UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. –.The No. 30 Penn State women's gymnastics team heads back on the road Saturday when the team travels to Ann Arbor, Mich., for the Big Five Meet.
The Nittany Lions will take on No. 5 Michigan, No. 12 Iowa, and No. 43 Rutgers.
Penn State is coming off a solid performance in their tri-meet at Rec Hall last weekend where they posted a team score of 195.925. The score was the Nittany Lions' second highest output of the season. The team set season highs on both bars (49.250) and beam (49.100)
Individually, Penn State recorded six career highs. Leading the way was senior Alissa Bonsall, who recorded career best scores on both bars (9.90) and beam (9.875). On bars, three different Nittany Lions posted career highs, as both Natalie Cross (9.925) and Maddie Johnston (9.800) reached new highs. Amy Bladon recorded a career high 9.775 on floor, while Melissa Astarita tallied a 9.850 on beam. Astarita also added an impressive 9.900 on floor, falling just short of her career high of 9.925.
This weekend's competition will mark the first this season against any of Penn State's three opponents.
Fans can follow along with the action by watching Big Ten Network+, following live scoring and checking for updates on our social media pages on Facebook (PennStateWomensGymnastics) and Twitter/Instagram (@pennstatewgym).
SERIES HISTORY
Penn State holds an advantage in the all-time series against two of its opponents this weekend, going 8-3 vs. Iowa and 22-1 vs. Rutgers. Michigan leads the head-to-head matchup vs. the Nittany Lions 16-7.
MEET THE OPPONENTS
Meet host Michigan has had a strong start to its 2021 campaign. Bev Plocki's No. 5 Wolverines have won all four of their dual meets thus far this season, averaging a score of 197.025.
After falling to Minnesota in their season opener, Iowa has rallied off five consecutive victories. Larissa Libby's Hawkeyes currently stand 12th in the rankings with an average score of 196.458.
Rutgers holds a 1-5 record, standing 43rd in the rankings. Third-year coach Umme Salim-Beasley's squad has averaged 193.860 thus far this season.
NATIONAL NITS
Cassidy Rushlow ranks 31st in the nation on bars with an average of 9.863.
Melissa Astarita's 9.875 average on floor ranks 32nd in the nation. She also ranks 38th on beam, averaging 9.850.
As a team, Penn State ranks 23rd on bars.
YOUTH MOVEMENT
Nine of Penn State's 24 lineup spots were occupied by freshmen in its season opener against Maryland. Three other lineup spots earned their first score on that event as a Nittany Lion.
Natalie Cross led the group, leading Penn State on vault (9.850) and beam (9.875), placing second overall in both events, and competing on bars. Maddie Johnston earned a solid 9.825 on beam, finishing third in the meet. She also competed on vault and bars. Maggie Ayers made her Penn State debut on bars, beam and floor. Amy Bladon made her Nittany Lion debut on beam and floor, while Donna Howell made her debut on vault.
HOME SWEET HOME
Penn State averaged a 196.230 in five home meets last season, its highest at Rec Hall since 2015. The Nittany Lions earned a 196.000 or better in each of the last four home meets, highlighted by a 196.575 in the PSU Quad Meet.
The Nittany Lions scored above a 49.000 on bars in four of five meets, paced by a 49.300 against West Virginia. Penn State tallied a 49.000 or better on beam in four home meets, finishing strong with a 49.325 against Florida. The blue and white also earned a 49.000 or better on floor in four meets, led by a 49.375 vs. Iowa.
BONSALL, RUSHLOW EARN B1G RECOGNITION
Senior Alissa Bonsall and sophomore Cassidy Rushlow were named Big Ten Gymnasts to Watch.
Bonsall won four individual event titles in 2020, including two on vault and two on bars. She earned a 9.900 on both vault and bars. She has three career scores of 9.900 on bars.
Rushlow ranked 39th in the nation on all-around last season with a 39.130 NQS. She also sat 63rd on beam with a 9.855 NQS. Rushlow won five individual event titles in 2020, including one in all-around, two on vault, one on bars and one on beam. She earned two scores of 9.900 on beam, a 9.900 on vault and a 9.925 on bars.