UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State women's gymnastics team (6-3, 0-1 Big Ten) will host its first Big Ten home meet of the 2023 season when it welcomes the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (3-8, 0-2 Big Ten) to Rec Hall on Monday night at 8 p.m.
Penn State enters competition at Rec Hall on Monday night nine days removed from its Big Ten season opener at Minnesota on Saturday, Jan. 21. Nittany Lion freshman Ava Piedrahita showed out in her first Big Ten competition, posting lifetime bests on the vault, balance beam, and all-around en route to a second-place finish. Penn State ultimately fell to the Golden Gophers, but multiple career-best marks for Nittany Lion gymnasts showcase the team's ability to perform against high-level competition.
The Nittany Lions own a 25-2 record against the Scarlet Knights, dating back to 1979. Rutgers enters competition following its 197.275-194.150 loss at No. 16 Oregon State on Friday night.
TUNE IN LIVE
Live Results
LAST TIME OUT
The Nittany Lions earned four career-high scores in a solid outing at then-No. 16 Minnesota. Along with Piedrahita's three lifetime best marks, sophomore Jessica Johanson earned the best mark of her career on the balance beam.
As a team, The Nittany Lions slot in at No. 26 in the country and rank inside the top 35 in three events heading into Monday night's dual meet, according to the RoadToNationals rankings for week four of the 2023 season.
VAULT – No. 33
Ava Piedrahita scored a career-high 9.875 on the apparatus to highlight a solid event for the Nittany Lions. Junior Maddie Johnston turned in a season-high 9.800, while sophomores Isabella Salcedo and sophomore Elina Vihrova each posted a 9.775. The Nittany Lions posted a 48.925 on the event as they continued their strong showing.
BARS – No. 21
Penn State scored a 49.000-or better score on bars in its third consecutive meet with a 49.000 at Minnesota. Junior Gabbie Gallentine posted a 9.825 followed by a season-high 9.825 from Vihrova and two more 9.800s from senior Cassidy Rushlow and Piedrahita set a foundation for the Nittany Lions with a 49.000 right out of the gate.
BALANCE BEAM – No. 26
The Nittany Lions' 26th-ranked beam group received career-bests from sophomore Jessica Johanson (9.825) and Piedrahita (9.775). Freshman Amani Herring matched Johanson's 9.825 with one of her own and the duo of Johnston and Rushlow each scored a 9.775. Penn State finished strong with a 48.975, its second-highest score of the night.
FLOOR – No. 36
Salcedo recorded a season-best 9.825 to lead the way for Penn State. 9.775 scores from Johnston and Piedrahita rounded out the top-three scorers as a couple small errors slowed down the Nittany Lions on the apparatus as they recorded a 48.625.
All-Around
Piedrahita posted a career-high 39.225 in the all-around at Minnesota, good for a second-place finish in the event. With that result, a Nittany Lion has now finished top-two in the all-around in every meet this season. Penn State's all-around trio of Piedrahita, Johnston, and Johanson have each won the all-around this year and have competed in all four events in every meet this far into the 2023 season.
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 five newcomers will see their first Big Ten competition in Happy Valley when the team welcomes in the Scarlet Knights on Monday Night.
MONDAY NIGHT MAYHEM
Monday night's meet will take on the "Monday Night Mayhem" moniker, welcoming all for a night of flips and fun!
Penn State students who attend will get free chicken tenders and fries and free minute-to-win-it prizes throughout the night. The student organization with the largest attendance at the meet will also get $500 deposited into their organization's account.
As always, student admission is free, so Penn State students are encouraged to come out and join us on January 31 at 8 p.m. in Rec Hall for Monday Night Mayhem.
FOLLOW THE NITTANY LIONS
Following its meet against Rutgers, Penn State will hit the road to take on No. 12 Michigan State on Saturday, Feb. 4 at 7 p.m.
Follow along with the team on our social media pages on Facebook (PennStateWomensGymnastics) and Twitter/Instagram (@pennstatewgym).
