CAREER HIGHS
Floor Exercise: 15.450 2x - last at William & Mary and Navy (March 8, 2009)
Still Rings: 14.000 vs. Army (Jan. 12, 2008)
Vault: 15.950 vs. William & Mary and Navy (March 8, 2008)
Parallel Bars: 15.000 vs. Army (Jan. 12, 2008)
PENN STATE CAREER
2009: CGA First Team All-American Scholar Athlete (3.50-3.59 GPA)...Academic All-Big Ten...One of Penn State[apos]s most durable and consistent performers, he competed in every meet...Primarily focused on floor exercise, vault, and parallel bars but also performed on still rings...Won three consecutive floor exercise titles in meets versus Temple, William & Mary/Navy, and Cal...Scored a career best 15.450, also tying for the team high for the season, in the floor at William & Mary/vs. Navy...Also had three second place finsihes and one third place showing in the floor...Finished the season ranked No. 12 nationally in the floor exercise...Posted a season best score of 13.950 in the still rings in the qualifier at the national collegiate championships...Captured the vault title in the tri-meet with William & Mary and Navy, scoring a 15.700...Finished third in the vault with a 15.700 in home win over Ohio State...Had top scores of the season (14.050) in the parallel bars against Ohio State and Oklahoma.
2008: For the second consecutive year, Harris made his mark in the postseason, placing third (tie) in the floor exercise with a personal-best score of 15.450 in the team finals of the Big Ten Championships...Also contributed a third place showing in the floor exercise (15.200) in the season-opening win over Army...One of Penn State[apos]s most consistent vaulters, he finished in third with a season-high score of 15.950 against William & Mary and Navy...Competed in the still rings in two meets (Army and Michigan) and the parallel bars in three meets (Army, Michigan, and Oklahoma)...Earned Academic All-Big Ten recognition.
2007: Emerged as a clutch performer late in the year, contributing season-high scores on the still rings (9.200) and vault (8.900) in the team finals of the 2007 NCAA Championships...Scored a season-best 9.400 in the floor exercise twice, placing second at the West Point Open and third at Michigan...Also finished in third (tie) in the floor exercise versus William & Mary (9.250).
GYMNASTICS BACKGROUND
Gained club experience with Artistic Sports Academy Plus...Placed 25th in the all-around finals at the 2006 Junior Olympic Nationals...2006 Pennsylvania state champion in the vault...2006 BlackJack Invitational floor champion...2006 Pennsylvania state co-champion in the floor exercise.
PERSONAL
Lists floor exercise as his favorite event...Plans to pursue a career in the field of sports medicine after gymnastics...Decided to attend Penn State because 'I knew it was a high-quality university that offered me the opportunity to further my gymnastics career'...Majoring in Kinesiology.
QUOTING COACH JEPSON
'Allen has been great and will serve as our team captain. He is a terrific student and leader. Allen faced some adversity this summer when he suffered a bicep tear but he is rehabbing through that and is making great progress. We are hopeful he will be ready to do floor and more this season.'