Danielle Hover Class: Sophomore Hometown: Hamburg, N.Y. High School: Hamburg Height: 5-3 Event: AA

Lion Career
2008 (Freshman): Competed in every meet of the year on bars, also seeing significant action on beam and vault ... averaged a 9.682 on vault (seven meets), a 9.696 on bars (13 meets) and a 9.641 on beam (11 meets) ... scored a career-high 9.800 on vault to finish fourth at New Hampshire (2/9) ... had two top-five finishes on bars, including a career-high and third-place 9.850 at Alabama (3/14) ... also finished fourth on bars with a 9.775 at Ohio State (2/24) ... recorded three finishes in the top five on beam ... placed second with a 9.725 on beam at Ohio State (3/24) ... scored a career-high 9.775 on beam to place fourth versus West Virginia (2/2) ... also placed fifth on beam with a 9.700 against Bowling Green, Cortland and George Washington (3/1).

High School/Club
Four-year gymnastics letterwinner and four-year track letterwinner at Hamburg High School in Hamburg, N.Y. ... led the Bulldogs to the state championship all four years, claiming the section championship in 2005 and 2006 and the division championship in 2006 ... in 2007 was a high school state qualifier along with a high school nationals qualifier ... in 2006 during junior season was the Section VI All-Around champion and also a high school state qualifier, also earning that distinction in 2004 and 2005 ... competed for the Hamburg Gymnastic Club ... six-time Empire State Games gold medalist ... 2007 Region VI vault runner-up ... three-time Junior Olympic National qualifier (2005, 2006, 2007) ... was the Level 9 New York state vault champion in 2004, also an Eastern National Qualifier that year ... was a four-year sectional qualifier in high school for track and field ... member of the National Honor Society ... was a scholar athlete all four years of high school for gymnastics and track ... High Honor Roll member all four years of high school ... Student of the Month ... 2004 and 2005 Most Valuable Gymnast ... 2006 and 2007 Athletic Leadership Award ... 2005 New York State Good Sport Award ... Varsity Club Scholarship honoree.

Personal
Born Danielle Jeanine Hover on Jan. 15, 1989 in Buffalo, N.Y. ... parents are Barbara and David Hover ... has one sister, Liz (23) ... father was a gymnast at Kent State University ... majoring in Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Management and after graduation would like to work in the hospitality industry, preferably at a resort that is someplace warm and full of excitement ... names Dave Matthews Band as favorite musician, "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" as favorite movie, "Fresh Prince of Bel Air" as favorite television show, the Buffalo Sabres and Bills as favorite professional sports teams and Mary Lou Retton as favorite athlete ... names goals for this season as personally hoping to compete in any or all of the events that she is training, "specifically floor since it tends to be my greatest challenge," and for the team to become Big Ten Champions and qualify for NCAA Nationals!" ... nickname is Dani.

Why Penn State?
"I chose Penn State because of the awesome athletic and academic programs. I instantly felt at home when I stepped onto campus. There's no other place quite like Happy Valley."

Quoting Coach Shephard
"Dani was a Godsend last year as a walk on. She contributed on three events and we are looking for even bigger things from her this season."

Inside Women's Gymnastics: A Q&A with Danielle