April 11, 2008
National Collegiate Championships Notes
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The third-ranked Penn State men's gymnastics team will defend its 2007 NCAA title when it travels to Stanford, Calif. and the host campus of Stanford University to compete at the 2008 National Collegiate Championships. After winning the program's second Big Ten title on April 4, the Nittany Lions will be seeking their NCAA record 13th national championship at the 66th annual event.
Competition at the 2008 championships begins on Thurs., April 17 with two qualifying sessions, scheduled for 4 and 10 p.m. ET. Penn State, along with Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio State, Oklahoma, and William & Mary, will compete in Session I while California, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Stanford, and Temple will comprise the Session II field.
The top three teams from each qualifier will then advance to contend for the national championship at 10 p.m. ET on Fri., April 18. The individual all-around champion will also be crowned that evening. The following night, on Sat., April 19, the individual event finals will be held at 7 p.m., with six national titles and All-American honors at stake.
"I learned a lot about the character and heart of my team last weekend in winning the Big Ten Championship," said Randy Jepson, the 2008 Big Ten Coach of the Year. "It will again take that kind of effort, both mentally and physically, to be successful at NCAAs. It will be extremely difficult to advance to Friday with three of the nation's best teams in Oklahoma, Michigan, and Ohio State competing in our session. But I think we gained some confidence in winning the Big Ten title and I'm very pleased with the health of the team right now. We look forward to competing against the nation's top teams and some of the world's elite gymnasts."
PREVIEWING PENN STATE
Penn State is primed to make a push for its 13th team national championship and will legitimately challenge for individual titles in every event, led by the nation's No. 1-ranked all-arounder, Casey Sandy. In the floor exercise, Sandy owns a team season-high score of 15.850 but senior Santiago Lopez, and sophomore Nick Virbitsky, an All-American in the event in 2007, will also be factors. Sandy, senior Derek Helsby, and redshirt freshman Jason Chu gives Penn State a potent trio of pommel horse performers. The Nittany Lions' still rings line-up features four nationally ranked competitors but Big Ten champion Tommy Ramos will be the key to its fortunes in the event. Santiago Lopez, Vladi Klurman, and Casey Sandy give the Lions a triple threat in the vault. Sandy captured the 2008 Big Ten parallel bars title while Noam Shaham is ranked third in the nation in the high bar. Helsby and, possibly, Chu will also vie for the all-around title. Overall, Penn State has eight competitors that hold 22 top 20 spots in the national rankings.
PREVIEWING THE 2008 CHAMPIONSHIPS
The nation's elite men's gymnasts will converge upon Maples Pavilion on the host campus of Stanford University to vie for team and individual glory from April 17-19 at the 2008 National Collegiate Championships. Penn State will look to defend its 2007 title and add to its NCAA record 12-team championships but will face stiff competition and a hostile environment in that quest. Stanford, the No. 1 seed, is loaded with talent, led by U.S. National Team members David Sender and Sho Nakamori, and will have the advantage of competing in front of a partisan Cardinal crowd. Second-seeded Oklahoma, winners of four of the previous six national championships, are headlined by the last two NCAA all-around champions, Jonathan Horton (2006) and Taqiy Abdullah-Simmons (2007), and one of the nation's top freshman, Steven Legendre. California, Illinois, Michigan, and Ohio State will also challenge for the 2008 crown. Cal's line-up features three-time national champion senior Tim McNeill while Illinois is led by two standout freshmen, Daniel Ribeiro, the nation's No. 1 pommel horse performer, and Paul Ruggeri. Michigan will be a factor thanks in part to all-arounder Thomas Kelley, the 2008 Big Ten Freshman of the Year. Ohio State has overcome a plague of injuries to make a postseason push and is motivated to excel by disappointing showings at each of the last two national championships. Penn State will counter with Big Ten Gymnast of the Year Casey Sandy, two-time Big Ten rings champion Tommy Ramos, four-time All-American Derek Helsby, seniors Santiago Lopez and Vladi Klurman, and up-and-comers Noam Shaham and Jason Chu.
