The tears in Penn State gymnast Maria Taylor's eyes said it all.

As she walked out to the center of Rec Hall to be wrapped up in her blue "S" blanket and hug her teammates and coaches, it hit her.

She had just finished competing at Rec Hall for the last time in her collegiate career.

Penn State honored its seniors (including Taylor and Gemma Cuff) and Jennifer Drilling and E'Tona Ford, the two members of the Lions team that won't be returning to the team next season, at the quadrangular meet held Saturday night against Alabama, Rutgers and Cornell.

Penn State finished second to Alabama, scoring a 196.650 behind the Crimson Tide's 197.525.

"It's a little overwhelming," Taylor's mom Pat Taylor said about her daughter's career coming to a close. "She's been on a team since she was seven. It's exciting but it's sad too. It's the end of a wonderful experience."

Taylor had a record-setting senior season tying Penn State's individual record on bars scoring a 9.950.

Cuff and Taylor hid any signs of nervousness throughout the meet Saturday. Taylor finished second on bars with a 9.925, and third on beam with a 9.900. Cuff tied for second on floor scoring a 9.925.

"It's weird," Taylor said. "You want to do well. You want to go out on a good note. You try not to think about it while you're competing. I don't think its quite hit me yet."

Cuff had the same type of reaction.

"After my floor routine was over, I realized that was going to be the last time I was ever going to do that here."

Although their careers at Rec Hall may be over, Cuff and Taylor still have a few more meets to compete in, including the Big Ten Championships March 24, before they leave the gymnastics world as competitors for good.

But even then, they won't really be leaving. For now, their names will remain in the back of the Penn State gymnastics media guide as reminders of their accomplishments and achievements as Penn State athletes.