UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Head Coach Sarah Brown and Penn State women’s gymnastics (1-0) took down the Yale Bulldogs (0-1), 196.225-193.850, in Rec Hall on Sunday afternoon to open the 2026 season in front of 1,622 fans.
Penn State’s 196.225 team total, fueled by point totals above 49.000 on vault, bars and floor, marked the highest in a season-opening home meet in program history, besting the mark the team set last season, 195.775. With the win over the Bulldogs, the Nittany Lions moved to 11-0 in the all-time series.
The Ann Carr award, given to the athlete who achieves the most inspirational performance of each meet, was given to Dani Latronica after a stellar showing on vault, bars and beam.
VAULT
The Nittany Lions began the night by scoring 49.000 as a team. Freshman Ava Cash, in her collegiate debut, was the event champion after posting a 9.850. Sophomore Allison Kaempfer and graduate Jessica Johanson recorded a 9.825 and a 9.800, respectively. Senior Ava Piedrahita notched a 9.775, and Latronica and sophomore Elizabeth Leary both tallied a 9.750 to round out the unit.
BARS
Cash once again turned in a strong performance in her debut on bars. Joined by Leary, the pair both scored a 9.850 and were co-event champions. Latronica and Kaempfer turned in similar great efforts and secured a pair of 9.825s. Sophomore Ellie Monahan and Johanson joined in with a 9.775 and a 9.750, respectively, to post another rotation win for the Nittany Lions.
BEAM
Monahan and Latronica led the way for Penn State in its third rotation, with the two gymnasts scoring 9.825s. Juniors Alyssa Kramer and Ashley Maul both collected 9.775s from the judges while former Big Ten Freshman of the Year winner, Kalea McElligott, notched a 9.750. Senior Amani Herring closed out the third rotation for the Blue & White with a 9.725.
FLOOR
The Nittany Lions closed their opening meet with the program’s highest events total of the afternoon, earning a 49.150 in the fourth rotation. McElligott stunned the crowd with a meet-high 9.900, tied for her career-high that she sent against Iowa State in 2024. Kramer joined her by wowing the crowd with a 9.875 performance. Monahan and Paul continued the stun with a pair of 9.8 showings. Sophomore Bella Misiura, with her 9.775, and Leary, with a 9.650, rounded out the standout rotation for Penn State.
UP NEXT
Penn State will hit the road for the first time in 2026 as the program heads to Illinois for its first Big Ten contest of the season on Friday, January 16, at 8 p.m. Fans can stream the meet on B1G+.
Follow along with the team on our social media pages on Facebook (PennStateWomensGymnastics) and X/Instagram (@pennstatewgym).