At the beginning of the 2003 season, six Penn State women's gymnasts and one former gymnast, now a student coach, set out on a mission.

The mission entailed seven seniors that included Leslie Bair, Nikki Bongiovanni, Dana Cuomo, Sarah DiPasquale, Katie McAvoy, Katie Rowland and Julia Stoloski creating a lasting impact on the younger gymnasts and the program.

As McAvoy and Rowland finished their final routines this past Thursday at the NCAA Championships in Lincoln, Neb., it brought a memorable season to a final close.

"As a group, they were one of the most dedicated groups we've had in terms of work ethic, and dedication in and out of the gym," Penn State women's gymnastics coach Steve Shephard said. "Academically they've all done a great job and they are really going to be very sorely missed."

Even though co-captain Bair suffered a knee injury that would limit her competing ability throughout the 2003 season, she put together a strong ending to her career. The final senior home meet versus the University of Florida, Temple and Yale, proved to be Bair's best meet of the season. She posted a 9.825 on the uneven bars, setting a season and a career high, plus a 9.900 that tied her career high on balance beam. At the Big Ten Championships, Bair also managed to set a season high in the floor exercise by scoring a 9.800.

"I've been able to experience so much with [the seniors] over the four years," Bair said. "Watching them grow, change, mature, and seeing how they handle each situation, it is interesting to be with the same group of people and since it is such a major part of the team that is what makes this group so special."

Although Bair did not get a chance to compete in the all-around this season, her constant smiles guided the team in a cheerful manner. With gymnastics being over for Bair, she will look to graduate with a degree in human development and family studies this December. Bair's lighthearted manner will benefit her future work with children.

Bongiovanni, who has been tabbed the comeback fifth-year senior, proved that she can overcome all the odds while putting together a successful season. The 23-year-old set a career high on vault at West Virginia by posting a 9.875 and then tied the high at Minnesota. She also added a career high (9.925) on beam against intrastate rival Pittsburgh. Bongiovanni also added season-high scores of 9.875 on the uneven bars versus Nebraska, 9.775 against Denver and Iowa State, plus a 38.900 in the all-around at the Super Six Challenge.

"By far this was my most enjoyable year here," Bongiovanni said. "Overall, the experience with them [the seniors] was great, I would have not changed it for the world and I am really happy that I stayed around for another year so I could go through it with them."

Bongiovanni, who graduates next week with a degree in media studies, will look to pursue a career with Antigravity, a gymnastics based company that performs on Broadway and participated in the opening ceremonies of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, Utah, in New York City. If that doesn't work, she will look to establish a career with ESPN or even turn to coaching. Cuomo, who is in the Schreyer Honors College, became the uneven bars specialist this season. The former walk-on set her season and career high against Nebraska by posting a 9.850 on bars. Cuomo plans to graduate in December with a history degree, but this fall she will spend studying abroad.

DiPasquale, who suffered an early career knee injury, also plans to graduate in December. Forced to stop competing, DiPasquale took over coaching and helping her teammates choreograph their beam and floor routines, while also being in charge of creating and mixing the music for the warm-up dance and floor routines. The food science major is planning on becoming a food microbiologist.

Summing up the season as being very emotional, McAvoy has proved her dominance. Her 9.950 against Nebraska on the uneven bars set a career and a school record. McAvoy also posted season highs on beam (9.900) and floor (9.850) against Minnesota. She then went on to post a 9.925 on vault during senior night. After qualifying for the NCAA Championships by finishing fourth in the all-around at the NCAA Northeast Regional Championships, McAvoy ended her career by posting a 19th finish in the event.

"This has been one of the best teams I have ever been with and trained with," she said. "Everyone got along so well this year and it was fun."

McAvoy, a hotel restaurant and institutional management major, plans to graduate in May 2004 in hopes of working at a resort or golf club in sales and marketing.

Rowland, the Big Ten Gymnast of the Year and four time 2003 Big Ten gymnast of the week, capped off a successful career with a groundbreaking year. She set three school records, two on senior night. The first came against West Virginia when she recorded her first career 10.0 on vault. Senior night produced a 10.0 on beam and the all-around record (39.775). She then scored another 10.0 on vault at the Big Ten Championships, while also winning the all-around. After qualifying on vault and the floor exercise at the NCAA Regional Championships, Rowland finished her career by tying for ninth-place on vault and 16th-place on floor at the NCAA Championships.

"I think we set a good example for the freshmen coming in," she said. "We tried to instill a tradition and what it takes to be a Penn State gymnast."

Rowland, who is set to graduate in December with an administration of justice degree, will look to land a job dealing with criminal justice and maybe coach gymnastics on the side.

Stoloski contributed to the program with her hard work ethic and continuing dedication in making herself and the team better. Her highlight came on senior night when she performed in the floor exercise. An education major, Stoloski will graduate in May 2004 after student teaching in England in the spring. She then plans to teach elementary (first-third grade) children.

"We were a really tight-knit group that have been through a lot these last four years," she said. "We had a great senior season and I am going to miss all of them."

With all seven seniors starting gymnastics at such young ages, the retirement of their blue and white leotards will leave behind a legacy and open up a new world for the gymnasts.

"It is really, really hard to lose such a great class," Penn State assistant coach Jessica Bastardi said. "They really changed the face of Penn State gymnastics for the better and they are going to be hard to replace."