April 24, 2017
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State women's gymnastics program held its annual end of season banquet on Saturday, April 22, at the Nittany Lion Inn. The Nittany Lions honored both gymnasts and supporters of the program at the banquet.
"Both Kera and I are excited to have the opportunity to hold a year end banquet to honor the team's accomplishments this season, as well as recognize their individual contributions," interim co-head coach Josh Nilson said. "The awards are well-deserved. The team showed true grit all year and we are excited to be able to celebrate with them."
In all, 14 individuals were honored with awards at Saturday's banquet, which included four Nittany Lions receiving multiple plaudits.
Sophomore Sabrina Garcia (Etters, Pa.), along with junior Briannah Tsang (Vancouver, British Columbia), received the Allison Barber/Katie Rowland MVP award. The Allison Barber/Katie Rowland MVP award is given to an individual who makes a scoring impact on the program above and beyond the ordinary.
During her second year with the Blue & White, Garcia qualified for the NCAA Championships in the all-around, received regular season second team All-America honors on the uneven bars, was named to the All-Big Ten First Team, and the All-Big Ten Championships Team.
In the Penn State record books, Garcia tied the No. 3 performance on the uneven bars with a score of 9.950, a mark she set twice during the 2017 season.
Mason Hosek (Pearland, Texas) was given the Joanne Beltz/Casey Rorhbaugh/Kassidy Stauder Balance Beam award and the Lisa Ingebretsen Competitive Excellence award. The Joanne Beltz/Casey Rorhbaugh/Kassidy Stauder Balance Beam award is given to an individual who "sticks" her balance beam routine in every meet of the season in which she compete, while the Lisa Ingebretsen Competitive Excellence award is handed out to an individual who consistently rises to the competition and performs extraordinarily well under pressure.
In her sophomore season, Hosek competed in nine meets, was named an Academic All-Big Ten honoree, and she tied career-best scores on the balance beam (9.825), floor exercise (9.850) and the vault (9.800).
Nicole Medvitz (Paramus, N.J.), received the Joanne Beltz/Casey Rorhbaugh/Kassidy Stauder Balance Beam award and the Heart Of A Lion/Kelly Streicher award, which is given to honor an individual who inspires others through her unyielding spirit, tireless determination and passionate commitment to the glory of Penn State.
On the year, Medvitz was named to the All-Big Ten Second Team and an Academic All-Big Ten honoree, and she won seven balance beam titles. Medvitz closed out her Nittany Lion career with 15 event titles, including 14 on the balance beam.
Managers Michelle Mehallow and Amanda Reynolds both received the Shelley Nelson Management award. The Shelley Nelson Management award is given to a manager who always is willing to sacrifice for the team, one who takes care of all details with energy and enthusiasm.
The Nittany Newcomer award was given to freshman Kristen Politz (Morganville, N.J.), who competed in all 12 team meets, which included competing in the all-around 10 times. During her first season in Happy Valley, Politz was named to the All-Big Ten Second Team and she captured her first career event title on Jan. 21 against Maryland with a score of 9.825 to win the floor exercise.
Senior Christina Postiglione (Selden, N.Y.) received the Pam Loree Leadership award, which is given to an individual who displays leadership qualities at all times and takes charge of all situations with an unselfish attitude and leads by example.
Postiglione, a 2017 Academic All-Big Ten honoree, adopted multiple roles this year from being on the leadership committee, and handling 100% of the community service efforts, to being someone the girls could draw advice and encouraging words from. She always has a smile on her face in the gym, and wanted to help the team out in any way she could.
Sophomore Peyton Schuller (Erie, Pa.) was tabbed with the Bernie Robertson Scholar Athlete award and the Hairston/Samuels Improvement award. The Bernie Robertson Scholar Athlete award is handed out to an individual who displays excellence in the classroom while contributing to the team, while the Hairston/Samuels Improvement award is bestowed upon an individual who displays extraordinary improvement in a given time; the honor is given for any facet of gymnastics.
A 2017 Academic All-Big Ten honoree, Schuller competed in all 12 team meets on the floor exercise. During the 2017 season, she won her first career event title with a score of 9.825 on the floor exercise against Maryland (Jan. 21), and set career-best scores of 9.750 on the balance beam (TWU Quad Meet - Feb. 19) and a score of 9.850 on the floor exercise (Michigan State - Feb. 4).
The Carey Hoyt/Kelly Streicher Perseverance award was given to Emma Sibson (Allen, Texas). The Carey Hoyt/Kelly Streicher Perseverance award is handed out to an individual who overcomes setbacks and injuries that would have ended the career of most people and does so with the right attitude and a smile on her face.
Sibson faced many ups and even more downs as she could not train the way she wanted to during the 2016-17 school year. Soon after she was ultimately told she could not continue to compete due to a life-altering diagnosis this year, Sibson was able to come back and compete at the NCAA Regional Championships. Sibson finished 11th on the vault at the NCAA Regional Championships with a score of 9.825.
Athletic trainer Sarah Thompson received the Lee Kolos/Bob Ritenbaugh Service award, which is given to an individual not directly involved with the team who goes out of his or her way to help the team in all possible ways. She received the award for being passionate about each student-athlete on the team and she does her very best to ensure a positive experience even in the eye of injury.
Along with the Allison Barber/Katie Rowland MVP award, Tsang also received the Joanne Beltz/Casey Rorhbaugh/Kassidy Stauder Balance Beam award and the Jan Anthony/Katie Rowland Iron Horse award. The Jan Anthony/Katie Rowland Iron Horse award is handed out to an individual who performs consistently throughout the season and competes in the all-around in every meet.
In 2017, Tsang qualified for the NCAA Championships in the all-around, won 12 individual event titles and five all-around titles. Tsang also etched her name in the Nittany Lion record book once again, as she tallied a 9.950 on the floor exercise at the Penn Quad Meet on March 5. Her score of 9.950 on the floor exercise is tied for fifth-best in program history.
Tsang's honors in 2017 include: Academic All-Big Ten, Big Ten Gymnast of the Week (Jan. 9), Big Ten All-Championships Team, and All-Big Ten First Team.
The Penn State Women's Gymnastics Booster Club handed out two awards, with Will Rottler earning the Booster Club award and Keith & Linda Forrest receiving the Penn State Pride award. Rottler was tabbed with the Booster Club award for his efforts promoting the team through coverage on social media and GoPSUsports.com, while the Forrests have supported program in many facets from attending practices and home meets to hosting meals for the team.
Award Winners:
Allison Barber/Katie Rowland MVP Award - Sabrina Garcia & Briannah Tsang
Bernie Robertson Scholar Athlete Award - Peyton Schuller
Booster Club Award - Will Rottler
Carey Hoyt/Kelly Streicher Perseverance Award - Emma Sibson
Hairston/Samuels Improvement Award - Peyton Schuller
Jan Anthony/Katie Rowland Iron Horse Award - Briannah Tsang
Joanne Beltz/Casey Rorhbaugh/Kassidy Stauder Balance Beam Award - Mason Hosek, Nicole Medvitz, & Briannah Tsang
Heart Of A Lion/Kelly Streicher Award - Nicole Medvitz
Lee Kolos/Bob Ritenbaugh Service Award - Sarah Thompson
Lisa Ingebretsen Competitive Excellence Award - Mason Hosek
Nittany Newcomer Award - Kristen Politz
Shelley Nelson Management Award - Michelle Mehallow & Amanda Reynolds
Pam Loree Leadership Award - Christina Postiglione
Penn State Pride Award - Keith & Linda Forrest