Aug. 17, 2007
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State men's gymnastics assistant coach Kevin Tan and current Nittany Lion senior Derek Helsby (Orlando, Fla.) advanced to the finals of the 2007 VISA Championships based on standout performances in qualifying competition.
The 2007 VISA Championships, an event that determines a national champion in each event and can qualify gymnasts for the U.S. Senior Men's National Team, is being held at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif.
The finals are scheduled for Fri., Aug. 17, at 10 p.m. ET. Scores from both days of competition are combined to determine the final all-around and individual event rankings.
Kevin Tan, the team captain of the U.S. National Team for the 2006 World Cup, dominated the still rings competition, not only placing first but also posting the highest score of any competitor in any event, a 16.400. A native of nearby Fremont, Calif., Tan will get the opportunity to defend his 2006 still rings crown in front of friends and family. Tan also turned in impressive efforts in other events, placing fourth in the parallel bars, fifth in the pommel horse, and eighth in the high bar.
Fresh off a bronze medal pommel horse performance at the World University Games in Bangkok, Thailand last week, Derek Helsby fared well in the qualifying round despite competing on short rest. The four-time All-American's top finish came on the pommel horse, a ninth-place showing. He also placed 17th in the still rings and 19th in the parallel bars.