A career can end in the blink of an eye, and senior Jennifer Orlando knows this fact well.
After working hard since childhood to be the best gymnast she can be, Orlando's collegiate gymnastics career ended on Thursday night. At the NCAA Championships in Corvallis, Ore., she scored a 38.425 in the all-around and placed 20th. This score, however, was not high enough to allow her to move on and compete in the individual finals.
"It was exciting to be a part of [NCAA's], and I think Jen did a good job representing Penn State and our program," Penn State women's gymnastics coach Steve Shephard said.
Orlando traveled to Oregon with the University of Georgia, which took home the NCAA team title.
She started the night on vault, posting a 9.725. She then moved on to the uneven bars, where she scored a 9.775.
On the balance beam, Orlando had a little bit of trouble, falling during her routine and ending up scoring a 9.125. She picked herself up after her fall and finished the night with a 9.8 on the floor exercise.
"I thought I did well, except for beam. Unfortunately I fell, and I was disappointed with that," Orlando said. "Everywhere else I thought I did really well."
For the Nittany Lions, Orlando has been one of the most consistent performers. This year, she competed in the all-around in eight out of the 10 regular season meets. Against Ohio State, on Feb. 25, she scored her career high in the all-around, posting a 39.275. Orlando also broke her career highs on vault and beam this year.
In her previous three years, Orlando has helped the team tremendously. She's been a steady competitor on bars and beam, and this was the first year she competed in the all-around. At the Big Ten Championships during her sophomore year, she notched her career high on floor, posting a 9.9. Although she does not hold any team records, Orlando has left behind some big shoes to fill.
"She's done a great job through her four years and has really grown as a person and grown as a competitor and we are going to miss her," Shephard said.
The Lions will also be losing four other seniors. Meredith Hoover, Lisa Clark, Michelle Ilg and Erin Clayton will be graduating along with Orlando. All of them have given everything they had to Penn State and the women's gymnastics program. They will be missed both inside and outside of the gym, but the team is already looking ahead to next year.
"It's always a bittersweet moment. We are going to miss them," Shephard said. "But at the same time it's a new beginning [for] us and for them."
