According to the record book, it was Ohio State's turn to win the NCAA Northeastern Regional title, and it did.

After alternating first-place finishes with Ohio State for the past seven years, the Lady Lion gymnastics team lost its defending title to the Lady Buckeyes Saturday at Rec Hall. Ohio State will represent the Northeast at the NCAA Gymnastics Championship April 14-15 at the University of Georgia.

"We have enough depth that if we can get five solid routines in each event, we can score well - and that's what we did," Ohio State Coach Larry Cox said.

Both Ohio State and Penn State broke the regional team record of 186.7 (Penn State, 1986). The Lady Buckeyes scored a total of 189.65 while the Lady Lions took second with 188.35. New Hampshire finished third with 183.95.

"I feel great," Penn State Coach Judi Avener said. "The kids did a sensational job and I am really proud of them. Not winning cannot take away from the joy I feel right now."

Sophomore Kira Rohm, who tied for first on the uneven bars, will definitely represent the Lady Lions in Georgia. Lynn Crane and Kim Thrasher are awaiting the results of the other regionals, which will determine if they will advance to nationals in the all-around.

"I was surprised, but I knew I could hit my bar routine and I knew I had to hit it for the team score," Rohm said. "Going up last really helped out a lot. We started off great and after five people nailed their routines, I was really fired up to nail mine too."

"We are really excited about (Kira)," Avener said. "She's a great bar worker and it will be good for her to gain some national exposure."

Ohio State's Monica Stavros tied with Rohm for first place. Sophomore Crane took third with a 9.5.

On beam, Ohio State took all three slots. Julie Sommers and Debbie Black tied for first place with scores of 9.65. Stavros took third with a 9.55.

The Lady Buckeyes also fared exceptionally well on the floor exercise. Stavros tied a regional record with her score of 9.7. Minutes later, teammate Sommers broke the record with a 9.8 for first place. Crane and IUP's Rose Johnson tied for third with scores of 9.6.

On vault, New Hampshire's Lori Brady broke a regional record with her score of 9.8 and took the first place slot. Freshman Kim Thrasher took second with a 9.65. Sommers and Stavros tied for third with 9.6.

In the all-around, Stavros and Sommers broke the regional record set in 1986 by Penn State's Pam Loree with an identical score of 38.5. Thrasher and Crane each scored 37.85 to tie for third.

Avener acknowledged the fact that Ohio State, which returned three all-arounders who placed at last year's regionals, had a lot of experienced upperclassmen while Penn State is a fairly young team.

"They (Ohio State) had a lot of leadership at the top," Avener said. "I felt that that's where the battle was going to be fought. They had more experience than we did. But our kids did a great job and we are really a team to be reckoned with in the future."

Next year, however, the Lady Lions will lose a critical member of the team, captain Debbie O'Brien. After having knee surgery last season, O'Brien defeated the odds when she came back this year to compete in the all-around.

"Debbie has really done a great job for us," said Avener."She has always given her best and shown her Penn State pride. What you see out there doing her floor routine, that is Debbie O'Brien. She gives that kind of energy and joy to whatever she does and I'm really going to miss her. She has brought a lot to Penn State.

"She came up to me after the meet crying and she said, 'I'm sorry I let you down.' and I almost started crying myself and I said, 'You didn't let me down, you did a great job.' "

"I am really proud to have coached her. She has given a lot to the team and to her younger teammates."