CHAMPIONSHIP TV COVERAGE
The team and all-around finals will be broadcast tape delayed on ESPN2 on Thurs., April 24 at 4 p.m. ET. The individual event finals portion of the championships will be aired tape delayed on CN8 (The Comcast Network) on Sat., May 3 at 9:30 p.m. ET and Sat., May 10 at 5 p.m. ET.
PENN STATE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY
Penn State owns an NCAA-record 12 national championships, beginning with its first title in 1948. The Nittany Lions have captured the title 11 additional times since: 1953, 1954, 1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1965, 1976, 2000, 2004, and 2007.
An NCAA-record 50 individual titles have been won by Nittany Lions. Second on the all-time list is Illinois with 45.
PENN STATE AT THE 2007 CHAMPIONSHIPS
Penn State won its NCAA-record 12th national championship at home in Rec Hall in epic, come-from-behind fashion, exhilarating a boisterous blue-and-white clad crowd of 2,409. The Nittany Lions posted a season high-score of 221.000 to secure head coach Randy Jepson his third team title. In the individual event finals, Tommy Ramos led Penn State, garnering three All-America honors, including a second place finish in the still rings. Casey Sandy (pommel horse), Vladi Klurman (still rings), and Nick Virbitsky (floor exercise) also earned All-American recognition.
PENN STATE VS. THE CHAMPIONSHIP FIELD IN 2008
Penn State fared well against national championship qualifying teams in 2008, compiling a 5-3 record. The Nittany Lions topped Temple (353.350-337.350), Minnesota (354.200-343.450), and William & Mary (357.700-338.900) in home meets and defeated Illinois (352.300-351.000) and Ohio State (360.550-353.050) on the road. Oklahoma handed Penn State its lone home loss of the season, a close 357.850-356.650 setback on March 22 in Rec Hall, while Michigan (356.950-354.300) and Cal (360.400-351.300) each pinned road defeats on the Nittany Lions in 2008.
2008 BIG TEN CHAMPIONS
For the second consecutive year, Penn State thrilled a partisan crowd by winning a title on its home floor, as the Nittany Lions captured the 2008 Big Ten Championship at Rec Hall on April 4. Almost a year to the date after Penn State won its NCAA record 12th national championship in its historic home venue, the Nittany Lions claimed five of six events, posting a team score of 360.450, to claim the program's second conference title.
As he has all season, Casey Sandy anchored the Nittany Lions, dominating the tough conference competition to become Penn State's first Big Ten all-around champion since Mike Dutka in 1998. The junior placed first in the parallel bars (tie, 15.250), second in the pommel horse (15.350), third in the floor exercise (tie, 15.450), fourth in the rings (15.350), fifth in the high bar (tie, 14.200), and seventh in the vault (15.900) on his way to the 2008 all-around crown. Senior Derek Helsby placed fourth in the all-around, earning All-Big Ten honors for the third consecutive year; a feat only current Penn State assistant coach Kevin Tan has accomplished. His top efforts came in the pommel horse (7th, 14.400) and the parallel bars (tie for 7th, 14.800).
Tommy Ramos captured his second Big Ten rings title last weekend |
SANDY AND RAMOS WIN BIG TEN TITLES
In the individual event finals of the Big Ten Championships, Tommy Ramos and Casey Sandy continued Penn State's supremacy with title wins. Ramos secured his second career rings crown while Sandy claimed his first individual title, winning the parallel bars.
Competing for just the fifth time on the still rings this season, Tommy Ramos claimed the title with a score of 15.500, giving him two in three years after winning the crown in 2006. The victory was just reward for Ramos after battling through an odyssey of injury and personal tragedy that marred his 2008 competitive season. Ramos led a dominating performance by Penn State in the rings, as Nittany Lions took four of the top six places in the event.
Casey Sandy outdueled Ohio State's DJ Bucher, the 2007 Big Ten parallel bars champion, to capture the 2008 crown with a score of 15.300.
