Sports
Women's Gymnastics
Updated October 27, 2009 4:00 AM
Rosie Smith needed just one more warm-up on the beam before the start of the meet.
Moments later, the junior co-captain of the Penn State women's gymnastics team was on the ground of Rec Hall after crashing down on her left foot, resulting in a lisfranc fracture.
Updated September 24, 2009 4:00 AM
The Alabama women's gymnastics team left Rec Hall last March with a score high enough to boost its national ranking from 11th to fifth.
Updated July 1, 2009 4:52 AM
At the conclusion of last season, the Penn State women's gymnastics team felt it would be in good position to reach the Super Six round. However, an impending rule change could alter the way the finals are conducted.
Updated April 22, 2009 4:00 AM
Fresh off the most successful season for the team in years, the Penn State women's gymnasts aren't spending time celebrating.
The juniors on the Penn State women's gymnastics team have been through a lot in their first three years in Happy Valley.
Updated April 20, 2009 4:50 AM
Brandi Personett was the only gymnast to compete at nationals the past two seasons, thus the only one to earn All-American status.
Updated April 17, 2009 4:46 AM
At the halfway point of Session I of the NCAA Championship Thursday in Lincoln, Neb., the No. 12 Penn State women's gymnastics team was in great shape to advance to the Super Six national finals.
Updated April 16, 2009 4:52 AM
For a team going into the biggest meet of the year, Steve Shephard's gymnasts act like they are in for a pre-season meet against nobody.
Updated April 14, 2009 4:00 AM
With no seniors on the roster, coach Steve Shephard knew youth would be key in his team's success this year.
Updated April 10, 2009 4:51 AM
On a team full of talented gymnasts, standing out based on your skills can be difficult.
Updated April 9, 2009 4:00 AM
As her teammates fought for a spot at nationals, all captain Rosie Smith could do is watch and cheer.
Updated April 8, 2009 4:51 AM
Through two events on Saturday in Raleigh, N.C., at the Regional Championships, it looked like the Penn State women's gymnastics team was going to be left to tears again.
A day after securing a spot at nationals, the women's gymnastics team was given a rare gift -- a day off.
Updated April 6, 2009 4:52 AM
RALEIGH, N.C. -- While the Penn State gymnasts were dancing and singing along to "YMCA," Nebraska's team sat in silence -- its gymnasts' faces covered in tears.
RALEIGH, N.C. -- Steve Shephard was confident going into Saturday's regional championship if his team hit all of its routines, they would advance on to Lincoln, Neb., to compete for a national championship.
Updated April 5, 2009 12:17 AM
The No. 12 Penn State women's gymnastics team will be competing at the NCAA championships this season. Updated 12:17 AM
Updated April 3, 2009 4:00 AM
Less than a tenth of a point has cost the No. 12 Penn State women's gymnastics team from advancing to nationals the past two seasons.
Q: What are your thoughts going into your third go around at Regionals?
A: I'm excited. This team definitely has the potential to make it to nationals. I feel stronger than I ever did that we're gonna make it. This team's definitely capable, they have the drive, they have the want and we've worked hard this year so we deserve to make it.
Updated April 2, 2009 4:48 AM
Daryl Konsevick didn't know the exact score or whether her team was winning or losing.
She just knew she had to hit her routine.
Updated April 1, 2009 4:00 AM
It's been the same story all season for the Penn State women's gymnastics team -- confidence.
The Nittany Lions struggled with it early in the year, but have been overflowing with it ever since their March 1 win over Alabama.
Updated March 25, 2009 4:48 AM
Brandi Personett has been to the women's gymnastics national championships both of her first two seasons at Penn State.
Natalie Ettl stuck the landing of her bars routine Saturday at the Big Ten Championship.
The team had just come off its best vault score of the year, and Ettl found herself back in a familiar position -- the leadoff for the bars rotation.
Updated March 24, 2009 4:50 AM
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- While mingling and talking with other coaches, Steve Shephard heard something he wasn't expecting.
Updated March 23, 2009 4:54 AM
Champaign, Ill. -- Despite banners of previous Illinois championships hanging amongst them, the Penn State women's gymnastics team could've felt at home.
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- While Michigan and Illinois fans were in a virtual shouting match during the final rotation Saturday, Penn State gymnasts and fans sat in silence.
Updated March 21, 2009 10:53 PM
CHAMPAIGN, ILL. -- The University of Michigan women's gymnastics team captured its 16th Big Ten championship in the last 18 seasons on Saturday at Huff Hall on the campus of the University of Illinois. Penn State fell short of its goal of winning the first conference championship in school history and finished in third place. Updated 10:53 PM
Junior Brandi Personett and freshman Whitney Bencsko were named to Big Ten all-conference teams on Friday at the Big Ten Championships awards banquets in Champaign, Ill. Conference gymnast of the year, freshman of the year and coach of the year will be announced Saturday following the meet. Updated 2:47 PM
Updated March 20, 2009 4:48 AM
All season long, each Penn State women's gymnast has had one goal -- win the first Big Ten title in school history.
On Saturday, the No. 13 Penn State women's gymnastics team will become the first team in school history to be Big Ten Champs.
In the final week of practice before the Big Ten Championship meet, the Penn State women's gymnastics team is working on perfecting the minor details in hopes of claiming the title it has been working toward all season long.
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