Gymwomen heading to NCAA championships

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Pack the suntan lotion and sunglasses. The Penn State women's gymnastics team is headed to Florida.

The goal for the Lady Lions all season was to win the Northeast Regionals and head to the NCAA championships in Gainesville, Fla. And in stunning fashion they accomplished both Saturday here at Ohio State with an overall score of 194.15. Penn State edged the Buckeyes and Kent State, which finished tied for second with a score of 193.8.

The tension of the competition was evident during the final rotation, as the Lady Lions were on bars, the Buckeyes on floor and Kent State on beam. Heading into this rotation, Penn State was in third place (145.075), Kent State second (145.55) and Ohio State led (145.675).

The Lady Lions stepped up their performances, as freshman Ashley Wilson started off with a 9.75. Her routine was followed by a 9.8 by junior Joanna Knox, a 9.825 by sophomore Janae Whittaker, a 9.825 by freshman Nikki Smith, a 9.875 by sophomore Missy Leopoldus and a 9.625 by sophomore Ellen Casey.

Ohio State had problems on floor, as Susan Eckman suffered a fall and Kelly Harper registered a 9.275. Kent State had a strong beam rotation, as senior Michelle Naessing received a 9.725. After all the participants were finished, the waiting began.

In what seemed like an eternity, the final team scores were read. As the announcement was made that Ohio State and Kent State tied for second, the Lady Lions went wild.

"The last half hour after we were done and were waiting for the score was just agonizing," Penn State senior Bea Selz said. "But I just kept praying hoping that we won, and we did so I couldn't be happier. I'm the happiest person in the world right now."

Lady Lion coach Steve Shephard knew the results before his gymnasts did and was extremely proud of what the team accomplished.

"It was just a great feeling and a great show of emotion on their part when they found out they won," he said. "I thought that's what we do this for. That's what makes it all worth it."

The top finisher in the all-around for Penn State was Whittaker, who finished second (38.9). Casey was the next highest Lady Lion finisher, placing ninth (38.725).

The Lady Lions' road to victory Saturday seemed faint after their first rotation of the evening on beam. After a strong routine by senior Leigh Cappello (9.475), Casey fell on the apparatus and received a 9.175. Whittaker did not fall on her routine, nailing her dismount and finishing with a 9.575. After a fall by Leopoldus (8.85), Smith picked the team up with a confident routine, registering a 9.725. Senior Nicole Malinak finished off the rotation with a clean routine and a 9.675.

Shephard pointed to nerves as a cause for the problems on beam.

"It's a classic case of putting too much pressure on themselves," he said. "Both Ellen and Missy were really scared and nervous, and they just tried too hard."

After the rough start, the Lady Lions composed themselves after a bye and put together a spectacular floor rotation. Senior Leigh Cappello nailed all her moves during her exercise and finished with a 9.85, taking first place in the event.

"I was really excited. It went very well," Cappello said. "I went out there thinking about doing the same thing I normally do and hoping to get a good performance for the team."

Leopoldus finished tied for second with Naessing with a score of 9.825. Selz, coming back from a shoulder injury, had a confident look throughout her exercise and received a 9.75.

"I was really happy with it," Selz said. "I don't think I could have done much more. I just wanted to really go out and be really aggressive and maximize my tumbling and just stay really clean."

As the Lady Lions head to NCAAs, Shephard said that although one goal has been accomplished the team still has one to go.

"Our intentions are to go in and make it into the Super Six at nationals," he said. "I think we have a good opportunity to do that."