North Carolina State University Athletics
Panza, Gymnastics Kick Off 2011 Season
1/14/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
Jan. 14, 2011
RALEIGH, N.C. – Jess Panza came to NC State as an accomplished high school gymnast, intent on continuing the success she has on New York’s Long Island once she arrived in Raleigh.
For two years, she competed alongside Taylor Seaman, NC State’s well-decorated floor leader who ended her career last spring by becoming the first All-America in the program’s 31-year history at NCAA Championship.
Now, Panza is ready to step into a similar role as a featured gymnast, capable of succeeding in EAGL meets and postseason competition. In fact, she missed going with Seaman to the NCAA finals last season by a mere fraction of a point.
“Jess has come a long way over a short period of time,” NC State coach Mark Stevenson said. “Her performance level is phenomenal. It’s just a different kind of performance. Taylor was bouncy and outgoing. Panza is very beautiful and elegant to watch.”
Panza appreciated her apprenticeship under Seaman.
“She was great to watch in competition and in practice,” Panza said. “She was so carefree and performed from the bottom of her heart. You could tell that she absolutely loved everything she did.”
Now, as the Wolfpack heads into its 2011 season opener Friday against No. 4 Oklahoma at Reynolds Coliseum, Panza is prepared to be a leader for a program that has won five EAGL championships and finished first or second at the conference meet five consecutive years, along with seniors Brittany Vontz and Brittney Hardiman and junior Brooke Barr.
“Getting ready for this season, I feel for myself and for the team, that we’ve never been this ready before at this point in the season,” Panza said. “We have worked so hard to prepare. I think all the hard work we have done in the preseason will pay off.”
Facing the Sooners, who finished second at last year’s NCAA Championship, will be a difficult challenge. But Panza isn’t bothered by the reputation of the competition.
“I treat every meet, whether it is an intersquad, the worst the in the country or the best team in the country, the same way,” said Panza, a two-time first-team All-EAGL selection in her first two seasons. “I think that’s the best way to do it so you don’t let nerves get in the way.
“They are very, very good, but that doesn’t mean we can’t beat them.”
It’s just a matter of going into the meet with confidence, something that abounds on this year’s teams.
“I think we need to trust ourselves and trust the amount of hard work we have put in since August,” Panza said. “I know how hard everyone has worked. When we get out there, there shouldn’t anything different than practice.”
Panza won’t compete in the vault or the all-around just yet, out of concern for some back issues she has faced throughout her career. But she’s looking to refine her routines on the bars, beam and floor.
“I really feel strongly now that for a couple of years she’s going to be one of our best all-arounders,” Stevenson said. “She is someone we all look to. She’s a very tough person, both mentally and physically. She has a very good focus. She’s not afraid to go out and work.
“She doesn’t like to not be successful. She’s very motivated.”
• By Tim Peeler, tim_peeler@ncsu.edu.
