Dec. 15, 2016
ROSEMONT, Ill. - The Penn State Nittany Lions were selected tied for fifth in the Big Ten Women's Gymnastics Coaches' Poll, as announced by the conference office Thursday. Along with the coaches' poll, the Big Ten announced its Gymnasts to Watch with Kiera Brown (Newport News, Va.) and Briannah Tsang (Vancouver, British Columbia) making the list.
Michigan garnered the top spot in the Big Ten Women's Gymnastics Coaches' Poll followed by Nebraska and Minnesota. Illinois is fourth with Iowa and Penn State tied for fifth. The Big Ten poll is rounded out by Ohio State, Michigan State, Maryland and Rutgers.
Penn State returns 14 letterwinners from the 2016 season and welcomes three freshmen to the team in 2017. Brown returns for her senior season after tallying All-America honors on the uneven bars last season and NCAA floor exercise qualifier Tsang is back for the Nittany Lions for her junior year.
The Nittany Lions open the 2017 slate against Bowling Green, BYU and Temple on Jan. 7 at 4 p.m. inside Rec Hall.
BIG TEN WOMEN'S GYMNASTICS PRESEASON COACHES' POLL
1. Michigan
2. Nebraska
3. Minnesota
4. Illinois
5. Iowa
Penn State
7. Ohio State
8. Michigan State
9. Maryland
10. Rutgers
BIG TEN WOMEN'S GYMNASTS TO WATCH LIST
Lizzy LeDuc, So., Illinois
Karen Howell, Fr., Illinois
Mollie Drenth, Sr., Iowa
Angel Metcalf, Sr., Iowa
Sarah Faller, Sr., Maryland
Alecia Farina, Fr., Maryland
Talia Chiarelli, Sr., Michigan
Emma McLean, So., Michigan
Kira Frederick, Sr., Michigan State
Anna Gamelo, So., Michigan State
Ciara Gardner, Jr., Minnesota
Abby DeMuse, Jr., Minnesota
Jennie Laeng, Sr., Nebraska
Sienna Crouse, So., Nebraska
Kaitlyn Hofland, Jr., Ohio State
Olivia Aepli, Fr., Ohio State
Briannah Tsang, Jr., Penn State
Kiera Brown, Sr., Penn State
Elizabeth Groden, Jr., Rutgers
Chloe DeVries, Fr., Rutgers