Phone: 814-863-2435 Email: jjb8@psu.edu
Assistant coach Jessica Bastardi has been around Penn State gymnastics as a participant or coach all but one year since 1984. Having the opportunity to be coached by and work with former head coach Judi Markell (Avener) as well as working with head coach Steve Shephard has honed Bastardi for her role as Penn State[apos]s assistant coach. Shephard believes Bastardi[apos]s greatest asset to the Nittany Lion team is her loyalty to the program. Bastardi brings the stability and knowledge garnered from more than 20 years of involvement in the Penn State program. [quote]She understands what our program is about here at Penn State,[quote] Shephard stated. [quote]She carries on the tradition of excellence.[quote] Bastardi hopes that her enthusiasm for the sport will carry over to the team. Nevertheless, Bastardi is quick to point out that coaching is more than just enthusiasm. [quote]Ninety percent of coaching is dealing with the minds of our student-athletes and their self-confidence and getting them to believe in themselves,[quote] Bastardi said. [quote]There is a lot of pain and hard work in gymnastics.[quote] The combination of her athletic background, her knowledge of what Penn State offers both academically and athletically, and being able to work with two of Penn State women[apos]s gymnastics[apos] most successful head coaches has been a huge plus for her as a coach. Although involved in all four events, Bastardi[apos]s main emphasis in the gym is beam and floor, and she is responsible for the choreography on both events. [quote]Our mission is to reach beyond our grasp and instill lessons that will make an athletes[apos] participation a foundation for continued success throughout life,[quote] said Bastardi. [quote]Both Steve and I believe that the tangible goals of being in the elite of women[apos]s gymnastics and winning conference and national titles should teach foundational lessons for some things that an athlete may consider intangible now, but is actually a stepping stone to greater things beyond gymnastics. [quote]Our success as a team and as coaches does not end with graduation, but is something that must go beyond. We hope we are teaching our athletes this, and that their gymnastics careers here set the stage for great things in their future. It is very gratifying when I see the successes achieved in the lives of our athletes after they leave us here at Penn State, for as educators and coaches, it means we are doing our job.[quote] The former Jessica Strunck came from a close knit family of 10, with five boys and three girls, all excellent athletes in their respective sports. The combination of talent, competition and hard work learned as a child paid off in her gymnastics career as she was part of the team that placed sixth at the NCAA Championships in 1986 and was captain of the team in 1988, winning the Atlantic 10 Conference floor and vault title as a senior. She graduated from Penn State in 1989 and is married to meteorologist and former Penn Stater Joe Bastardi, who graduated in 1978 and lettered in wrestling. The couple resides in Boalsburg, Pa. and have two children Garrett, 12, and Jessie, 10.