CAREER BESTS
| Event | Score | Date | Meet |
| Vault | 9.600 | 2/4/17 | Michigan State |
| Balance Beam | 9.700 | 2/4/17 | Michigan State |
2018 (Sophomore Year)
Competed in two exhibitions on the balance beam during the 2018 season…Tallied a score of 9.725 on the balance beam at the Pittsburgh Quad Meet (3/4).
2017 (Freshman Year)
Competed in four meets during her freshman season...Opened her Nittany Lion career with a 9.675 on the balance beam and a 9.475 on the vault at Illinois (1/29)...Posted career-best scores of 9.600 (vault) and 9.700 (balance beam) against Michigan State (2/4).
Gymnastics Background
Trained at the US Gymnastics Development Center under coaches Ana Tutes-Deflorio & Sergei Vaitenok in Mahwah, New Jersey...Competed for ENA Paramus under coaches Jen and Craig Zappa...2016 nationals qualifier...At 2016 regionals, Waddell finished third in the all-around, second on the vault, third on the balance beam and fourth on the floor exercise...Finished fourth on the beam and seventh on the vault at the 2014 Junior Olympic National meet...2014 Level 10 regional all-around, balance beam and vault champion...Placed first on the beam and third on the vault at the 2014 Level 10 state meet...Finished seventh on the vault and eighth on the floor exercise at the 2013 Junior Olympics meet...Scored a 9.45 to capture the balance beam title at 2013 Level 10 regional meet...Silver medalist at the 2013 level 10 regional meet on the vault with a 9.775...Received a bronze medal in the all-around at the 2013 Level 10 regional meet with a 37.15...Earned a pair of bronze medals at the 2013 Level 10 New Jersey state meet on the vault (9.625) and the all-around (37.10).
Personal
Mikayla Waddell was born on October 7, 1997, in Hammonton, New Jersey...Daughter of Tom and Lori Waddell...Has two sisters, Meghan and Brianna O’Toole...Simone Biles is her favorite athlete, “The Nightmare Before Christmas” is her favorite movie, “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” is her favorite TV show, steak and mashed potatoes is her favorite meal, and Italy is her dream vacation destination...Human development and family studies major.
Why Penn State
“I chose Penn State because it feels like one big family everywhere you go.”