Gymwoman Leopoldus triumphing despite injuries

Even though Penn State gymnast Missy Leopoldus could not physically prepare herself as much as she wanted to before her team traveled to the University of New Hampshire for its home opener last weekend, she found other ways to prepare.

Winning or tying for the top score in every competition, Leopoldus not only led her team to a 193.475-189.025 win against New Hampshire but nearly bested her career-high score as well. She scored a 39.2, just shy of her career best 39.35, and amazed even herself. "I was a little surprised," she said. "I just started working bars again, but everything went pretty much as expected."

The circumstances of Leopoldus' win may be as noteworthy as her solid performance. Until two weeks prior to the meet she was unable to practice on the bars due to a shoulder injury. A hyperextended knee she suffered one week ago forced Leopoldus to further cut down her workouts.

Leopoldus proved the obstacles were negotiable.

"I learned to rely on my experience and my confidence instead of relying on preparation," she said. "That's what helped this weekend. I learned how to compete."

She also learned that opening meets aren't necessarily scary experiences like they have been in the past.

While Leopoldus is unable to say why she felt so relaxed during the meet, she's more than pleased to accept it.
"I wasn't that scared. I was confident and just felt like I could do it," she said. "I don't really know why, but it's a good feeling."

While Leopoldus was pleasantly surprised with her performance, coach Steve Shephard's expectations were met.

"She's been doing it in practice," Shephard said. "She's had a few aches and pains that have held her back a bit. She is a very seasoned competitor. She just needed to rest."

Injuries aren't foreign in the world of gymnastics, however. Shephard likes to compare the sport to football -- although the women don't hit one another, they repeatedly hit the equipment.

Leopoldus, who is well aware of this, said with age she's learned to decrease the number of repetitions during workouts.

Staying injury-free for the remainder of the regular season is one of Leopoldus' goals, as she has never completed a season without missing competitions due to injury.

"I'd like to maintain throughout the whole year and contribute the whole year," she said.

Mental preparation, it seems, has become a more important factor to Leopoldus' success during her Penn State career than ever before.

"I think it's important if I don't rely on the physical aspect as much," Leopoldus said. "In gymnastics it's the mental part that's most important."

Her teammates have picked up on Leopoldus' mental strengths as well. Her experience and self-confidence have helped to motivate and guide the team.

"A lot of people look to her as a leader," junior Janae Whittaker said. "She's really confident -- especially on beam. When she's up there, she smiles and you know she's going to do well. You look to her for confidence."

Leopoldus, while focused on what she must do for this weekend's home opening meet against Illinois, also has her teammates on her mind.

"I'll be happy if I repeat what I did last week and fix a few things," she said. "And I want to continue to help the freshmen out.

"It's going to be hard for them. I think that's all our goals -- to deal with the stress of competing the second week in a row."