Where they finish is more important than where they start.
That's the motto the Penn State men's gymnastics team has adopted as it starts the season at No. 6 in the 2010 GymInfo Preseason Coaches poll.
The Nittany Lions have had success in previous seasons when ranked outside the top five, so the team isn't dwelling too much on this ranking.
"There have been years where we have won when we were ranked sixth, so we don't take any stock in them," Penn State coach Randy Jepson said. "Its publicity purposes more than anything."
The Lions started last season No. 5 and ended the year ranked seventh, failing to qualify for the NCAA National Championships.
Jepson said he had not yet looked at the rankings, but was surprised when he found out the team was ranked so high. This is not because of lack of talent on the team, but rather then, the inexperience of the team that is breaking in nine true freshmen.
The No. 6 ranking also surprised some of the returning gymnasts. While he said the preseason polls don't mean much, senior Allen Harris said he was interested to see where the Lions ranked among Big Ten competitors. Only Michigan and Illinois start the season ahead of the Lions, but Harris expected to be behind more schools.
"Last year was a rough year for us, so I wouldn't be expecting to be ranked exceptionally high," Harris said. "But I was more concerned with who in the Big Ten was ahead of us. [Being ahead of Ohio State] kind of surprised me considering how they looked last year compared to where we were."
This year won't be any easier for Penn State because of their youth. Jepson said the toughest thing this year is that almost every other team in the nation is seasoned, while half of his team has never competed at a collegiate level.
Sophomore Matt Albrecht said the freshmen will have to get used to competing at this level because it is unlike any other competition they have previously faced.
But never seeing the young gymnasts perform on this stage could benefit the Lions.
"You have a new group of guys coming in and don't really know how they're going to compete and adapt to the new environment of college gymnastics," Albrecht said. "That new group can throw you from that sixth place we're in right now up to the top."
The coaches and the team agreed they will have to compete in a few meets before anyone can really tell where the Lions should be ranked.
Starting the season ranked at the top can lead to pressure, and Albecht said he likes where Penn State ranks.
"I always like being ranked a little lower just so no one expects you to have to stay at the top," Albrecht said.
