UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State women's gymnastics teams handed out its team awards on Sunday, May 5 at its annual end of season banquet at the Pegula Ice Arena.
Sophomore Lauren Bridgens earned the Allison Barber/Katie Rowland Team MVP Award. Bridgens was a first-team All-Big Ten selection this season. She won seven individual event titles, including three in all-around, three on bars and one on vault. Bridgens set career-highs this year in all-around (39.525 vs. Minnesota), beam (9.900 vs. Florida) and floor (9.875 in the Big Ten Championships).
The Beltz/Rohrbaugh/Stauder Balance Beam Award was presented to freshman Jessie Bastardi. The award is given to a gymnast who "sticks" their routine in every single meet. The State College native qualified for the NCAA Championships on beam, finishing 36th overall. She competed in all 13 meets on beam, including a career-best 9.925 at Rutgers. She had three scores of 9.900 or better, including a 9.900 at the Ann Arbor NCAA Regional.
Another NCAA Championships qualifier, senior Sabrina Garcia, earned the Four-Year Achievement Award. The second-team All-Big Ten selection qualified for the NCAA Championships on bars, posting a 9.8125 in Fort Worth to place 44th overall. She collected five bars scores of 9.900 or better this season, including a career-best 9.950 vs. Ohio State. Garcia claimed six individual event titles this season, including two all-around, three on bars and one on floor. She leaves Penn State as an All-American in 2017 and an All-Big Ten selection in 2018 and 2019.
The Kathy Parody Hard Work Award was won by sophomore Alissa Bonsall. It is presented to an individual who displays an unbelievable work ethic, never stops trying, sweats more than anyone and is always willing to give 100 percent. Bonsall won two event titles on bars this season, achieving a 9.850 at Illinois and a career-high 9.900 at the Big Five Meet. She set career-bests this year on vault (9.825 at the Big Five Meet), bars and floor (9.875 in the Big Ten Championships).
The Hairston/Samuels Improvement Award was presented to junior Tess McCracken. The award is given to an individual who displayed extraordinary improvement. McCracken achieved PSU's top beam score twice this season, including a career-high 9.925 at Rutgers, tying with Bastardi for the event title. She set career highs on bars (9.900 vs. Ohio State), beam and floor (9.850 in the PSU Quad Meet) this year. She earned the Ann Carr Award for her performance in the quad meet.
Freshman Melissa Astarita earned the Nittany Newcomer Award. Astarita won two event titles this season on floor, posting a 9.900 at the Little Boston Invitational and in the PSU Quad Meet. She collected seven floor scores of 9.800 or better and had a season-best 9.800 on vault at the WVU Quad Meet.
For the second straight year, the Bernie Robertson Scholar-Athlete Award was claimed by junior Kristen Politz. The award is given to an individual who displays excellence in the classroom while contributing to the team. An Academic All-Big Ten selection in 2018 and 2019, the Marketing major posted a 4.0 this past semester. She led an effort that saw the Nittany Lions increase their team GPA for a seventh straight semester. Politz won the beam event at the WVU Quad Meet, posting a career-high 9.900.
The Booster Club's Penn State Pride Award was presented to junior Erynne Allen. After transferring into the program, Allen competed in eight meets this year. She cracked the bars lineup in seven meets, including a career-best 9.800 at Illinois. She competed as part of the floor lineup in two meets, including a career-high 9.800 in the Big Ten Championships, and had three exhibition routines on floor.
The Kelly Streicher Heart of a Lion Award was given to all five members of the senior class: Amber Autry, Garcia, Mason Hosek, Jessica Jones and Gianna LaGuardia. The award is presented to those who inspire others through their unyielding spirit, tireless determination and passionate commitment to the glory of Penn State.
The Nittany Lions, led by Head Coach Sarah Brown, finished the 2019 season with a 10-9 dual record and a No. 24 ranking in the RoadToNationals, their highest final ranking since 2015. Penn State placed third in Session 1 of the Ann Arbor Regional.
Award winners from the team banquet