March 31, 2016
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Championship season continues Saturday, April 2, for the Penn State Nittany Lions as they head to the NCAA Regional Championships in Ann Arbor, Mich. The Nittany Lions will be vying for a spot in the program's 19th appearance at the NCAA Championships. The Ann Arbor Regional begins at 6 p.m. inside the Crisler Center.
Fans can follow along with live results and a live video stream for free courtesy of mgoblue.com.
Competing against the No. 25 Nittany Lions in the Ann Arbor Regional will be No. 6 Auburn, No. 7 Michigan, No. 18 Stanford, No. 24 Eastern Michigan and No. 33 New Hampshire.
The Nittany Lions are coming off a fourth-place finish at the 2016 Big Ten Championships with their score of 196.150.
At the Big Ten meet, junior Kiera Brown tied her career-best 9.950 to tie for the uneven bars title to lead the Nittany Lions. Brown's title was the 17th event title in program history.
Similar to the evening session of the Big Ten Championships, the NCAA Regional round is a six-team meet with two byes for each squad.
The rotation order for the Nittany Lions is as follows: uneven bars, balance beam, bye, floor exercise, vault and bye.
The top two teams and the top two all-around competitors (who are not on an advancing team) from each regional will receive an automatic berth to the national championships in Fort Worth, Texas, April 15-16.
The top two teams from the Iowa City, Salt Lake City and Tuscaloosa regionals will compete in one of the semifinals, and the top two teams from the Minneapolis, Ann Arbor and Athens regionals will compete in the other semifinal.
In addition, the event winners at each regional site will advance to the national championships (in that event only) if they are not part of a qualifying team or an all-around qualifier.
SCOUTING THE FIELD
Competing against the Nittany Lions in the Ann Arbor Regional will be No. 6 Auburn, No. 7 Michigan, No. 18 Stanford, No. 24 Eastern Michigan and No. 33 New Hampshire.
The No. 6 Auburn Tigers enter the meet following a fourth-place finish at the SEC Championships with a score of 196.975 and host No. 7 Michigan recently captured its 22nd Big Ten title with a 197.125.
The No. 18 Stanford Cardinal finished fifth at the Pac-12 Championships with their score of 196.125, No. 24 Eastern Michigan won its second Mid-American Conference (MAC) title in program history with its score of 196.425 and No. 33 New Hampshire finished second at the East Atlantic Gymnastics League (EAGL) Championships with a 195.525.
The 2016 NCAA Regionals marks the third meeting between the Nittany Lions and the Michigan Wolverines this season. PSU and Michigan went 1-1 on the year.
The meet also marks the first meeting between Penn State, Auburn, Eastern Michigan, New Hampshire and Stanford this season.
AUBURN
Saturday's meeting marks the second time the Nittany Lions have faced off against the Auburn Tigers under head coach Jeff Thompson.
Coach Thompson was the head coach at Auburn for 11 years before joining the Nittany Lions.
The Nittany Lions and Tigers last met on April 2, 2011, in the NCAA Regionals. Penn State finished third at the regional meet with a 195.850, while Auburn placed fourth with a 195.600.
EASTERN MICHIGAN
Penn State has never competed against Eastern Michigan before.
MICHIGAN
The Nittany Lions and Wolverines last met in the NCAA Regional Championships on April 3, 2004.
At the 2004 NCAA Regional, Penn State finished fourth with its score of 196.075. Michigan advanced to the NCAA Championships with a second-place finish (196.375).
NEW HAMPSHIRE
The Nittany Lions and Wildcats have met five times in the NCAA Regional round since the 2000 season.
Penn State has topped New Hampshire in all five postseason meetings since 2000. Penn State advanced to the NCAA Championships in 2000 and 2014.
2000 - 195.925-191.200
2003 - 196.175-195.400
2004 - 196.075-194.125
2010 - 196.050-194.800
2014 - 196.725-195.025
STANFORD
Penn State and Stanford have met twice in the NCAA Regional round (2005 and 2013). Penn State topped Stanford, 195.375-194.750, in the 2005 meeting to advance to the NCAA Championships, while Stanford defeated Penn State, 196.800-195.875 to advance to the NCAA Championships in 2013.
LUCKY NUMBER SEVEN
Junior Kiera Brown has claimed seven titles on the uneven bars this season, which ties Kassidy Stauder for the most uneven bars titles since 2014.
ALL-AMERICAN
Junior Kiera Brown became the 26th Nittany Lion to receive All-America honors in the history of Penn State women's gymnastics. In all, 26 Nittany Lions have garnered 93 All-America honors since 1974.
The Nittany Lions have had at least one All-American in 28 of the last 43 seasons since Karen Schuckman earned the first honor in 1974.
NCAA REGIONALS HISTORY
The 2016 NCAA Regional marks the 35th-straight year the Nittany Lions have advanced to the NCAA Regional Championships.
Penn State has advanced to all 35 NCAA Regional Championships since women's gymnastics was adopted as an NCAA sport in 1982.
The Nittany Lions will be looking to secure their 19th appearance at the NCAA Championships in 2016.
The Nittany Lions have hosted the regional championships on 13 occasions and will travel for the 22nd time.
The 2016 Ann Arbor regional marks the second time in program history the Nittany Lions will compete in a regional in Ann Arbor (2003).
All-time at the NCAA Regionals, Penn State gymnasts have claimed at least 13 event titles on the vault (13), uneven bars (14), balance beam (16), floor exercise (19) and the all-around (16).
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 9.915 and she also ranks ninth 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).
BIG TEN CHAMP
Junior Kiera Brown, competing in her first Big Ten meet, tied for the uneven bars title with her score of 9.950. Her tally of 9.950 tied her career-best and is tied for the No. 3 performance in school history.
Brown's title is the 17th event title at the Big Ten meet in program history for the Blue and White.
SMART LIONS
Four Nittany Lions were honored by the Big Ten for their work in the classroom.
Nicole Medvitz, Christina Postiglione, Chanen Raygoza and Briannah Tsang were named to the Academic All-Big Ten team.
To be eligible for Academic All-Big Ten selection, students must be letterwinners who are in at least their second academic year at their institution and carry a cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 or higher.
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 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.
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).
Penn State has posted two of its three highest scores of the year over the past two meets. The Nittany Lions tallied a season-best 197.125 at the Big Five Qualifier and hit a 196.150 at the Big Ten Championships. Penn State's 196.150 ranks third on the year.
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
Briannah Tsang - 4th - 39.295
Kiera Brown - 5th - 39.290
Vault
Briannah Tsang - 4th - 9.855
Uneven Bars
Kiera Brown - 1st - 9.915
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
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 Co-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.