The fast-paced, pressure-filled USA Winter Cup last weekend in Colorado Springs, Colo., ended with an exclamation point for gymnasts Mike Masucci and Tony Pansy.

But for gymnast Brandy Wood, it ended with a question mark.

Wood, who placed eighth with 95.55, fell just short of making the seven-person Junior National Elite team.

"If you're going to miss the team, it's better to miss it by a few places," Wood said. "It's so much worse to just miss it by one."

Wood ran into a setback when his hand grip broke before his high bar routine. But a little advice from Assistant Coach Vladimir Novikov helped Wood to finish with an 8.7.

"He told me, 'It's just a piece of leather. Just do what you have to,' " Wood said.

Senior Mike Masucci also did what he had to, securing one of the 14 spots on the Senior National team. Masucci, who placed fifth overall with 103.65, captured third-place finishes on the pommel horse and the parallel bars.

"On my first event, vault, I had a little trouble," Masucci said. "But parallel bars was next, and I nailed that set, which just got me excited for the rest of the meet."

Jepson was very pleased that Masucci finally made the Senior National team.

"He doesn't have that many more opportunities left in his career," Jepson said. "And he wants to make the best of every opportunity."

Masucci made the best of this one by preparing himself both physically and mentally for the two days of gruelling competition.

"You just got off your event, put your grips on for the next event, and you were up again," Masucci said. "We had a TV timeout, and I was like, 'Thank God' because I needed to catch my breath."

Freshman Tony Pansy also had to adjust to the fast pace of the meet, especially in light of an infection that affected his performance.

"The second day I was just real weak and I felt sick," Pansy said. "But I had to compete anyway."

Pansy had a solid meet, placing sixth with 96.9 and earning a spot on the Junior National Elite team.

"He really focused in and competed really hard on the last two events when he knew it was close," Jepson said.

Pansy and Masucci will represent the United States in international competitions. Masucci will compete at the World University Game Trials in May at Buffalo, N.Y.

"That's a really big meet," Masuccl said. "It's like a mini Olympics for people who just got out of or are still in college."

Masucci, Pansy and Wood will now focus on their immediate future with the Nittany Lions.

"We have Michigan State this weekend, and I still have to hit six routines," Masucci said, "so starting this week, making the national team is in the back of my mind."