Lindsey Montross may no longer compete for the team, but she is still part of the Penn State women's gymnastics family.
And as such, Montross will be honored alongside her fellow seniors on the Nittany Lions' senior night Saturday at 7 p.m. at Rec Hall.
"I'm very grateful for everything coach [Steve] Shephard has done for me," Montross said. "After I was put on medical, he still he recognized me as part of the team."
Montross, who last competed for the Lions on Feb. 21, 2009 - her only appearance that season -- suffered multiple dislocated knee cap injuries to her left knee during her career. Due to the injuries, the knee was no longer aligned properly, and doctors had to fix it in May 2008 through a rare procedure known as a Fulkerson osteotomy.
The procedure effectively ended Montross' gymnastics career.
"It was a long road to recovery," Montross said. "It took a lot of time to even get back to 80 percent, and I was never able to get back to where I was."
Montross still contributes to the team, though, doing marketing work for the Lions. It's not the same as competing, but she is still honored that she is still recognized as part of the team.
And when Montross is recognized as one of the graduating seniors, she isn't sure how she is going to react.
"It's going to be bittersweet," said Montross, who Shephard approached last week about being honored on senior night. "I didn't get to compete my last year but ... I came to Penn State and had three good years with the team, and I got a great education out of it, and I learned some really valuable life lessons being here.
"I feel like I still came out with something as equal as a Big Ten trophy."
