UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa., March 24, 2007 ¨C The 13th-ranked Penn State women¡¯s gymnastics team scored a 196.325 to place first in a quad meet with Rutgers (191.550), New Hampshire (190.325) and Yale (187.475) Saturday night at Rec Hall in front of 1,857 fans.
Senior Ashley Mehrer (Midlothian, Va.) was named the Ann Carr Award winner as the most inspirational gymnast of the meet as both the senior men¡¯s and women¡¯s gymnasts were honored after the meet for their contribution to Penn State and the Nittany Lions gymnastics programs.
As a team, Penn State posted a 48.975 on vault, a 49.150 on bars, a 48.875 on beam and a season-high 49.325 on floor.
Rutgers¡¯ Elizabeth Fittery claimed top honors in the all-around with a 38.225 as her teammate Lorena Johnson scored a 38.175 for second. Yale¡¯s Alina Liao finished third with a 38.100 while her teammate Jessica Tai scored a 37.500 for fourth.
The Nittany Lions opened up the meet on vault, with freshmen Rosie Smith (Waterford, Pa.), Alexandra Brockway (Macungie, Pa.) and Brandi Personett (Katy, Texas) all scoring a 9.825 to tie for first, along with New Hampshire¡¯s Justine Turner. Freshman Casey Rohrbaugh (Spring Grove, Pa.) tallied a 9.775 for fifth as junior Aslynn Satterfield (Boalsburg, Pa.) notched a 9.725 for seventh and freshman Allie Southard (Nanuet, N.Y.) posted a 9.550 for 18th.
On bars, senior Corissa Pirkl (West Islip, N.Y.) collected a career-high and first place 9.900 as senior Amie Olaes (Inverness, Ill.) posted a personal-best-tying 9.850 for second place. Brockway tied for third with a 9.825 as junior Lindsay Borkan (Long Grove, Ill.) notched a 9.800 for fifth. Freshman Lindsey Montross (Roseville, Calif.) tallied a 9.775 to place sixth while sophomore Katie Perret (Colorado Springs, Colo.) notched a 9.725 to place eighth.
Senior Stephanie Sullivan (Gaithersburg, Md.) picked up her eighth balance beam title of the year by scoring a first-place 9.900 as Rohrbaugh and Perret both tallied a 9.800 to tie for second. Mehrer placed fifth with a 9.750 as Pirkl notched a 9.625 for eighth and Personett recorded a 9.300 to place 15th.
Penn State gymnasts recorded five of the top six scores on the floor, with Personett taking home the title with a 9.950, her fifth score of 9.900 or better this season. Pirkl placed second with a career-high-tying 9.875 as Mehrer and Satterfield each scored a 9.850 to tie for third, a season-high score for Mehrer. Smith scored a sixth-place 9.825 as Rohrbaugh rounded out the Penn State gymnasts with a 9.650.
The Nittany Lions now play host to the 2007 Big Ten Championships next Saturday, March 31 at 6:00 p.m. Tickets for the event are on sale at www.GoPSUsports.com.
For more information on the Penn State women¡¯s gymnastics team, please visit www.GoPSUsports.com.
