lions to receive the honor of All-Big Ten First Team.
Brown, in her first year with Penn State women's gymnastics, leads the Big Ten on the uneven bars with her regional qualifying score (RQS) of 9.905 and she also ranks seventh in the all-around (39.290).
Medvitz collects her first All-Big Ten honor as a Nittany Lion for her work on the balance beam during her junior year. She currently ranks seventh in the Big Ten on the balance beam with her RQS of 9.885. Throughout the 2016 season, Medvitz has led the Nittany Lions on the balance beam. Medvitz has tallied six of the top-12 scores for Penn State on the balance beam this season.
Tsang, the 2015 Big Ten Co-Freshman of the Year and second team honoree, joins Brown on the All-Big Ten First Team. On the year, Tsang has won the floor exercise title four times, the vault title three times and the all-around title once.
In the Big Ten rankings heading into the Big Ten Women's Gymnastics Championships, Tsang ranks eighth on the floor exercise (9.885), is tied for ninth on the vault (9.845) and ranks 10th in the all-around (39.260).
IMPROVING ON THE BEAM
On the balance beam, Penn State opened the year with a 47.950 against North Carolina State then a 48.150 against Nebraska and then a 49.025 against Illinois.
Junior Nicole Medvitz has claimed two balance beam titles and shared one balance beam title within a six-day span. Medvitz has finished first or tied for first during a span of four-straight meets.
She won her first of four balance beam titles with a then-career-best 9.900 against Alabama, Cornell and Denver. Two days later, Medvitz captured the balance beam title at Maryland with a 9.875 and tied for the balance beam title at the Unite for Her meet with a 9.900.
Against Arizona State, freshman Jessica Jones and Medvitz tied for the balance beam title with their scores of 9.875.
Most recently at the Big Five Qualifier, Medvitz and the Nittany Lions hit a 49.375, which tied the fourth-best balance beam score in program history.
Though she didn't collect her fifth-straight balance beam title, Medvitz placed second with her career-best 9.975, which is tied for fifth-best in school history.
CAREER DAY FOR GARCIA
Against Maryland, freshman Sabrina Garcia had a banner evening for the Nittany Lions.
In the meet, Garcia tallied a second-place finish in the all-around with a career-best 39.325. En route to her score, Garcia tallied a career-best on the vault (9.800), tied a career-best on the uneven bars (9.875), hit a career-best 9.850 on the balance beam and posted a career-best 9.800 on the floor exercise.
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.
RAISING THE BAR
Over the first seven meets of the season, the Nittany Lions have improved their team score from the previous meet all but once.
The Nittany Lions started the year with a 194.125 (NC State), followed that up with a 194.575 (Nebraska), posted a 195.025 (Illinois), tallied a 195.700 (Michigan State) recorded a 195.925 against Ohio State, finished with a 195.100 in the Penn State Quad and posted a then-season-high 196.350 in a win over Maryland (Feb. 22).
Four days after the Maryland meet, Penn State posted its fourth-best score of the year (195.675).
The Nittany Lions are coming off their fourth-best score in program history (197.125), which was set at the Big Five Qualifier.
AMONG THE REGIONAL LEADERS
In the Northeast region, Penn State is represented in the top-five on all four events and in the all-around at least once.
All-Around
Kiera Brown - 3rd - 39.290
Briannah Tsang - 6th - 39.260
Vault
Briannah Tsang - 4th - 9.845
Kiera Brown - T-6th - 9.815
Uneven Bars
Kiera Brown - 1st - 9.905
Balance Beam
Nicole Medvitz - 3rd - 9.885
Floor Exercise
Briannah Tsang - 5th - 9.885
NITTANY LION DEBUTS
Six 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.
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
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 Big Ten Women's Gymnastics 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.
THOMPSON CAPTURES WIN NO. 150
Head coach Jeff Thompson is in his 17th season as a collegiate head coach and recently captured win No. 150. In his career, Thompson has compiled a 157-107 record.
On Feb. 22, 2016, Penn State defeated Maryland, 196.350-195.350, for Coach Thompson's 150th career win.
In his sixth season at the helm of Penn State, Thompson has a record of 85-25. Prior to Penn State, the Highland Heights, Ky., native tallied a record of 72-82 at Auburn.
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 227-58 overall record in home meets. The Nittany Lions are 224-58 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.