UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State women’s gymnastics team, which finished the 2011 season ranked 14th in the country, hosts four home meets in Rec Hall in 2012, including two double-duals with the Nittany Lion men’s team.
The 2012 schedule is comprised of 11 meets during the regular season featuring teams who advanced to the 2011 National Championship and were ranked in the top 30 in the nation at the conclusion of last season. These teams include defending national champion Alabama (No. 1), Michigan (No. 6), Ohio State (No. 16), Minnesota (No. 22), N.C. State (No. 26), Iowa (No. 28), North Carolina (No. 29) and New Hampshire (No. 30).
"This looks to be an exciting home season with two quad meets and two double-dual meets," said head coach Jeff Thompson. "It gives our fans a little bit of everything this season."
The Nittany Lions open the 2012 season in a tri-meet at West Virginia with Maryland on Jan. 8. From there the team travels to New Hampshire on Jan. 14 before hosting Michigan State, Cornell and Alabama on Jan. 21 at Rec Hall in the home opener. The Nittany Lions spend three consecutive weekends on the road at Minnesota (Jan. 28), at Iowa (Feb. 3) and at N.C. State (Feb. 11), and return home for their first double dual of the season on Feb. 18 when they host SUNY – Brockport. The men’s and women’s gymnastics teams then head to Columbus, Ohio to take on Ohio State in a double dual on Feb. 25. The Nittany Lions welcome Michigan, North Carolina and Centenary to Rec Hall on March 2 and travel to Pittsburgh on March 11. Penn State closes out its home schedule on March 17 vs. Maryland.
Iowa hosts the 2011 Big Ten Championship on Saturday, March 24 where Penn State will face Michigan State, Michigan, Iowa, Minnesota, Ohio State, Nebraska and Illinois with the goal of earning the program’s first Big Ten title.
The six sites hosting the 2011 NCAA Women’s Gymnastics Regionals on April 7 include Arkansas, Auburn, Illinois, N.C. State, Utah and Washington. The NCAA Championship will be held April 20-22 by Georgia Institute of Technology at the Gwinnett Center in Duluth, Ga.