Gymnastics
For the first time since 2002, the Men’s Gymnastics team failed to qualify to compete for a Division I National title. The Lions fell just short of their goal, placing fourth in a competition of the nation’s best. Senior Casey Sandy, a winner of Nissen-Emery award (the Heisman of men’s gymnastics) and 7-time All-American, qualified to defend his crown in the Men’s All-Around title.

The frustration continued with the Women’s team who placed 5th in the preliminary round of the NCAA Women’s Gymnastic Championship. Junior Brandi Personett, freshman Whitney Bencsko, and junior Alexandra Brockway earned First-Team NACGC/W First-Team All-America honors. This trifecta is the greatest number of different individual All-Americans in Penn State history.

Baseball
Coming off an 8-3 win over Mount St. Mary’s, the baseball team carries its 20-14 record into a 3-game series at Indiana. The Hoosiers have been hot as of late, winning 9 of their past 11 games. Freshman Jordan Steranka carries the fourth-longest hitting streak in school history heading into this series with the Crimson and Cream.

Football…Because It’s Never Too Early
The gears of the Penn State football world are already turning in anticipation of the Blue and White spring game next week. The Nitts will host the deflator of all dreams, Iowa, at home on September 26th to begin Big Ten play. Having spent some lovely time in Iowa City last year, let’s give them a hearty welcome to Happy Valley.

Yesterday, it was announced that Penn State will renew its rivalry with Rutgers in 2014-2015. If the Scarlet Knights continue to improve under head coach Greg Schiano, this could be a great BCS résumé-builder for the Lions.