Former gymwoman returns to alma mater as coach

When looking at biographies of coaches or professors at Penn State, anyone will find that several of them are University alumni. This is no different for the Penn State women's gymnastic program.

Until late last spring, the Lady Lions had only one coach who had the knowledge of the history of Penn State gymnastics. Now they have a second.

Along with Jessica Bastardi, former Lady Lion gymnast Rene Lyst has returned to her alma mater after a three-year stint as an assistant coach at the University of Massachusetts.

Lady Lion coach Steve Shephard said Penn State approached Lyst when she was looking for a job. When the opportunity knocked, she answered.

"I think she's happy to be here. I think she's a true-blue Penn Stater at heart," Shephard said. "I think she likes it here. It's like a second home for her."

The move back to Happy Valley was a little tough for Lyst. She and Minutewomen coach Dave Kuzara had become friends, and it was hard leaving a team she helped mold for three years. However, the chance to return to a place she had so many memories with was too good to pass up.

"It was something that was attractive to me just because I love Penn State," Lyst said. "I didn't leave with bad feelings at all with Dave. I talk to him about every week. We're good friends, and I care a lot about the team there because I put a lot of time and effort, and they are doing well so that makes me proud to know that I was a part of that."

What Lyst brings to the Lady Lions is not only the rich tradition of Penn State women's gymnastics teams of the past but also a youthful exuberance that has been with her since she started participating in gymnastics. Senior Leigh Cappello said Lyst's upbeat personality is evident in the gym, as she helps the team stay loose.

"She's real lighthearted. She's real peppy. She always has a smile on her face," Cappello said. "She has a lot to do with the team's happiness. She is always real positive with us."

Lyst said her parents started her in the sport as a way of putting her high energy to work outside the house.

"I was one of those type of kids who would run all over the house, climb over the furniture," she said. "They put me in gymnastics, and it was a challenge for me. You learn a skill, and then you master it and then you learn something else. It was a continual challenge that kind of got me hooked."

The event Lyst has excelled at from an early age has been beam. She said balance, along with flexibility, has been her strong area. In addition to beam, floor is an event Lyst has been strong at.

"I was a pretty good dancer and could do a lot of dance moves," she said.

Since she was 9 years old until she enrolled at Penn State, Lyst competed for Docksiders Gymnastics in Annapolis, Md. When she was in high school, Lyst met Cappello.

Cappello, who was in elementary school at the time both of them were in the club, said the younger gymnasts looked up to the older girls. During the time they were at Docksiders, Cappello and Lyst became good friends. Cappello remembers when Lyst made her decision to come to Penn State and, after that, Cappello knew she wanted to come to State College, too.

The titles of the two may be different today, as Lyst is a coach and Cappello a gymnast. But the fact they know each other so well makes the relationship more of a "friend-type coach," Lyst said.

"I think that coming here and coaching with her has kind of helped me because I know her personality," said Lyst, a 1993 Penn State graduate. "I know her family well so I kind of know what she is about."

Like most students who decide to come to Penn State, Lyst said she "fell in love" with the University. Although West Virginia, New Hampshire and other smaller schools were on her mind, the trip to State College was all it took.

"I really liked West Virginia at the time before I came to Penn State," she said, "but definitely coming up here changed my mind."

The four years that followed were filled with great memories for Lyst and the Lady Lions. In her sophomore year of 1991, Penn State placed fifth at the NCAA championships and the following year moved up one spot to fourth. Lyst's accomplishments included winning the Big Ten championship on beam in 1992 and becoming the regional champion in the event in 1991 and 1993.

Lyst said the 1991 season was magical, with seniors Kira Rohm, Lynn Crane and Paula Bright being "awesome" leaders. The moment she is reminded of from that year is watching the top four teams on the awards stand at NCAAs. The next year Lyst and her teammates were on that stand.

"Placing fourth the next year was kind of a culmination of things," she said. "We were sitting there like, 'We can be up there. We can be on the award stand.' To actually have it come true was very fulfilling."

The link to those successful teams of the past has been a driving force for the current Lady Lions. Cappello remembered when sophomore Missy Leopoldus asked Lyst what was the difference between her team and the current one.

"She's been there and is willing to help us out," Leopoldus said. "I wanted to know what it took and what we needed to do."

Leopoldus said Lyst told her it took a commitment to each other and the team. She believes the team has followed Lyst's example and has followed what she has done.

Lyst said the advice to the gymnasts is not to be afraid of what they're doing. Pushing them to do the best all the time is something Lyst does.

"I think that's me by nature to really go out and attack things," she said, "especially when they get really tough."

Shephard said although Lyst can be demanding at times, she is positive with the athletes.

"Rene is a supportive and understanding person with a lot of common sense. That helps her as a coach," he said. "She tries to build the athletes up and make them believe in themselves."

The future looks bright for Lyst, as she recently completed her master's degree in sports management at Massachusetts. Her ultimate goal is to be in charge of her own gymnastics program, primarily staying at the college level. Getting her master's helped make that decision.

"Everything I did was focusing on that goal of mine and staying involved with the sport," she said. "I'm sure along the way I might have to go here or there to achieve that."

Wherever that may be, Shephard knows Lyst has much potential and is motivated to do a good job. Cappello knows Lyst will do well in whatever she does.

"Whether it is coaching or some other related field," Cappello said, "I know she'll do great."