PHILADELPHIA – The Penn State women's gymnastics team (3-0, 0-0 Big Ten) scored a 194.725 and finished first overall in their first competition of the season, topping Pitt, Penn, and Temple at the 2024 Keystone Classic on Friday night in the Palestra.
"Tonight was a great start to the 2024 season," said Head Coach Sarah Brown. "I'm so proud of each and every athlete on this team. I'm so happy to see five new faces in our lineups and we're looking forward to building on this solid start. There were so many great sparks of success tonight and our future is bright!"
Solid performances on every event culminated in an outstanding final rotation on vault for Penn State as the Nittany Lions posted a 49.000 on the apparatus, securing their highest score on vault in a season opener since the 2013 season. Penn State women's gymnastics begins its 60th campaign with an unblemished 3-0 record as it returns home to Rec Hall for its home opener in one week.
The Nittany Lions earned four event wins on Friday night, with sophomore sensation Ava Piedrahita claiming both the vault and all-around wins while junior Isabella Salcedo won the balance beam and floor exercise crowns.
ROTATION RECAP
Penn State started its 2024 season on bars where it scored a 48.175. In her first routine of her senior year, Maddie Johnston posted a 9.8 to lead the Nittany Lions in the event. After posting nine 9.8-plus scoring bars routines last season, Johnston's 9.8 tonight set a solid foundation for her 2024 campaign. Fellow senior Jessica Johanson earned a 9.775 out of the leadoff spot. Freshman Kalea McElligott also collected a 9.675 to open her collegiate career.
In the second rotation, the Nittany Lions turned in some of their best performances of the night, with Salcedo recording her first 9.9 of the campaign to front the Penn State group and win the event outright. Piedrahita scored a 9.825, Amani Herring went 9.8, and Johnston posted a 9.75 as Penn State earned the top four vault scores overall at the Keystone Classic.
On the floor, Salcedo collected her second event title of the night with a 9.85 followed by McElligott's 9.8. Junior Elina Vihrova rounded out the group's third rotation with a solid 9.75.
Concluding the night on vault, the Nittany Lions showed out, totaling 49.000 on the event, including a 9.875 by Piedrahita, a 9.825 from Johnston, a 9.8 from Salcedo, and a pair of 9.75s from Vihrova and McElligott.
WHAT'S NEXT
Penn State will welcome Iowa State to Happy Valley on Friday, Feb. 12 at 6 p.m. for its home opener. Fans will be treated to a Kids Night theme as the Nittany Lions kick off their home slate in Rec Hall next week.
FOLLOW THE NITTANY LIONS
Follow along with the team on our social media pages on Facebook (PennStateWomensGymnastics) and X/Instagram (@pennstatewgym).
