UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State women's gymnastics team will open the 2020 season ranked No. 25 in the Women's Collegiate Gymnastics Association Poll (WCGA). The poll was released on Wednesday.
Penn State finished the 2019 season with a 10-9 dual record, including victories over No. 32 Temple, No. 34 Illinois, No. 32 Maryland, No. 21 Arizona State, No. 27 NC State and No. 22 Ohio State.
The Nittany Lions placed third in the Session I meet of the NCAA Regional in Ann Arbor and finished the season ranked 24th in the RoadToNationals standings. In her first year with the program, Jessie Bastardi placed first in the session and third in the regional to qualify for the NCAA Championships in Fort Worth, Texas. Junior Lauren Bridgens, a 2018 NCAA Championship qualifier, returns after earning first-team All-Big Ten honors for the second straight year.
Bastardi and Bridgens are two of 11 returners from the 2019 squad. Penn State also welcomed Amy Bladon, Bella Romagnano and Cassidy Rushlow to the program.
The Nittany Lions are set to open a challenging 2020 slate on Saturday, January 4 at the California Grand Invitational in Anaheim. The invitational is loaded with the top teams in the nation. Penn State will compete in the 4 p.m. ET session against No. 21 Arizona State, No. 13 Auburn and No. 7 Denver.
Penn State opens its home schedule the following Saturday, January 11, when it welcomes No. 30 West Virginia at 4 p.m.
The Nittany Lions' home slate features three meets with ranked opponents. Penn State hosts No. 29 Iowa on January 25 at 4 p.m. on Big Ten Network. PSU will face No. 28 NC State as part of a quad meet on February 29 at 4 p.m. Penn State concludes its home schedule against No. 3 Florida on March 7 at 4 p.m. The Nittany Lions will also welcome Rutgers on January 31 at 7 p.m. The Scarlet Knights received 35 votes in the WCGA Preseason Poll.
The Nittany Lions are scheduled to face seven more ranked opponents in road meets, including No. 15 Nebraska (Jan. 16), No. 27 Illinois (Feb. 7), No. 24 Ohio State (Feb. 14), No. 33 Maryland, No. 6 Michigan, No. 14 Minnesota (Feb. 22) and No. 19 Arkansas (March 13). Penn State also takes on Michigan State on February 22. The Spartans received 69 votes in the poll.
Penn State is set to host an NCAA Regional on April 2-4 in Rec Hall. Penn State last hosted an NCAA Regional in 2018. However, a new format, installed in 2019, has expanded the regional to a three-day event. Day one (Thursday, April 2) will feature a dual-meet between the two lowest ranked teams with the winner advancing to a quad meet on Friday. Day two will include two quad meets with the top two teams from each advancing to Saturday's regional final quad meet.
Season tickets are now available. Season tickets are $30 for adults and $20 for youth (ages 12 and younger). Single-meet tickets are also available for $8 for adults and $5 for youth. For more info, please visit here, call 1-800-NITTANY weekdays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. or visit the Bryce Jordan Center ticket office weekdays from 9 a.m-4:30 p.m.
Senior Tess McCracken