Women's Gymnastics Coach Judi Avener has a word for the gymnasts who comprise the heart and soul of her team, those who perform with routine consistency.

"Rocks."

Avener usually reserves praise like that for veterans such as Allison Barber and the three tri-captains.

But Tracy Kerner is an exception.

Sunday afternoon, the freshman from Meadowbrook made that clear. After all, she was competing in her first-ever collegiate meet against Georgia, the nation's No. 2 team --a little apprehension would be expected.

But Kerner registered a 9.6 on both the uneven bars and the floor exercise on her way to a 37.85 all-around score in Penn State's 192.9-188.4 loss. In addition, fellow freshmen Karen Cimochowski and Kerry Slattery added solid routines on the bars and beam, respectively.

"I thought it was a really good start," Kerner said. "I'm really happy I could just help out so much."

Kerner said the support of her teammates helped alleviate some of the pressure of her first collegiate competition.

"I was confident, but with the team behind you, you feel a lot more confident," she added.

Her coach had confidence as well.

"I've watched Tracy for many years now," Avener said. "I knew that she had the potential to do that --to be a rock.

"Every meet that I've ever seen . . . she's been just steady eddy."

But against such a potent rival in her first collegiate meet?

"I think it was a good balance between pressure and excitement," Avener said of her freshmen. "You're always going to feel pressure if you care about what you do."

"We don't really try and concentrate on who the opponent is, it's just blue and white," Kerner added.

That kind of focus has led to unparalleled team unity.

"Our team is really close, that's one of the things we concentrate on," Kerner said. "It's not like freshman, sophomore, junior, senior --we're all one unit out there."

Avener credited the senior tri-captains -- Jada Hiltabrand, Janice Rogers and Laurie Russo --for endorsing Penn State's cohesion.

"I think the seniors are learning to be leaders," Avener said. "It's hard for them because they've been followers for three years now.

"Obviously we have some freshmen who know how to compete and handle the pressure."

Obviously -- and the rocks keep piling up.