Humilty, determination keys to Casey's success

The pressure was on Ellen Casey as she prepared for her second vault at the Big Ten Championships on Mar. 21.

"My mind was set to do two pikes," Casey said. "I don't think there was a question."

She did the pike solidly and received a 9.7. All that remained was the all-around.

As the scores were read, each was lower than Casey's. After the second-place winner was announced, the title was hers. Junior Janae Whittaker noticed a smile on Casey's face when her shock subsided.

"You always know Ellen did well when her face lights up," she said.

Shephard added, "She was sitting there, waiting, then she realized she won and it was cute watching her."

In the stands, her father, William Casey, jumped out of his seat when his daughter won the title.

"When Ellen won the all-around it was even more enjoyable," he said. "It was a great thrill."

Casey was more humble about her Big Ten achievement.

"I was really happy, it is a great feeling," she said. "I think we were so close to winning as a team and that really would have been so much more meaningful. That's what I was thinking about, not the individual."

The explanation Casey offered about her victory is consistent with her personality. In a nutshell, she has a great deal of humility.

"I definitely think that I am determined," she said. "If I find something that means something to me, then I work for it."

And that is what Whittaker sees in Casey. A strong work ethic which, in Whittaker's words, "pushes her to the top." She also observed a sense of constant improvement that her teammate strives for.

"She's always looking for things to do better, to be a better gymnast and person," Whittaker said.

This approach to gymnastics has made her one of the top athletes on the Lions. She is the school's all-time record holder on floor (9.95) and bars (9.925). Her name appears several times in each category and also in vault, where she is in fourth place (9.875).

One of the toughest moments in Casey's career at Penn State occurred at the start of the season when it was discovered she had a herniated disc in her back. The pain was there in her sophomore year and intensified as time went on. Finally, between Thanksgiving and Christmas, the soreness was so bad something had to be done.

William Casey said the main concern was if the ailment would have any lifelong effects on his daughter. When he went to Hershey Medical Center, he left reassured Ellen would not be dealing with "long-lasting pain."

She underwent an epidural, which lessened the pain, but Casey could not work out for a period of time.

The time off the mat was frustrating but she battled through the pain and competed in every event for several meets. She said the phrase, ''No regrets, live in the present'' took on an important meaning as she faced the ordeal.

"I'm definitely appreciative of every day that I work out because for two months I couldn't and there was just no possible way," she said. "I've been fortunate enough to be pretty much okay through the whole season."

Shephard sees in Casey the willingness to go the extra mile when she needs to and the ability to be a leader by the example she sets.

"She's every coach's dream," Shephard said. "I'd like to clone her."