For the second straight week, Penn State set its season record for most points in a meet at Rec Hall.
The Nittany Lions beat Ohio State, 195.575-194.675 on Saturday.
“I think last week was a big confidence booster for everyone,” sophomore Lexi Carroll said. “It was a reality check that we are capable of doing what we do in the White Building and bringing it to Rec Hall.”
The meet was one of the most consistent for the Lions, who scored higher than a 48.775 on each event, while being led by senior Sharaya Musser’s event-high 39.400 score on the all-around.
“We’re capable of hitting all 24 routines,” coach Jeff Thompson said. “Today we did a better job of doing what we do in the gym.”
After two events, Penn State had a slim .075 lead over the Buckeyes. The Lions’ third event was the balance beam, where they had struggled in the previous meet.
Junior Kassidy Stauder got the Lions started with a 9.800 score and the team never looked back.
“I think that was the turning point of the meet,” Thompson said. “That beam routine made the difference for us for the rest of the meet.”
Stauder would go on to win the Ann Carr Award for most inspirational Penn State gymnast of the meet.
The meet was also a unique one for the team as it was Breast Cancer Awareness night and a dual meet, in which both school’s men and women’s gymnastics teams compete.
“Sometimes they try harder when it’s a dual meet because you go back and forth; everyone’s watching them,” Thompson said.
The gymnasts also wore pink uniforms for breast cancer awareness, which the coach said was “special” for them.
Freshman Samantha Musto also made her return after missing last week’s meet with a knee injury. Musto competed in balance beam and uneven bars scoring a combined 19.300.
“We put her under an extreme amount of pressure in the gym on Friday and she proved that she deserved a spot,” Thompson said.
After the meet, Musto said her knee felt “good” and “every day it’s feeling better.”
Senior Madison Merriam, who was injured in the same meet as Musto, competed in three events after competing in two last week.
Penn State posted a 49.000 on vault, 48.775 on uneven bars, 48.900 score on balance beam and on floor exercise.
The Lions’ next meet is Feb. 10 against Nebraska.