SANDY HONORED AS BIG TEN GYMNAST OF THE YEAR
In recognition of his brilliant junior season, Casey Sandy was named, by a unanimous vote of the conference coaches, the 2008 Big Ten Gymnast of the Year. Testament to his season-long dominance, Sandy claimed at least three titles in five of the eight regular season meets in which he competed. In total, he captured 24 titles, including six all-around crowns, and earned 38 top three finishes during the 2008 regular season. Sandy owns the Nittany Lions' top score in four of six events plus the all-around and is currently ranked in the top nine in all six events and is the nation's No. 1 all-arounder. He dominated the spotlight on the conference's biggest stage, winning the Big Ten all-around and parallel bars titles and leading PSU to the program's second Big Ten championship.
"Casey has had a terrific year; he really is the anchor of this team," said Jepson. "He won the Big Ten all-around title with a world class score and is a threat to win it nationally, as well as challenge for titles in multiple events. Casey is truly one of the most humble and grounded athletes I have ever coached. His focus is unshakable. You can't be fooled by his calm demeanor because, within him, burns a competitive fire that is unmatched. He leads by example and lets his performances speak for him. He is an absolute joy to coach and is appreciated by his teammates for his talents and leadership."
JEPSON NAMED BIG TEN COACH OF THE YEAR
Penn State head coach Randy Jepson was named the recipient of the 2008 Big Ten Coach of the Year award, as voted upon by his conference peers. The honor is the second of his distinguished career, winning the award also in 2003. The 2007 National Coach of the Year, Jepson is Penn State's all-time winningest coach with a 268-50 career record.
SIX NITTANY LIONS NAMED ACADEMIC ALL-BIG TEN
The Big Ten Conference office recently announced its Academic All-Big Ten teams for the Winter term and six Penn State men's gymnasts were recognized for their achievements in the classroom. Seniors Derek Helsby and Santiago Lopez, junior Josh Borromeo, and sophomores Matt Greenfield, Allen Harris, and Noam Shaham earned the honor. To be eligible for Academic All-Big Ten selection, student-athletes must be letter winners in at least their second academic year and carry a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher.
For Helsby, a computer engineering major, the honor is his third consecutive. Lopez and Borromeo each achieved his second academic all-conference recognition in 2008.
Derek Helsby is a 2008 Nissen-Emery Award finalist |
HELSBY, NISSEN-EMERY AWARD FINALIST
Senior Derek Helsby is one of seven finalists for the prestigious 2008 Nissen-Emery Award, as announced by the Collegiate Gymnastics Association (CGA). Bestowed in recognition of outstanding athletic achievement, academic excellence, and sportsmanship, the Nissen-Emery Award is the highest individual honor presented in collegiate gymnastics.
In addition to providing outstanding leadership in the gym and in the classroom, Helsby has had an excellent competitive senior season. The Orlando, Fla. native is currently ranked nationally in the top 20 in the pommel horse (9th), still rings (17th), parallel bars (18th), and the all-around (7th). He has won five titles this season, including an all-around crown in a tri-meet with William & Mary and Navy, and has compiled 18 top three finishes. Helsby is just of one two Nittany Lions to earn All-Big Ten honors in three consecutive year, joining current assistant coach and Olympic hopeful Kevin Tan in that exclusive club.
Penn State has won five Nissen-Emery Awards, tying Oklahoma for the most by one program. In 2007, Matt Cohen became Penn State's latest honoree after a brilliant career. The 2008 recipient will be announced at the CGA Annual Awards Presentation banquet at Stanford on Wed., April 16.
SANDY EARNS FOUR BIG TEN GYMNAST OF THE WEEK HONORS
Casey Sandy earned four Big Ten Gymnast of the Week honors throughout the 2008 season, firmly establishing himself as the top competitor in the nation's elite men's gymnastics conference. After each of the first two weeks of competition, Sandy was named Big Ten Men's Gymnast of the Week. Versus Army, he won titles in the floor exercise, parallel bars, and high bar en route to a win in the all-around. Against Michigan, he captured titles outright in the pommel horse (15.150) and parallel bars (15.350) while sharing the still rings crown (15.300). In the victory over Ohio State, Sandy claimed titles in the high bar and all-around and placed second in the floor exercise and parallel bars. His final conference award came for his efforts against Oklahoma, a meet in which he beat out national champions Jonathan Horton and Taqiy Abdullah-Simmons for titles in four events.
