Saturday will mark the last time four Ohio State women’s gymnasts will put on a show for the home crowd.
“It’s kind of sad, but just as long as we come out with a big performance, that should be what we’re all aiming for anyway,” senior Tiffanie Janke said.
Along with Janke, seniors Bethany Groskopf, Jenni Lymanstall and Megan Porter will participate in their last home meet as Buckeyes when the squad goes up against Penn State in a co-ed meet at 7 p.m. Saturday at St. John Arena.
“This group of seniors has been incredible leaders for the team,” OSU coach Larry Cox said. “We’re looking for that leadership in the last home meet as well.”
Janke, who was named Big Ten Conference Gymnast of the Week on Feb. 11, has led OSU (7-3, 0-1 Big Ten) all season long while placing No. 1 and No. 6 in the region and country, respectively, in all-around rankings.
During the season the women’s squad has been plagued with injuries, which forced Janke to participate in all of the events the last two meets.
“Your first thought is ‘that’s terrible it happened to them,’ but our team does a great job accepting what happens,” Lymanstall said. “Each and every (gymnast) realizes their potential and knows what they can do to fill the void.”
Lymanstall can relate to the injury situation after being unable to compete the previous two seasons because of injuries. She will be honored with the senior class on Saturday even though she will be a redshirt senior next year.
A senior who has contributed to the team is Porter, who has won two events this year and posted an individual season best with a 9.850 at the All-Ohio Championships.
The team has won four of its last five home meets this season, even though Cox said the team has not won the meets in the way they would have desired. The squad is 42-13 all-time at home since the 1994 season.
After the final home meet against the Nittany Lions, OSU will hit the road for three consecutive weekends to conclude its regular season.
“It would be nice if we had another home meet,” Groskopf said. “Traditionally this team – especially last year – performed well on the road.”
The team will focus on No. 22 Penn State (6-3, 1-0 Big Ten) who have a 21-15 edge in their overall record against the Buckeyes.
OSU lost at State College, Pa., last year after the team led with one event remaining.
“Penn State is always a good matchup for us. Their capabilities are the same as ours,” Lymanstall said. “We have to have our game face on going into this last meet.”
One of the Nittany Lions’ team leaders is Dublin, Ohio, native Meredith Hoover with a 38.850 average in the all-around competition.
“Hoover was a very good local kid that we were interested in,” Cox said. “She’s been powerful and consistent for her team.”
Janke said the team needs to improve in the upcoming meet by hitting all 24 routines.
“As long as we go to each meet and hit (all 24 routines) we should do a lot better job than what we did in the last couple of meets,” Janke said.
Groskopf said she is looking forward to the match against PSU for her final home meet.
“I’m excited that it’s a good team we are going up against,” Groskopf said. “This senior class is a strong class. It’s a good home meet to finish out our careers.”
