UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State women's gymnastics team (6-2, 0-0 Big Ten) will compete in its first Big Ten dual meet this season when it travels to Minneapolis to take on No. 16 Minnesota at 5 p.m. ET on Saturday.
The meet will be streamed live on Big Ten Plus.
Penn State enters Big Ten competition following its first 196.000 team total of the 2023 season in a clean sweep at its home opener against LIU, Penn, and SCSU. The Nittany Lions are receiving solid contributions from veterans and newcomers alike, and have had three strong all-around competitors in each of the first three meets of the season.
The Golden Gophers head into Saturday's matchup having scored 196.075-or better in their first two meets of the year. On the flip side, Penn State has seen its score improve over each meet as it is primed for a clash with Minnesota.
TUNE IN LIVE
Live Stream (BTN+) | Live Results
HOME OPENER RECAP
The Nittany Lions posted a clean sweep at their home opener last Friday evening. Penn State scored its first 196.000 of the 2023 campaign and took down LIU, Penn, and SCSU in the process.
Maddie Johnston set a career high with a 9.900 on the balance beam on her way to tying her career-best 39.150 score in an all-around victory. It marks the first all-around win and first balance beam win for the junior.
As a team, The Nittany Lions rank inside the top 35 in the country in three events heading into week three of the season.
VAULT – No. 37
Ava Piedrahita and Isabella Salcedo both posted 9.850 vault scores in the quad meet at Rec Hall on Friday evening. Piedrahita's score set a personal best while Salcedo's season-high mark helped the Nittany Lions put up their first 49.000-or better score of the 2023 campaign on the apparatus.
BARS – No. 19
Penn State scored a 49.000-or better score on bars in the second consecutive meet on Friday. The Nittany Lions' bars unit received a season-best 9.900 from senior Cassidy Rushlow and a career high 9.850 from Piedrahita to win the event. Elina Vihrova secured a season-best 9.800 and Maddie Johnston supported the solid performance with a 9.775.
BALANCE BEAM – No. 27
The Nittany Lions' 27th-ranked beam group received standout performances by freshmen Amani Herring and Haleigh Gibble. The newcomer duo posted two 9.850 scores on the apparatus on Friday.
Not to be outdone, Johnston recorded a career-high 9.900 to win the event for Penn State. Her fantastic beam performance helped her to her first ever all-around title in the meet as well.
FLOOR – No. 34
Herring took home the event title for the Nittany Lions with a 9.850 on the floor. It was the first career win for the freshman. Vihrova scored another season-best 9.800 and Jessica Johanson earned a 9.750 to help the Nittany Lions to their first 196.000 team score of the 2023 season.
All-Around
With Johnston's career-best 39.150 score winning the all-around title on Friday evening, a different Nittany Lion has now won the all-around for the first three meets of the season. Johnston, Johanson, and Piedrahita have each won the event for Penn State this season. The trio has competed in every event of every meet so far in the 2023 season, and will look to continue that streak at Minnesota on Saturday.
NEW FACES
The Nittany Lions added five gymnasts to the roster for the 2023 season. Herring, along with fellow freshmen Gibble, Piedrahita, and Katie Leary, joined Penn State's squad for the 2023 season.
Penn State also added junior transfer Gabbie Gallentine. The Florida transfer comes to Happy Valley after two years with the Gators and brings a career-best 9.95 bars score to bolster the Penn State group.
All four freshmen will get their first taste of Big Ten action in Minnesota on Saturday, with the junior Gallentine having competed against Big Ten schools during her time at Florida.
FOLLOW THE NITTANY LIONS
Following its trip to Minnesota, Penn State will return home to Rec on Monday, January 30 where it will take on the Scarlet Knights of Rutgers in a dual meet. The meet is set to begin at 8 p.m. and will be televised on the Big Ten Network.
Follow along with the team on our social media pages on Facebook (PennStateWomensGymnastics) and Twitter/Instagram (@pennstatewgym).
