UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State women's gymnastics team will travel to Philadelphia for the annual Keystone Classic meet on Friday, January 5 for its first competition of the 2024 campaign.
The first meet of the 2024 slate will feature the four Division I women's gymnastics programs in the state of Pennsylvania. The Nittany Lions are a combined 75-4 in regular season competition against the three Pennsylvania squads and will compete in the historic Palestra in Philadelphia on Friday as they aim to improve on that record this year.
2024 SEASON OUTLOOK
Penn State finished the 2023 season ranked 25th in the nation and did not lose a routine from its outstanding squad as it aims for a strong start to the year in 2024. The Nittany Lions constantly achieved excellent team scores a season ago, including three of the top 12 totals in school history. With the majority of the group returning this season, the Nittany Lions get consistency as they seek to climb the national rankings.
The Nittany Lions returned to NCAA Regionals as a team last season for the first time since 2021 and promptly set the school record total score in regional competition, finishing with a 196.825 in the regional semifinals. As previously stated, the Nittany Lions bring back every competing member of their regionals squad, including Postseason All-American Ava Piedrahita and NCAA Championship qualifier Cassidy Rushlow.
Recently, junior Isabella Salcedo and freshman Kalea McElligott were named Penn State's gymnasts to watch by the Big Ten conference.
NEW FACES
While Penn State does retain the majority of its 2023 group, team 60 also added three new faces for the upcoming season that will seek to impact the lineup right away. McElligott, along with fellow freshmen Alyssa Kramer and Ashley Maul will join the Nittany Lions in 2024 as the team aims to surpass its success from 2023.
In addition to the three new athletes, head coach Sarah Brown welcomed assistant coach Lynnzee Brown to her staff ahead of the 2023-2024 school year. Brown brings a wealth of collegiate experience to Happy Valley as she was recognized as a National Champion, a 10-time Postseason All-American, and a two-time AAI Award finalist during her collegiate career with Denver.
FOLLOW THE NITTANY LIONS
Following Friday's Keystone Classic, the Nittany Lions will host their home opener in Rec Hall on Friday, Jan. 12 at 6 p.m. against Iowa State. As a reminder to all fans, women's gymnastics events are free for all attendees.
Follow along with the team on our social media pages on Facebook (PennStateWomensGymnastics) and X/Instagram (@pennstatewgym).
