WASHINGTON – No. 22 Penn State women's gymnastics scored a 196.875 to take down Rutgers (196.825), George Washington (196.600) and Towson (196.575) in its regular season finale at the George Washington Quad Meet on Sunday afternoon.
The Nittany Lions, and Head Coach Sarah Brown, wrap up their regular season with a 15-8 record, Penn State's highest single-season win total since it won 20 matchups in 2014.
An excellent start on bars had the Nittany Lions rolling early. Ava Piedrahita picked up the first of her two 9.9 scores of the meet on the apparatus to lead Penn State to a 49.200 first rotation. Amani Herring earned a 9.925 on beam before throwing down a 9.95 on floor, her third of the season, to become the first Penn State gymnast to earn three 9.95 floor totals in the same season since Brandi Personett in 2010. Also on floor, freshman Alyssa Kramer recorded the first 9.9 of her collegiate career after six 9.875 floor totals this year, helping Penn State to an excellent 49.350 team score. Piedrahita then bookended her 9.9 bars start with a 9.9 on vault in rotation four to close out her 39.375 all-around score.
ROTATION RECAP
Penn State began its afternoon on bars where it earned a 49.200 team total. A 9.9 from Piedrahita led the way while Gabbie Gallentine's 9.875, her fifth 9.875-plus score of the season, followed. A career-best 9.825 for Maggie Mace and a season-best-tying 9.825 for Jessica Johanson helped to fill out Penn State's scoring lineup.
On beam, the Nittany Lions received an outstanding 9.925 from Herring, an event title-winning score, to push the group to its 49.150 team total. Isabella Salcedo posted a 9.875 while Kalea McElligott earned a 9.850 to round out the top three for Penn State.
Once again, Penn State's floor squad posted the team's best event total of the day, as it earned a 49.350 in the third rotation of the afternoon. Herring's event-winning 9.95 led the way, while Kramer's 9.9 and a trio of 9.825 scores from Ashley Maul, McElligott, and Salcedo fueled the Nittany Lion rotation.
In the fourth and final rotation, Penn State put up a 49.175 on vault, led by 9.9 scores by Piedrahita and McElligott. Johanson once again tied her season-best mark with a 9.825 and Maddie Johnston turned in a 9.800.
Piedrahita won her fifth all-around title of her sophomore campaign with a 39.375 through all four events while McElligott earned a 39.350, her fifth all-around score at-or-above that level.
WHAT'S NEXT
Penn State is set to compete in the Big Ten Women's Gymnastics Championships next weekend at Michigan State. The Nittany Lions will compete in session I of the championships which is set to take place on March 23 at noon. The meet will air live on the Big Ten Network.
FOLLOW THE NITTANY LIONS
Follow along with the team on our social media pages on Facebook (PennStateWomensGymnastics) and X/Instagram (@pennstatewgym).
