UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – For the first time in nearly two years, the Penn State women's gymnastics program will welcome its fans to Rec Hall when the team competes in its home opener on Friday against Yale. The meet will be streamed live on Big Ten+.
The Nittany Lions are coming off a first place finish in the season-opening Keystone Classic at Temple last weekend.
Tickets for Friday's meet can be purchased here.
HOW TO FOLLOW
Live Stream | Live Results
SERIES HISTORY
This will be the 10th all-time meeting between Penn State and Yale. The Nittany Lions have found success in the series, holding a 9-0 record.
A LOOK BACK AT THE SEASON OPENER
It was a solid start to 2022 for the Nittany Lions, as Penn State placed first in the inaugural Keystone Classic last weekend. Penn State's 194.275 score was the team's highest season-opening score in three years. Penn State claimed individual event victories in all four events. Leading the charge were fifth-year seinors Alissa Bonsall and Lauren Bridgens, who shared the event win on bars with matching scores of 9.900. As a team, the Nittany Lions recorded a 49.225 on the apparatus. Two freshmen opened their collegiate careers with event victories, as Isabella Salcedo claimed the win on floor with a 9.825 and Jessica Johanson got the victory on vault with a 9.825. Senior Melissa Astarita garnered her first career win on beam with a score of 9.800.
YEAR FIVE
The Nittany Lions welcome back three gymnasts for their fifth year of eligibility, as Alissa Bonsall, Lauren Bridgens and Kourtney Chinnery announced their return to Penn State earlier this year. Bonsall shined during her senior season in 2021, representing the Nittany Lions as an individual qualifier at the NCAA Morgantown Regional where she set a career high with a 9.950 on bars. Bridgens and Chinnery missed the 2021 season.
NEW FACES
Penn State added eight athletes to the roster for the 2022 season. Isabella Salcedo and Elina Vihrova were named Big Ten Gymnasts to Watch ahead of their first meet as Nittany Lions. The duo is among seven gymnasts in Penn State's freshman class. Penn State also welcomed sophomore Sarah Duhe, a transfer from the University of Alabama.
THE RETURN
After missing the 2021 season with injury, Senior+ Lauren Bridgens is set to make her return to the Penn State lineup. Bridgens enters 2022 with 34 career event titles, and is one of nine Nittany Lions to earn three First Team All-Big Ten honors in their career. In 2018, she became the first Nittany Lion to earn a 10.0 score on bars. Bridgens was named Penn State's recipient of the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award last season.
