WASHINGTON, D.C. – Penn State women’s gymnastics (11-6, 4-5 Big Ten) scored a season-high 196.675 to take down Clemson (196.475) and George Washington (195.250) Sunday afternoon in the Revolutionaries’ home arena, the Charles E. Smith Center.
Penn State’s season-best score was fueled by 12 career-high individual event scores, not including a career-best 39.325 effort in the all-around by freshman Elizabeth Leary. Penn State’s underclassmen stepped up in a big way on the road as freshman and sophomores made up 14 of Penn State’s 24 competed routines. The mix of top-end veteran talent and excellent showings from its youngsters propelled Penn State to the top of the tri-meet scoreboard on Sunday in Washington D.C.
ROTATION RECAP
Penn State began its night on beam, where it tallied its third-straight 49-plus team total on the apparatus, going 49.000 in rotation one. Led by four career-high scores, coming from Ashley Maul (9.875), Elizabeth Leary (9.85), and Dani Latronica (9.85), and Ellie Monahan (9.775) the Nittany Lion beam team kicked things off strong. Maul’s 9.875 earned her a share of the balance beam event title, the third of her 2025 season.
In the second rotation, Penn State’s floor team posted its first 49-plus score since January thanks to another four career-high scores. Alyssa Kramer (9.9), Allison Kaempfer (9.875), Leary (9.85), and Monahan (9.75) each tallied career-best scores as the Nittany Lions continued their strong start.
Penn State put up a season-best 49.275 on vault thanks to career-highs from seniors Maddie Johnston (9.925) and Isabella Salcedo (9.9). Each one of the Nittany Lion routines competed earned 9.8-or-better, as Monahan (9.825), Elina Vihrova (9.825), Kaempfer (9.8), and Leary (9.8) all put together outstanding routines. Johnston’s 9.925 earned her the event crown, her fifth vault title of the season.
The Nittany Lions saved their best rotation for last, as its 49.325 bars team score is one of the best bars performances in program history. Gabbie Gallentine scored a 9.9 while Latronica and Cassi Barbanente posted 9.875 scores, Johnston earned a 9.85 and Leary totaled a 9.825. Gallentine earned a share of the event title with her 9.9 tally.
Leary’s eighth all-around of the year was her absolute best. The freshman tallied 9.8-or-better scores in all four events as she won the all-around with a season-high 39.325, the highest all-around score for a Penn Stater this season.
WHAT'S NEXT
The Nittany Lions will compete against Clemson for the second week in a row as they wrap up their regular season with a trip to South Carolina for a dual meet with the Tigers on Friday, March 14 at 8 p.m.
FOLLOW THE NITTANY LIONS
Follow along with the team on our social media pages on Facebook (PennStateWomensGymnastics) and X/Instagram (@pennstatewgym).