KLURMAN HONORED BY BIG TEN
Vladi Klurman became the second Nittany Lion to earn Big Ten Gymnast of the Week honors this season when he was recognized by the conference, along with Ohio State's Jake Bateman, for his standout performance in the win over Minnesota. Klurman captured two titles and established then-personal season high scores in three events against the Golden Gophers. Klurman dominated a head-to-head match-up with Minnesota's Mitchell Mays, the nation's No. 1-ranked vaulter, outscoring him 16.100-15.650 to place first in the event. The senior also claimed victory in the still rings by posting the highest score on the team at that time, a 15.350. Klurman wrapped up his standout performance by placing second in the parallel bars (14.850), tying teammates Derek Helsby and Santiago Lopez.
STEADY SANTIAGO
While Casey Sandy is the unquestioned anchor of the Penn State team, senior captain Santiago Lopez is its rock. A former All-American, Lopez is leading by example this season by putting together a standout 2008 season. One of Penn State's most reliable and consistent performers throughout the year, he is currently nationally ranked in the floor exercise (No. 9), vault (No. 9), and parallel bars (No. 14). He owns Penn State's third highest score of the season in the floor exercise (15.550) and the vault (16.150). In the team finals of the Big Ten Championships, Lopez came up big, earning season high scores in the parallel bars (15.000) and high bar (14.100). In recognition of his positive representation of the team and university in the competitive arena, he was named Penn State's recipient of the 2008 Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.
Noam Shaham is ranked third in the nation in the high bar |
SHAHAM COMING ON STRONG
Perhaps no other Nittany Lion has improved more over the course of the season and could earn more consideration as Penn State's `X' factor at the national championships than Noam Shaham. Finally recovered from double shoulder surgery done before his freshman year, Shaham is making major contributions in nearly every event. At the Big Ten Championships, he won the high bar and scored a 15.850 in with his first competitive vault of the season. Ranked No. 3 in the nation in the high bar, Shaham has also performed consistently well in the floor exercise, still rings, and parallel bars.
HARRIS IN THE CLUTCH
A year ago in his freshman campaign, Allen Harris helped Penn State to the national title by posting season high scores in the rings still and vault when it needed it most, in the team finals. This postseason, the sophomore has proved once again to be a clutch performer. At the 2008 Big Ten Championships, Harris scored a season best 15.450 in the floor exercise, playing a major factor in Penn State gaining its second conference crown. He followed that performance up by placing fourth in the floor in the individual event finals.
CHU MAKING AN IMPACT
After missing the 2007 season due to an ineligiblity issue, redshirt freshman Jason Chu fulfilled the promise that made him an elite recruit in his first competitive season. Over the course of the 2008 regular season, the L.A. product collected a total of 21 top three finishes. In the victory over Temple on Jan. 26, competing for the first time in the floor exercise, Chu won the event and then went on to claim the all-around crown with a score of 87.600. For his effort, he was awarded the Gene Wettstone Award. Chu currently appears in the national rankings for the pommel horse (12th) and vault (20th, tie). A chest injury prevented him from competing in the all-around at the Big Ten Championships but a healthy Chu will help Penn State be a factor in the chase for the 2008 national title.
BORROMEO STEPPING IN AND UP
For the past two years, still rings has been one of Penn State's deepest events, affording Josh Borromeo, a rings specialist, little opportunity to gain competitive experience. But with the graduation of Nissen-Emery Award winner Matt Cohen, a spot in the line-up opened and the junior has stepped in with solid contributions. Borromeo spent time in the national rankings throughout the 2008 season and earned second place finishes in wins over Temple, Minnesota, and William & Mary and Navy. At the Big Ten Championships, Borromeo scored just shy of a season high in the team competition, a 15.150, helping the Nittany Lions to the 2008 title. Advancing to the individual event finals, Borromeo placed sixth, securing Penn State four of the six spots on the rings award podium.
