This season, the men's gymnastics team will surely experience symptoms of homesickness.

Because of conflicts with basketball, the Lions could only schedule two home dual meets. Last year, they had four dual meets at home, including a double-dual meet with the Lady Lions.

Coach Randy Jepson, who does most of the scheduling for his team, struggled with the schedule for this season.

"We submit our schedule in January, then they wait for basketball," Jepson said. "Once basketball gets done, then they go back and readjust our schedules and it just comes down to the availabilty of the facility."

Even before he arrived at Penn State, freshman J.M. Michel was looking forward to performing for the Rec Hall fans.

"It seems like all your tricks are so much easier at Rec Hall," he said. "You just have so much adrenalin."

Knowing how much his team enjoys Rec Hall competitions, Jepson did try to bring other teams to State College, but was unsuccessful. With a busy basketball schedule, he was limited in the availability of Rec Hall.

"They waited as long as August, Nebrasksa did, to try and fit us in to come here, because they owe us a trip," he said. And because of the facility constraints, we just couldn't get them in."

Assistant Athletic Director Rich Lucas attributed part of the problem to the TV scheduling of men's and women's basketball. Networks often make adjustments, causing Penn State to alter its basketball schedules, he said. Lucas added that basketball does get priority for Rec Hall competition.

"It's a conflict we're just going to have to live with until we get the new arena," he said.

On the road, the gymnasts can't help missing the energy created by the Rec Hall crowd.

"Rec Hall, to us, is the best place to compete all around the country," gymnast Tony Pansy said. "It has the best atmosphere. We wish we had more home meets."