UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State women's gymnastics team (7-3, 1-1 Big Ten) took down Rutgers 196.550-195.150 on Monday night in Rec Hall. The Nittany Lions posted season-highs on bars, beam, and floor en route to their highest score of the season.
"I thought we had a really great night tonight," head coach Sarah Brown said. "We were really solid in all four events, but what I'm most excited about is our floor team hit tonight and brought the energy. I'm really excited to see what we can do from here."
Penn State bestowed its Ann Carr award upon Elina Vihrova following her standout performance. Vihrova posted a career-best 9.925 on the floor and also tied her season-best score on bars with a 9.825.
Cassidy Rushlow entered into the record books, tying 11 other athletes for the fourth-best uneven bars score in Penn State history with a 9.950 to anchor the event for the Nittany Lions. Rushlow continued her excellent performance on bars with a 9.800 on beam and a season-best 9.775 on the floor.
Both of Penn State's all-arounders, freshman Ava Piedrahita and sophomore Maddie Johnston, posted career-highs in the all-around, with Piedrahita's 39.225 earning the win.
In addition to eight career-best marks, the Nittany Lions also posted six season-best efforts, including the 2023 debut of Maggie Mace on bars.
Six of the eight career-best scores recorded by Penn State were from underclassmen, highlighting the immense potential of this young group of Nittany Lions. The group continues to improve night in and night out, with tonight's 196.550 becoming the first time the squad has hit that mark 196.550 since it scored a 196.550 on March 13, 2022, at New Hampshire.
ROTATION RECAP
The Nittany Lions began the evening on vault, finishing with a 48.975. Johnston, freshmen Amani Herring and Piedrahita all earned 9.800 on the event. The scores for Johnston and Herring tied their season-best marks.
Penn State next moved to bars where senior Cassidy Rushlow stole the show by earning a career-high 9.950 with an amazing routine to earn the event win. Close behind were Piedrahita, who earned a career-high 9.875, Johnston, and Vihrova who both received 9.825s. Vihrova's score, along with Jessica Johanson's 9.800 were both season bests. Maggie Mace made her season debut on the apparatus with a 9.700. Penn State's 49.225 was its highest score in any event so far this season.
Balance beam came up next for Penn State, where it tied its season-best output in the event with a 49.150. Sophomore Isabella Salcedo turned in a career-high 9.875 and topped the event. Freshman Haleigh Gibble matched her career-high of 9.850, while Rushlow and Herring aided a strong effort on the beam, both coming away with 9.800 scores.
The Nittany Lions really brought the energy in their final rotation on the floor where Elina Vihrova posted a career-high 9.925 to claim the victory. Piedrahita recorded a solid 9.825 while Rushlow tallied her second season-best score of the night with a 9.775. Herring anchored the group with a career-best 9.875.
In the all-around, Piedrahita and Johnston both hit career-best marks. Piedrahita posted a 39.225 across all four events while Johnston racked up 39.175 points. Piedrahita earned her second all-around win this season as a Nittany Lion has now been crowned all-around winner in all but one meet in 2023.
WHAT'S NEXT
The Nittany Lions hit the road this weekend for a Big Ten tilt with No. 13 Michigan State in East Lansing on Saturday at 7 p.m. ET.
FOLLOW THE NITTANY LIONS
Follow along with the team on our social media pages on Facebook (PennStateWomensGymnastics) and Twitter/Instagram (@pennstatewgym).