RAMOS RETURNING TO FORM
Penn State's success this season is a testament to its overall depth because Jepson's Nittany Lions have been doing it, for the most part, without the services of five-time All-American Tommy Ramos. One of the nation's top rings, parallel bars, and high bar competitors, Ramos' season has been beset by injury and personal tragedy. Health problems in the offseason hampered his training, a trend that continued into the regular season when a shoulder injury and a concussion slowed his progress. The first hint of a return to form came versus Ohio State when he won the still rings with team season high mark of 15.700. He then followed it up with a win in his signature event against William & Mary and Navy. His comeback became complete at the Big Ten Championships when he captured his second conference title in the still rings and advanced to the individual event finals in the high bar.
YANG MAKES QUICK IMPRESSION
Warren Yang became the only freshman to crack a deep Penn State line-up this season when he made his collegiate debut in the road win over Illinois on Feb. 16. It didn't take long for Yang to make an impact, as he placed third in the floor exercise the following week at Ohio State. He earned a second place finish two weeks later against Cal but suffered an elbow injury that slowed his progress. Returning to the line-up at the Big Ten Championships, Yang competed in just one event, the floor exercise, finishing in 17th place with a score of 14.800.
PENN STATE ON TV
During the 2008 regular season, Penn State made three appearances on the Big Ten Network in its inaugural year. On Jan. 19, the Nittany Lions fell to Michigan in Ann Arbor, 356.950-354.300. Over a month later, on Feb. 24, Penn State redeemed itself by recording its highest team score of the season in a 360.550-353.050 victory over Ohio State at St. John Arena in Columbus. Both meets were aired tape delayed. The Nittany Lions' final appearance came as hosts of the 2008 Big Ten Championships from April 4-5. The event, which Penn State won with a team score of 360.450, was the first gymnastics competition to be telecast live by the BTN in its brief history.
WINTER CUP WRAP UP
Seniors Derek Helsby and Vladi Klurman and junior Shaun Antonio along with third-year assistant coach Kevin Tan traveled to Las Vegas, Nev. to compete as individuals at the prestigious 2008 Winter Cup Challenge. Tan captured the still rings championship, giving him titles in the event in three consecutive years. The former six-time All-American and two-time NCAA rings champion dominated the competition, topping the second place-finisher by nearly a full point. Helsby also qualified for the finals in the all-around, placing 17th. His best finish came in the pommel horse, a 10th-place showing. He also placed 20th in the floor exercise, 24th in the vault, 28th in the parallel bars, 30th in the still rings, and 34th in the high bar. Klurman competed in four events in the preliminaries, with his best showing coming on the pommel horse (17th, 13.550) while Antonio did three events on day one, placing the highest on the floor exercise (28th, 13.700), but neither advanced to the finals.
NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL SUCCESS
Several Nittany Lions represented Penn State University and their respective countries well by giving standout performances in national and international competitions this summer.
Derek Helsby represented the United States at the 2007 World University Games in Bangkok, Thailand, winning a bronze medal in the individual pommel horse competition with a score of 14.575. In the team portion of the competition, he led the United States with top scores in the pommel horse (14.400) and the parallel bars (14.050), helping Team USA to a seventh-place finish. At the 2007 VISA Championships, Helsby placed 18th in the all-around (167.150) with his top finish coming in the pommel horse (9th, 28.550). He also placed 14th in the still rings (29.000) and 22nd in the parallel bars (28.450).
Vladi Klurman joined Helsby on the U.S. Team at the World University Games, recording the highest still rings score, a 15.100, on the squad during the team competition. He also qualified for the 2007 VISA Championships but did not compete.
Tommy Ramos represented his native Puerto Rico at the 2007 World Championships in Stuttgart, Germany, competing in the still rings (14.900), parallel bars (15.100), and high bar (13.575).
Casey Sandy was a member of the Canadian National Team that competed at the 2007 World Championships. He placed an impressive 25th in the world in the all-around with a score of 88.725, earning his top scores in the vault (15.500) and the parallel bars (15.100).