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4-30-2010 100
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Sports Women's Gymnastics

Familiar faces await Penn State

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Penn State gymnast Natalie Ettl performs on the uneven bars Saturday. The Lions face Ohio State this weekend.
Credit: Andrew Dunheimer

New routines aid Bencsko

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Sophomore gymnast Whitney Bencsko competes on the uneven bars in Saturday's dual meet against West Virginia at Rec Hall.
Credit: Andrew Dunheimer

Lions seeking 197 against Mountaineers

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Allie Southard performs on floor on Jan. 30.
Credit: Abby Drey

Personett cementing legacy

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Brandi Personett competes on the balance beam during a Jan. 30 meet at Rec Hall. The senior has recorded two perfect 10s on vault this year and contin ...
Credit: Abby Drey

Gymnasts bounce back on vault

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Members of the women's gymnastics team dance to the YMCA between events during a January competition.
Credit: Abby Drey

Personett delivers second perfect 10

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Whitney Bencsko (left) offers Brandi Personett her encouragement before Personett's balance beam routine during the Feb. 6 meet against Illinois at Re ...
Credit: Kelsey Morris

Record day on bars propels weekend win

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Senior Brandi Personett performs on the uneven bars Saturday at the White Building.
Credit: Kelsey Morris

Freshman impressing early

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Sharaya Musser competes in the uneven bar competition Jan. 23 at Rec Hall. Musser's teammate, freshman Madison Merriam, has worked her way into the st ...
Credit: Andrew Dunheimer

Updated March 12, 2010 1:39 PM

Lions to compete in unfamiliar atmosphere

When the No. 18 Penn State women's gymnastics team steps out onto the floor at the Jon M. Huntsman Center, the crowd will be unlike anything the Nittany Lions have ever seen. Updated 1:39 PM

Personett among final six for AAI Award

Penn State women's gymnast Brandi Personett has been voted as one of the six finalists for the American Athletic, Inc. (AAI) Award. Updated 12:13 PM

Updated March 8, 2010 12:42 AM

Musser shines in record performance

The crowd was just looking for a reason to explode. Rival Michigan was in the building, and the Rec Hall faithful had not sent the perennial Big Ten champs home with a loss in more than two decades. Updated 12:42 AM

Updated March 7, 2010 11:40 PM

Lions upset rival Michigan

In the grand scheme of the 2010 season, the win was meaningless. There was nothing tangible on the line, no titles to be won. The two teams will even meet again in less than three weeks. Updated 11:40 PM


Updated March 5, 2010 4:52 AM
Bencsko

Bencsko out for season

Penn State gymnast Whitney Bencsko said Thursday she will miss the remainder of her sophomore season after injuring her left knee last Saturday in a meet at Ohio State.

Lions aim to topple rival Michigan

Brandi Personett had a simple but to the point preseason message for the perennial Big Ten champions from up north: "We're gonna put Michigan in their place."


Updated March 4, 2010 3:28 PM

Bencsko out for season

Penn State sophomore Whitney Bencsko will miss the remainder of the season with a torn posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) in her left knee. Updated 3:28 PM


Updated March 3, 2010 4:50 AM

Lions looking to freshman pair to replace Bencsko

Before the 2010 season began, Steve Shephard was hoping Madison Merriam and Sharaya Musser would perform in the all-around.


Updated March 2, 2010 4:52 AM

Bencsko out against Michigan

Penn State sophomore Whitney Bencsko will miss Sunday's quad-meet against No. 12 Michigan, Maryland, and Bridgeport at Rec Hall after injuring her left knee in last Saturday's meet at Ohio State, Penn State coach Steve Shephard said.


Updated March 1, 2010 4:52 AM

Bencsko's status remains unknown after knee injury

Penn State sophomore Whitney Bencsko hyperextended her left knee during Saturday's dual-meet at Ohio State, leaving her status in question.

Team falters after injury

Entering Saturday's dual meet at Ohio State, the No. 14 Penn State women's gymnastics team was determined to make up for its prior struggles on the road.


