SIX CAREER EVENT TITLES (SIX FLOOR EXERCISE TITLES)
CAREER BESTS
| Event | Score | Date | Meet |
| Vault | 9.800 | 3/17/19 | at WVU Quad Meet |
| Balance Beam | 9.875 | 3/7/21 | at Ohio State |
| Floor Exercise | 9.925 | 1/23/21 | Nebraska |
2021- JUNIOR SEASON
Awards: Selected Academic All-Big Ten
Season: Competed in all 11 meets for the Nittany Lions, setting a career-high of 9.925 against Nebraska.
Meet-by-Meet: Maryland (1/17): Opened the season by winning on floor exercise with a 9.875 score. Nebraska (1/23): Set a career-high on floor with a score of 9.925. At Minnesota (1/30): Placed fourth on floor with a score of 9.875. At Maryland (2/5): Posted a score of 9.825 on floor. Illinois (2/13): Recorded a score of 9.850 on floor. Penn State Tri-Meet (2/21): Won on beam with a score of 9.900 and set a career-high on floor with a 9.850 Big Five Meet (2/27): Recorded a floor score of 9.825. At Ohio State Quad Meet (3/7): Placed fifth on floor exercise with a score of 9.875 and set a new career-high on beam with a 9.875. At Rutgers (3/13): Recorded a score of 9.750 on floor. Big Ten Championships (3/20): Added a floor exercise score of 9.850. NCAA Regional First Round: Posted a score of 9.825 on floor. NCAA Regional (Individual): Closed out the season with a 9.875 score on floor.
2020 – SOPHOMORE SEASON
Awards: Selected Academic All-Big Ten...Named a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar...Collected WCGA Academic All-American honors...Earned the Ann Carr Award following the Quad Meet vs. Arizona State, Cornell and Towson (2/29).
Season: Performed as a member of the floor lineup in all 10 meets…Earned one event title…Collected three scores of 9.900 or better…The 2020 season was canceled on March 12 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Meet-by-Meet: West Virginia (1/11): Collected a 9.750 on floor. at Nebraska (1/16): Secured a 9.850 on floor. Iowa (1/25): Finished third on floor with a 9.900. at Illinois (2/7): Notched a 9.825 on floor. at Big Five Meet (2/22): Claimed third place with a 9.900 on floor. PSU Quad Meet (2/29): Earned a career-high 9.925 on floor to win the event title. Florida (3/7): Recorded a 9.850 on floor.
2019 – FRESHMAN SEASON
Season: Competed in all 13 meets on vault and floor.
Meet-by-Meet: at Utah (1/5): Earned a 9.725 on vault to place eighth in her collegiate debut. vs. Temple, Towson (1/12): Collected first career event title, winning on floor with a 9.900…Added a 9.750 on vault, good for fifth. Ohio State (1/19): Finished third on floor with a 9.850. Minnesota (1/26): Registered a 9.850 on floor, finishing fourth. at Illinois (2/2): Had a 9.775 on floor, placing sixth. at Rutgers (2/9): Recorded a 9.750 on floor. at Big Five Meet (2/22): Collected a 9.800 on floor, good for 11th overall, and a 9.775 on vault. PSU Quad Meet (3/2): Earned a 9.900 on floor, earning her second event title of the season. at WVU Quad Meet (3/17): Collected a career-high 9.800 on vault, placing eighth…Had a 9.800 on floor, finishing ninth. Big Ten Championships (3/23): Claimed 14th on floor with a 9.875. NCAA Regional (4/5): Recorded a 9.800 on floor, placing 29th.
GYMNASTICS BACKGROUND
Competed for Action Gymnastics under coach Magdalena During...Placed sixth in the all-around, sixth on uneven bars and seventh on floor exercise at the 2018 New Jersey State Championships...Finished 15th in the all-around, fifth on vault, sixth on floor and 10th on beam in the 2018 Level 10 Regionals...Was a Level 10 Regional qualifier from 2013-18, finishing fourth on the beam in 2016 and fifth on floor in 2015...Claimed fifth in the all-around, first on vault and fourth on floor at the 2017 New Jersey State Championships, ...Competed in the Level 10 Regional, placing 12th in the all-around, seventh on floor and 10th on vault.
PERSONAL
Full name is Melissa J. Astarita…Daughter of Michael and Natalie Astarita…Majoring in science…Born on March 1, 2000 in Morganville, New Jersey.
Why Penn State?
“I chose Penn State because the atmosphere is so positive and spirited that it felt like a perfect place for my future home. It was the ideal fit academically and athletically. I am so excited and fortunate to be part of such an amazing team with supportive coaches!”