March 22, 2011
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -
This is the fourth installment of a new series focusing on the achievements of former Penn State women's gymnasts called, "Where Are They Now?" Check GoPSUsports.com each week to meet another group of former gymnasts.
Marcy Levine Lucas - '82
Marcy was a Nittany Lion from 1979-82. In 1979, her first year on the team, she was not only Regional Champion on the balance beam, but an All-American and National Champion on floor. As a sophomore, she was again the Regional Champion on beam, floor and in the all-around, and an All-American on floor and in the all-around as the team captured its second national championship. She was a four-year varsity letterwinner and the team never finished lower than third in the nation.
Marcy currently lives in North Carolina and married her high school sweetheart, Tim Lucas, who was a gymnast at Ball State and passed away in 2006. Their two children share their love for sports. Monica competed as a gymnast for Eastern Michigan and graduated with a degree in exercise science. Their son Sammy is a junior at East Carolina working on a degree as a Health Fitness Specialist. Marcy enjoys exercising and reconnecting with friends.
Recounting her time at Penn State, she says, "During my four years we were one of the top three teams in the country, including National Champions as a team in 1980 and as an individual champion on floor in 1979. My success developed my confidence and taught me how to set achievable goals. The relationships that were formed have lasted a lifetime. Truly - blood, sweat, and tears bond people together, sometimes stronger than family. Many of the gymnasts from our era have kept in touch with each other through the years and have reconnected with many others. The reunion held a couple of years ago was a great example of how we are all part of the legacy of PSU gymnastics, which fills me with pride."
Elizabeth "Betz" Hanley - '85
Betz coached the Penn State team from 1968-72. From 1978-98 she founded and directed the Penn State International Dance Ensemble. She is now a retired Associate Professor Emerita of Kinesiology and lives in State College, Pa. In her free time she enjoys tennis, traveling, photography and baking.
Louise Hunt Rounds - '85
Louise Hunt Rounds competed for the Nittany Lions from 1975-76 when the team placed fifth at the AIAW National Championships. Competing at Rec Hall for the first time as a freshman is a memory Louise still treasures.
Louise now works for Prudential Financial in the Retirement Division as Director of the Project Management Office. She is married to Jon Rounds and has two grown children, Jamie and Molly, and is the proud grandmother of two, Felix and Arlo. She and Jon reside in Portland, Conn. In her free time she enjoys singing and playing music with her family and playing bridge with her husband. She still loves watching the sport of gymnastics and tries to make it to at least one meet a year.
Tracy Salvino Longenecker - '93
Tracy competed for the Nittany Lions from 1989-91. She currently lives in State College, Pa. and is a gymnastics coach for the Nittany Gymnastics Club team and a certified judge up to Level 8. She is married to Chad Longenecker ('94) and they have three daughters who are all in gymnastics.
On her time at Penn State, Tracy writes, "My gymnastics tenure was unfortunately short-lived, but competing in Rec Hall was one of the most memorable moments in my life. My parents are Penn Staters and I grew up blue and white. To be a part of the tradition of PSU athletics is something of which I am very proud."
Joan Gackenbach McClarin - '79
Joan competed for the Nittany Lions from 1975-77. She was then a member of the coaching staff from 1979-81. Joan is married with three stepsons and three grandchildren. She resides in Bethlehem, Pa. where she is a high school Health and PE teacher. One of her fondest memories of being a Nittany Lion is packing Rec Hall for dual meets and being part of the AIAW National Championship teams.
Alexandra M. Brockway - '10
Alexandra competed for the Nittany Lions from 2007-10 and was an Academic All-Big Ten honoree. She is currently employed at First Senior Financial Group in King of Prussia, Pa.
Her time at Penn State "taught her that the dedication and hard work you put into anything pays off, even if it is not immediate." Alexandra believes that, "happiness is essential to any kind of work ethic, and the people you surround yourself with and the attitude you portray is an aspect of life which will always be important, no matter where you are."
Rosalie "Rosie" Smith - '10
Rosie Smith was a Nittany Lion gymnast from 2007-10. She is living back home in Erie, Pa. and working as an Emergency Medical Technician and a Physical Therapy Technician. She has been accepted into Gannon University's Physician Assistant program, which she will begin in the fall of 2011.
To take the place of gymnastics, Rosie began training for a marathon and in November 2010 ran her first. Her goal is to run in the Chicago marathon next year. In her free time she is making great strides to continue to raise money and awareness for THON and actually dance in THON in honor of her cousin, Robbie Heard.
On her time at Penn State she says, "It is hard to put into words what PSU Gymnastics means to me. It was truly one of the greatest experiences of my life. I learned so much, had the privilege to meet so many amazing people, made so many lasting memories, met some of my best friends, and had the opportunity to compete and represent the greatest college of all time! At least to me it is the greatest college of all time! It is an honor to know I was lucky enough to wear a PSU gymnastics leo and be part of the Penn State Family. I will always remember what I have learned, who I met, and all the memories I have made!"
Sarah DiPasquale - '03
Sarah was a member of the team from 1999-2001. She competed her freshman and sophomore years and then became the Student Assistant Coach until 2003 because of a knee injury. She currently lives near Chicago, Ill. and is working for Diageo. At Diageo she helps in formula development and technical support for the alcoholic products they produce, specifically rums!
She stays involved with gymnastics by providing and editing floor exercise music for private clubs and colleges across the country. She also enjoys helping choreograph floor routines at the local gym clubs in the Chicago area.
On her time at Penn State Sarah says, "My PSU experience was everything. During my time I had to transition out of competing and into coaching/spectating. It taught me that I was more than a gymnast. My teammates and coaches recognized that in me and supported me through every step of my transition."
Laurenn Cutshaw - '99
Laurenn was a member of the Nittany Lion gymnastics team from 1994-97. As a freshman she was sidelined with injuries, but during her sophomore and junior years she saw action on bars and beam. She now is living in San Diego, Calif. and is the Account Director for Parallel 6, a social media and technology firm.
Of her time at Penn State Laurenn says, "I loved being part of the athletic community. The school has amazing spirit and I made so many good, long-lasting friendships there."
