UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State women's gymnastics team is back home on Saturday at 4 p.m. to take on Illinois in the team's second Big Ten meet of the season. The team will share the stage with the men's gymnastics team as part of Penn State's Double Dual.
The Nittany Lions are coming off their best output of the season, posting a score of 196.425 in a tightly contested matchup at Ohio State last weekend. The score was the team's highest since February 2020.
The Penn State double dual will be streamed live on Big Ten Plus with Preston Shoemaker and Penn State gymnastics alums Stephen Nedoroscik and Tess McCracken on the call.
HOW TO FOLLOW
Live Stream | Live Results
SERIES HISTORY
The sides have met 20 times since their first meeting in 1992, with the Nittany Lions holding a 11-9-0 advantage over their Big Ten foe.
A LOOK BACK AT OHIO STATE
The Nittany Lions (3-1) were on the road last Saturday for the first Big Ten meet of the season.
Penn State recorded season-best scores in all four events, posting scores of 49+ on floor (49.300), bars (49.225) and vault (49.075).
Starting on bars, Penn State got its third consecutive 49+ score to open the season. All five Penn State scorers recorded scores above a 9.8 with freshman Nikki Beckwith recording a career-high of 9.825. On vault the team posted their first 49 score on vault this year with a 49.075. Cassidy Rushlow's 9.850 led the event with fifth-year seniors Lauren Bridgens, Alissa Bonsall and Kourtney Chinnery posting matching scores of 9.825.
The Nittany Lions highest score of the day was on floor, and the highest since January 2020 with a 49.300. Freshmen Isabella Salcedo and Elina Vihrova both recorded career-highs, with Salcedo leading Penn State with a 9.900 and Vihrova recording a 9.875. Penn State ended the meet with a season-best score of 48.825 on beam. Salcedo (9.825) and Vihrova (9.750) posted career-highs on the apparatus, with Salcedo sharing the team lead with sophomore Maddie Johnston.
REACHING NEW HEIGHTS
The Penn State gymnastics program saw many career highs in the Big Ten matchup. Lauren Bridgens matched her season-high on bars with a 9.900 and Nikki Beckwith recorded a career-high of 9.825 in the same event. Additionally, Isabella Salcedo and Elina Vihrova both recorded career-highs on floor. Salcedo ended with a 9.900 and Vihrova with a 9.875.
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.
