March 19, 2009
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - For the third time this season and for the fourth time in his brilliant career, Penn State senior all-arounder Casey Sandy (Brampton, Ont.) has been named the College Gymnastics Association National Gymnast of the Week. The seven-time All-American was selected for his standout performances in the No. 8 Nittany Lions' narrow loss to No. 3 Cal on Saturday at Rec Hall.
The national recognition comes on the heels of Sandy earning his conference single season record-tying fifth Big Ten Gymnast of the Week award. He also extended his league record for the most weekly honors in a career with his 11th.
Going head-to-head against two of the nation's top all-arounders in Cal's Glen Ishino and Kyson Bunthuwong, Sandy shined in his final performance at Rec Hall on Senior Night, winning the all-around with a season high score of 90.300 and helping the Nittany Lions post a season best team score of 353.800. The 2008 Big Ten Gymnast of the Year dominated the pommel horse, placing first in the event with a career-high score of 15.650, a mark .6 of a point higher than the second place finisher.
Sandy, the reigning Big Ten and NCAA All-Around champion, also placed second in the vault (15.800), third in the parallel bars (tie, 14.500), fourth in the floor exercise (15.100) and rings (14.750), and seventh in the high bar (tie, 14.500). For his efforts, Sandy was honored with the Gene Wettstone Award, an honor bestowed upon the most outstanding gymnast at each home meet.
Sandy and the Nittany Lions will wrap up the 2009 regular season with another opportunity to measure themselves against one of the top teams in the nation when they face defending national champion and No. 2-ranked Oklahoma on Sat., March 21 in Norman, Okla. The dual is scheduled for an 8 p.m. ET start at the Sooners' Howard McCasland Fieldhouse. A year ago, Oklahoma escaped Happy Valley with a narrow 357.850-356.650 win. Casey Sandy led Penn State with wins in the pommel horse, vault, high bar, and all-around. The Lions hold a 2-11 record in all-time meetings with the Sooners.