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Lion Career
2011 (Freshman): Competed in 11 meets on vault in 2011 ... averaged a 9.786 for the season ... scored a 9.800 or better on six occasions ... finished in the top five event finishers three times, including a second place finish with a career-high 9.875 in a quad meet at Maryland with Rutgers and William & Mary (2/18).
High School
Was a member of Apollo Gymnastics in Woodbridge, Va. ... was a 2010 Junior Olympic National Qualifier and 2009 Junior Olympic National first alternate ... earned first place on floor at Richmond Fall Classic, first on vault, bars, beam and in the all-around at the World Class Invitational, first on vault at the Cancun Classic and first one vault at the Rock n[apos] Roll Apollo meet ... was the 2009 Regional Vault Champion ... was the 2009 National Invitational vault and beam champion.
Personal
Born Kristin Michelle Blades on February 19, 1992 in Gainesville, Va. ... parents are James and Sharon Blades ... has one sister, Nicole (24), and one brother, Christopher (22) ... her aunt and uncle both attended Penn State ... sister, Nicole, was also a gymnast ... majoring in communication arts & sciences ... names listening to music, watching movies and running as favorite hobbies, Katy Perry, Jack Johnson, John Mayer and Maroon 5 as favorite entertainers, history as favorite subject, the Steelers as favorite professional sports team, David Beckham as favorite athlete, Japanese and Italian as favorite foods, 'The Last Lecture' as favorite book, 'Criminal Minds' as favorite TV show, 'Dirty Dancing' and 'Get Him to the Greek' as favorite movies, Timothy Olyphany, Josh Duhamel and Olivia Wilde as favorite actors and Rome as favorite place to visit ... her goals for the season are 'to win Big Tens, and make it to Nationals as a team.'
Why Penn State
'I chose Penn State because of the coaching staff, the support from the university, the determination of the team. I also wanted to attend a school with a strong academic reputation.'
Quoting Coach Thompson
'Kristin competed in nearly every meet for the Nittany Lions on vault in 2011. Despite having elbow surgery earlier this fall, Kristin is ready to make her mark on the Penn State program this season.'
Kristin[apos]s Favorite Quote
'Keep your dreams alive. Understand to achieve anything requires faith and belief in yourself, vision, hard work, determination, and dedication. Remember all things are possible for those who believe.' ~Gail Devers