Feb. 27, 2008
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State assistant coach and Olympic hopeful Kevin Tan placed first in three events, leading a select group of gymnasts from the U.S. Men's Senior National Team to a 361.350-352.600 dual meet victory over Canada last week in Calgary. With perhaps his best performance in his distinguished international career, Tan won the pommel horse (14.900), the still rings (16.300), and the parallel bars (15.500). He also placed third in the high bar (15.000).
Nittany Lion head coach Randy Jepson coached the six-man team which also featured three-time Olympian Blaine Wilson. Jepson, the 2007 NACGC National Coach of the Year, is in his 17th year in Happy Valley and has his defending national champion and No.-2 ranked Nittany Lions in the hunt for back-to-back titles and the program's 13th overall.
Earlier this month, Tan captured his third consecutive and fourth overall rings championship at the Winter Cup Challenge, a prestigious USA Gymnastics event held annually in Las Vegas. View video clips of Tan's title-winning performance and his third place showing in the high bar at www.gymnast.com. The Comcast Network, CN8, will re-broadcast the Winter Cup this Saturday at 5:30 p.m.
Tan also co-captained the U.S. Men's Senior National Team at the 2007 World Championships, helping it place fourth and secure a berth to the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics. In the individual event finals, facing the world's top still rings competitors, he placed fourth.
In addition to his coaching duties, Tan will continue to train in preparation for the 2008 VISA Championships in Houston from May 22-24. A good showing at that competition will likely earn him an invitation to the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials, to be held in Philadelphia from June 19-22.
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