It's a wintry Saturday night, and the clock reads 9:47. The Penn State women's gymnastics team has just completed another meet at Rec Hall and uneven bar specialist Kelly Streicher is wearing a bulky ice bag around her right wrist. The omnipresent smile is gone from the gymnast's face, and in its place is an expression of exhaustion, fatigue and discomfort.

Streicher, however, is content and pleased that her wrist is still attached. After all that the junior co-captain has been through, this satisfaction is reasonable.

Streicher's right arm is scarred permanently from multiple surgeries and operations. The longest scar is seven inches long and extends along the underside of her wrist. The most prominent wound is a pinkish hue and sits atop Streicher's wrist like a nightcrawler. Holes in the gymnast's skin serve as visual reminders of the numerous arthroscopic surgeries.

With her multiple accomplishments, Streicher seemed destined for greatness. The 1998 national uneven bar champion and Colorado State champion from 1996-1999, Streicher starred for the Colorado Aerials club team and attended St. Mary's H.S. in her native Colorado Springs.

While working on the uneven bars in practice during her senior year, Streicher's grip locked on the bar, but the gymnast continued swinging.

The grip lock caused the growth plates in her wrist and elbow to break, but the ulna, one of the bones in the forearm, was not broken. After allowing her arm to heal, Streicher tore her forearm shortly after returning from injury.

Soon after, a piece of the ulna near the wrist died. The dead bone was removed, and an eight-inch plate and screws were imbedded in Streicher's wrist.

Due to a premature return from injury and a bad piece of luck, Streicher's first day back from injury was a tragic one.

"I went to do a handstand, and my arm broke again," Streicher said. "Everything had to be redone."

The daughter of two Penn State graduates, Streicher redshirted her freshman season in order to completely heal from injury. During one practice routine on the bars, the screws in Streicher's wrist started coming out, and the hardware was removed.

At the end of last season, Streicher, who lacks cartilage in that wrist, had some more bone removed from her arm, and the completing of the 2003 season will bring about another surgery. With the multiple injuries and constant pain, Streicher's resilience is inspirational.

"Most gymnasts would have quit by now, had they been in her shoes," Penn State women's gymnastics assistant coach Jessica Bastardi said. "She has a good head on her shoulders, and she does whatever it takes."

In spite of the setbacks and injuries, Streicher has continued with a positive attitude and outlook.

Penn State's squad consists of 12 gymnasts, six of whom are seniors. When voting for its co-captains, the team did not even hesitate to name Streicher one of its leaders.

"With so many seniors on the team, being named captain has been the biggest honor for me," Streicher said.

Penn State women's gymnastics coach Steve Shephard is very pleased with Streicher's attitude and leadership.

"Kelly's a great leader, and she's one of the toughest people I know," Shephard said, adding, "The fact that she's even competing is nothing short of a miracle."

Due to the gymnast's attitude, Bastardi believes that Streicher will one day find incredible success.

"I expect her to have a star on the Walk of Fame someday," Bastardi said.