Lion Career
2008 (Freshman): Competed in all 13 meets of the season in various events, including twice in the all-around ... averaged a 9.713 on vault (12 meets), a 9.475 on bars (12 meets) and a 9.633 on floor (10 meets) while also performing on beam twice ... recorded a career-high 9.825 on vault at North Carolina State (4/16) ... three times reached her personal-best on bars, recording a 9.800 for second place at New Hampshire (2/9), again reaching the mark at Alabama (3/14) and also during the NCAA Northeast Regional Championships (4/12) ... recorded a fourth-place 9.675 on bars versus Bowling Green, Cortland and George Washington (3/1) ... scored a season-high 9.825 on floor at Ohio State (2/24) ... recorded a 9.775 on floor against Bowling Green, Cortland and George Washington (3/1), which aided her in finishing fifth in the all-around with a career-high 38.075.
High School/Club
Attended Bishop John Snyder High School in Jacksonville, Fla., where she also competed in diving ... was a member of the Starlight Gymnastics Club ... was a six-year National Level 10 qualifier (2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007), finishing in the top 25 in the all-around for five years, including a seventh place finish in 2006 ... in 2003, qualified as a Compulsory International Junior Elite and qualified for the Optional US Challenge, placing fourth on vault and 13th in the all-around ... captured sixth place on the beam at the 2007 nationals ... earned first place on the bars at the 2005 nationals ... placed 10th on bars at the 2006 nationals ... was the Region 8 Regional champion in the all-around three years (2003, 2005, 2006), also placing first on the bars in 2005, first on the vault in 2006 and first on the beam in 2007 ... was the Florida state champion in the all-around in 2005, also claiming first on the bars in 2005 and first on the floor in 2006 ... in diving, finished third in districts and was a state qualifier ... four-year honor roll member.
Personal
Born Kristina Marie Beck on May 27, 1989 in Jacksonville, Fla. ... parents are William and Mary Beck ... has two sisters, Katie (25) and Courtney (22) ... majoring in history ... names favorite food as spinach artichoke dip, favorite movie as 'Superbad,' favorite books as the Harry Potter series and 'The Last Lecture,' names favorite pro sports teams as the Atlanta Braves and the Jacksonville Jaguars, names favorite athletes as Lance Armstrong, Shannon Miller and Michael Phelps ... after graduation would like to attend law school ... names goals for this season as winning the Big Ten Championship and qualifying for NCAAs ... nickname is Teenie.
Why Penn State?
'I chose Penn State because this is where I felt the most comfortable. Everyone was so nice and I knew I could be happy here.'
Quoting Coach Shephard
'Teenie is working hard to make an even bigger impact from the one she made last year as a freshman. Her best event is vault, but she is training all four and we are hoping she can contribute on all four.'
Inside Women's Gymnastics: A Q&A with Kristina