Feb. 15, 2008
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - After a one-week break from team competition, the No. 1-ranked Penn State men's gymnastics team will return to action on Sat., Feb. 16 when it visits Champaign, Ill. and Huff Hall for a 8 p.m. ET dual meet with No. 5 Illinois. The Nittany Lions' match-up with the Fighting Illini begins a road stretch in which they will face back-to-back top conference and traditional national powers.
Penn State will be looking to build on a 354.200-343.450 victory over Big Ten foe No. 8 Minnesota gained two weeks ago on Feb. 2 in Rec Hall. The Nittany Lions were paced by junior Casey Sandy (Brampton, Ont.) and senior Vladi Klurman (North Miami Beach, Fla.) in the win. For the fourth consecutive meet, Sandy won three or more events, claiming outright titles in the floor exercise (15.600) and parallel bars (15.500) while sharing the high bar crown (14.300). Despite not giving his most polished effort of the season, Sandy still won the all-around with a score of 88.400.
Klurman bounced back from a rough outing last week versus Temple to contribute his finest performance of the season against the Golden Gophers. He easily won the vault, posting a score of 16.100, to top the nation's No. 1-ranked vaulter, Minnesota's Mitchell Mays (15.650). Klurman also secured victory in the still rings with a team season high mark of 15.350. For his efforts, he was recognized as the meet's Gene Wettstone award winner and later as Big Ten Men's Co-Gymnast of the Week.
Last weekend, a Penn State contingent composed of current Nittany Lions Derek Helsby (Orlando, Fla.), Vladi Klurman, and Shaun Antonio (Rio Rancho, N.M.), in addition to assistant coach Kevin Tan, competed as individuals at the 2008 Winter Cup Challenge in Las Vegas, Nev. Tan captured the still rings crown for the third consecutive year, reinforcing his already-secured spot on the U.S. Men's Senior National Team. Helsby advanced to the finals of the all-around competition, placing 17th. His best finish came in the pommel horse, a 10th-place showing.
Illinois, which is averaging a score of 348.950 through three meets, enters Saturday's match-up with momentum. In its last team competition, the Illini topped two-time defending Big Ten champion Ohio State in Columbus, 355.650-348.100. Illinois' roster features a blend of veteran talent with gifted newcomers. Seniors Wes Haagensen, a three-time All-American and Big Ten All-Around champion in 2007, and Tyler Yamauchi, the 2007 Big Ten vault champion, anchor the Illini. Freshmen Daniel Ribeiro, the nation's No. 1-ranked pommel horse competitor, and Paul Ruggeri, the eighth-place finisher in the all-around at the Winter Cup, have become immediate contributors and represent the bright future of Illinois men's gymnastics.
Penn State owns a 21-6 all-time record versus Illinois in regular season competition. A year ago, fueled by one of their top 2007 regular season performances, the Nittany Lions defeated the Illini, 218.150-205.250 at Rec Hall. Tommy Ramos (Guaynabo, P.R.) won titles in the rings and high bar while Casey Sandy, Vladi Klurman, and Derek Helsby also secured first place finishes. Penn State's last visit to Champaign, in 2005, ended in a narrow 221.825-221.350 loss.
Fans can follow all of the action from the Penn State-Illinois dual on the Internet with live scoring updates. Click on the "gametrack PSU" link on the official website of Nittany Lion athletics, www.GoPSUsports.com, to gain access.
The Nittany Lions return to the road next weekend, traveling to Columbus, Ohio for a meet on Sun., Feb. 24 with No. 7 Ohio State. Competition, which will also include the Penn State women's team taking on its Buckeye counterpart, is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m at historic St. John Arena. The conference match-up will be broadcast tape delay by the Big Ten Network on Thurs., Feb. 28 (6 p.m.) and Sun., March 2 (4 p.m.).
FREE- DOWNLOAD THE PENN STATE SPORTS DESKTOP APPLICATION HERE