Updated February 28, 2010 2:24 PM

Bencsko injured on bars

Penn State sophomore Whitney Bencsko hyper-extended her knee during her routine on the uneven bars during Saturday night's meet against Ohio State. Updated 2:24 PM

Women's gymnastics posts season-low score

The Penn State women's gymnastics team struggled for a second-consecutive week Saturday as it fell to Ohio State. Updated 12:11 AM


Updated February 26, 2010 4:48 AM
Penn State gymnast Natalie Ettl performs on the uneven bars Saturday. The Lions face Ohio State this weekend.

Familiar faces await Penn State

The Penn State women's gymnastics team will make the six-hour trip to Columbus, Ohio, this weekend, but their destination isn't Ohio State.

Women's gymnasts use weekend as tune up for Big Tens

This weekend's trip to Ohio State will mean more to the Penn State women's gymnastics team than just another meet.


Updated February 25, 2010 4:48 AM
Sophomore gymnast Whitney Bencsko competes on the uneven bars in  Saturday's dual meet against West Virginia at Rec Hall.

New routines aid Bencsko

Whitney Bencsko didn't give her coach an option.


Updated February 24, 2010 4:48 AM
Jared Shanker is a junior majoring in journalism and history and is a Collegian women's gymnastics reporter. His e-mail address is jps5226@psu.edu.
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Penn State must find consistency

Two months ago, the Penn State women's gymnastics team looked poised to compete for its first national championship since 1980.


Updated February 23, 2010 4:50 AM

Senior Smith beats adversity, inspires teammates

When Rosie Smith's hand slipped off the uneven parallel bars in practice two weeks ago and the gymnast landed on her shoulder and neck, she initially thought she would miss multiple meets.


Updated February 22, 2010 4:51 AM

Season-best floor performance leads Lions to victory over WVU

After Penn State's worst performance on the balance beam in four meets, Steve Shephard huddled his team next to the beam.

Return of beam struggles prevents 197

It had been nearly a decade, but it looked like the streak was finally going to come to an end.


Updated February 20, 2010 11:26 PM

Women gymnasts take down West Virginia

Brandi Personett set a new career high in the all-around to lead the Penn State women's gymnastics team to victory over West Virginia on Saturday. Updated 11:26 PM


Updated February 19, 2010 4:51 AM
Allie Southard performs on floor on Jan. 30.

Lions seeking 197 against Mountaineers

Steve Shephard didn't mince words. There was no pause or reflection needed on whether his team was capable of something it hasn't done in nearly a decade.


Updated February 18, 2010 7:32 PM

Gymnast Smith's status uncertain

Women's gymnastics team co-captain Rosie Smith may miss this weekend's meet after suffering an injury in practice last week. Updated 7:32 PM


Updated February 17, 2010 4:52 AM
Brandi Personett competes on the balance beam during a Jan. 30 meet at Rec Hall. The senior has recorded two perfect 10s on vault this year and continues to make her mark on the Penn State record book.

Personett cementing legacy

Brandi Personett stood at the foot of the blue vault runway with a face full of determination.


Updated February 16, 2010 4:51 AM
Members of the women's gymnastics team dance to the YMCA between events during a January competition.

Gymnasts bounce back on vault

Penn State's performance on the vault Saturday took a 180-degree turn from the week before.


Updated February 15, 2010 4:52 AM
Whitney Bencsko (left) offers Brandi Personett her encouragement before Personett's balance beam routine during the Feb. 6 meet against Illinois at Rec Hall. Personett scored her second perfect 10 this year on vault.

Personett delivers second perfect 10

Just three weeks ago, the Penn State women's gymnastics team was in need of a high score, and Brandi Personett delivered perfection.


Updated February 13, 2010 10:16 PM

Personett perfect on the vault again

Brandi Personett scored her second career perfect score of 10.000 on the vault and led the No. 15 Penn State women's gymnastics team to victory against Pittsburgh on the road Saturday night.


Updated February 12, 2010 4:00 AM

Gymnasts look to improve on road

The Penn State women's gymnastics team has been dreading this day for nearly a month.


Updated February 11, 2010 4:52 AM

Scores reflect new attitudes

Steve Shephard notices a big difference in his team since the season began.


Updated February 10, 2010 4:46 AM

Sophomore Ettl excelling on bars

Luck has tried its best to end Natalie Ettl's career.


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