There have been many great women athletes and coaches who led Penn State teams to successful seasons, earning conference and national honors in the fifty years since Title IX enactment. This section displays only a small sampling of images of athletes and coaches who were among the best during their collegiate careers at Penn State. The collection link below leads to the collection guide and inventory of more than 11,000 men’s and women’s athletes, coaches, and administrators dating back to the 1880s. Materials in each file may include photos, biographical material, newspaper clippings, and magazine articles for a specific athlete.
Ann Carr
Ann Carr was one of the top collegiate gymnasts during her years at Penn State from 1976 to 1980. She was already a star in international gymnastics, as she won five gold medals at the Pan American Games in 1975. Carr continued her success at Penn State and had the distinction of becoming the first women at Penn State to receive a full scholarship. She won the AIAW all-around title in 1977 and earned All-American status in all four events. At the 1978 AIAW Championships, Carr won the all-around title for the second time and was first on the uneven bars, balance beam, and floor exercise. She was the recipient of the Broderick Trophy as the best female collegiate gymnast in 1977 and 1978. Carr seriously injured her ankle during the 1979 season but was an All-American on the bars. She came back strong in her senior year in 1980 and was an All-American in the all-around, vault, bars, beam, and floor, helping the team to its second AIAW championship. Carr was number 11 on the list of Penn State 100 Greatest Athletes in 2020.
Brandi Personett
Brandi Personett competed on the gymnastics team from 2007 to 2010. She garnered many awards throughout her collegian career. Personett was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2007 after winning the vault and all-around competition at the Big Ten Gymnastics championship. She was a first team All-American on the beam, and won the vault, floor and all-around competition at the 2008 Big Ten championship. In 2009, Personett was a first team All-American on the floor and was named Big Ten Gymnast of the Year. She finished first on the beam, floor and the all-around at the Big Ten championship in 2010.
Elizabeth Hanley
Elizabeth “Betz” Hanley joined the Penn State faculty in 1965 and served as head coach of the women’s gymnastics team from 1969 to 1972. She served as the chair of the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) in 1973-1974 and elected into membership of the International Olympic Academy in 1977, the main educational and cultural institution of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Professor Hanley participated at the Olympic Academy in Olympia, Greece as a lecturer, social meeting director, and dance workshop coordinator a dozen times from 1977 to 1996. She also participated in the Olympic torch relay in Greece for the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. Hanley founded the Penn State International Dance Ensemble in 1978 and served as its director for 20 years and retired as an assistant professor of exercise science in 2004.
Judi Avener
Judi Avener was the head coach of the women’s gymnastics team from 1975 to 1992 compiling a 278-87-1 record and led the team to two AIAW championships in 1978 and 1980.
Karen Schuckman
Karen Schuckman was on the gymnastics team from 1973 to 1977 and was one of the first women at Penn State to receive an athletic scholarship. She won the all-around competition at the 1974 AIAW Championships and was an All-American in all four events and the all-around as a freshman. In 1975, Schuckman won the vault and floor at the AIAW Championships and was an All-American in the all-around, vault, beam, and floor. She claimed All-America status on the balance beam in 1976. Schuckman was number 26 on the list of Penn State 100 Greatest Athletes in 2020.
Katie Rowland
Katie Rowland was on the gymnastics team from 2000 to 2003. She competed in the all-around in every meet during her collegiate career. She won three all-around meet titles and qualified for the NCAA Regionals and Championships during her freshman year. Rowland tied or set four school records as a sophomore, finished second in the NCAA in all-around average, and was named Big Ten Gymnast of the Year. She continued her success in her junior year as she broke her own school record in the all-around with a 39.725 and was the 2002 Big Ten all-around champion. Rowland finished second in the all-around competition at the NCAA Championships Super Six Finals. She recorded three perfect tens in her senior year, twice on the vault and once on the beam. Rowland again set a new school record in the all-around with a 39.775 and qualified for the NCAA Regionals on the vault.
Lynne Samuels
Lynne Samuels was on the gymnastics team from 1976 to 1980. She competed in the all-around in several meets during her freshman and sophomore years. She decided to concentrate on the vault and floor exercise during her senior year as they were her best events. Samuels earned All-America status on the vault in 1980 and helped the team win AIAW titles in 1978 and 1980.
Sharaya Musser
Sharaya Musser was on the gymnastics team from 2010 to 2013, competing in the all-around during her entire career and cementing her place as one of the top gymnasts in the conference. She was named to the All-Big Ten Conference first team all four years of her career. Musser was the Big Ten Conference Freshman of the Year in 2010 and Big Ten Gymnast of the Year in 2012. She qualified for the NCAA all-around competition in 2011, 2012, and 2013.
Steve Shephard
Steve Shephard was the women’s gymnastics coach from 1993 to 2010. His teams were consistently ranked in the top 20 during his tenure as he finished with a record of 256-144-2, second only to his predecessor Judy Avener-Markell. Shephard coached individuals to nine first team All-America status and ten to second team All-America status.
Here is the link to the athlete’s and coaches’ files collection: Pennsylvania State University, Intercollegiate Athletics public relations files