UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The No. 27 Penn State Women's Gymnastics team is set to open its 55th season on Saturday as it travels to No. 5 Utah. The meet is set to begin at 6 p.m. at the Jon M. Huntsman Center. A live stream is available through the Pac-12 digital network.
The Nittany Lions went 11-8 in Head Coach Sarah Brown's first season in Happy Valley. Penn State earned five wins over ranked opponents and finished the year with a No. 32 national ranking.
Penn State returns 11 members from the 2018 squad and adds five newcomers, including three freshmen and two transfers.
Utah, led by co-Head Coaches Megan Marsden and Tom Farden, went 8-2 in duals last year, qualifying for the 2018 NCAA Championships where they finished fifth. Utah placed third in their NCAA Semifinal, won their NCAA Regional and placed second at the Pac-12 Championships.
Follow along with the action on live stream and live scoring. We will also provide updates on our social media pages on Facebook (PennStateWomensGymnastics) and Twitter/Instagram (@pennstatewgym).
SCOUTING THE UTES
No. 5 Utah enter the 2019 season with the same ranking they finished the 2018 season.
The Utes qualified for the 2018 NCAA Championships, finishing fifth with a score of 196.900. They also placed third at their NCAA Semifinals and won their NCAA Regional. Utah finished second at the Pac-12 Championships.
Utah, led by Co-Head Coaches Megan Marsden and Tom Farden, went 8-2 in duals, including 5-1 against Pac-12 opponents.
The Utes return 10 members from last year's squad, led by junior MyKayla Skinner, the 2017 floor and 2018 vault NCAA Champion. Skinner is one of five returning All-Americans for Utah, including seniors Kari Lee and MaKenna Merrell-Giles, junior Missy Reinstadtler and sophomore Sydney Soloski.
ALL-AMERICAN RETURNING
Sophomore Lauren Bridgens became the 29th All-American in program history, collecting the program's 96th All-American honor.
She was a second-team selection on Uneven Bars by the NACGC/W. A first-team All-Big Ten honoree, Bridgens won three all-around titles, three vault titles, six uneven bars titles, one beam title and one floor exercise title. She placed third in the all-around at the NCAA Regional to advance to the NCAA Championships, where she finished 29th.
Bridgens earned a perfect 10.0 on bars during the BYU Quad Meet.
BIG TEN GYMNASTS TO WATCH
Bridgens was joined by senior Sabrina Garcia being named Big Ten Gymnasts To Watch for the 2019 season.
Garcia was a second-team All-Big Ten selection in 2018 after finishing third or better in the all-around five times. She placed ninth in the all-around at the NCAA Regional. Garcia earned four uneven bars titles, one balance beam title and two floor exercise titles. She has 18 career event titles.
#RESTORETHEROAR
Bridgens and Garcia are two of 11 returners from the 2018 squad.
The group includes seniors Amber Autry, Mason Hosek, Jessica Jones and Gianna LaGuardia. Hosek owns two career event titles, including one on beam last year, while Jones has three career titles and LaGuardia won three vault titles in 2018.
Juniors Tess McCracken and Kristen Politz return to Happy Valley. Politz has one career title on floor exercise.
Alissa Bonsall, Kourtney Chinnery and Ava Verdeflor join Bridgens in the sophomore class. Bonsall earned an event title on vault last season.
WELCOME TO HAPPY VALLEY
The Nittany Lions welcomed five newcomers to the program, including two transfers.
Freshmen Melissa Astarita, Dymiana Cox and Donna Howell all joined the program. Astarita competed for Action Gymnastics in New Jersey, while Cox participated in the Junior Olympic Nationals in 2017 and 2018 as part of Parkette Gymnastics in New York. Howell competed for United Sports Academy in Pennsylvania.
Junior Erynne Allen and redshirt freshman Jessie Bastardi joined the program as transfers. Allen transferred from Kentucky where she competed in one meet as a sophomore after redshirting as a freshman. Allen earned a score of 9.525 on vault as an exhibition participant in a meet against Ball State, George Washington and Southeast Missouri State. Allen was the first Level 10 gymnast to come out of the Paulding Gymnastics club in Georgia.
Bastardi, a State College native, transferred from West Virginia. She was a Pennsylvania State Champion and National Qualifier while competing for Centre Elite Gymnastics.
PRESEASON POLL
On December 10, the Nittany Lions learned they will open the season at No. 27 in the Women's Collegiate Gymnastics Association (WCGA) Poll. The preseason poll was voted on by national coaches.
The Nittany Lions ended the 2018 season ranked No. 32 in the poll, previously known as the National Association of Collegiate Gymnastics Coaches/Women (NACGC/W) poll. PSU earned wins over three ranked opponents last year: No. 35 Eastern Michigan (194.275-192.900), No. 31 West Virginia (196.650-196.075), No. 21 BYU (196.675-196.500), No. 29 Maryland (195.500-195.250) and No. 27 West Virginia (NCAA Regional, 194.900-194.400).
CHALLENGING SCHEDULE
Heading into the 2019 season, the Nittany Lions are set to face 13 opponents ranked among the Top 36. The Nittany Lions will compete against No. 3 Florida, No. 5 Utah, No. 9 Michigan, No. 11 Nebraska, No. 18 Ohio State, No. 20 Arizona State, No. 22 Illinois, No. 23 Minnesota, No. 25 NC State, No. 29 Iowa, No. 31 Maryland and No. 35 West Virginia.
Penn State will take on five teams receiving votes: Cornell, Michigan State, Rutgers, Temple and Towson.
PSU ON BTN
Two Penn State meets have been selected for Big Ten Network broadcasts.
The Nittany Lions host Ohio State on Saturday, January 19 to open the broadcast slate. The meet is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. at Rec Hall.
Penn State travels to Rutgers on Saturday, February 9 for a 7 p.m. meet. It will be broadcast live on BTN2Go with the broadcast being shown on Big Ten Network on February 10 at 10 a.m.
NEXT UP
The Nittany Lions travel to the Little Boston Invitational next Saturday, January 12. They will compete against Temple and Towson at 7:30 p.m.
Penn State makes its home debut on January 19 in its Big Ten opener vs. Ohio State. The meet will begin at 3:30 p.m. on Big Ten Network. The team will participate in its annual Pink Meet.
Season tickets are now being sold. Tickets are $24 for adults and $16 for youth. For more info, please visit here.
Junior Tess McCracken