Jan. 24, 2010
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - The youthful Penn State men's gymnastics, ranked No. 6 in the nation, hung tough for much of its Sunday afternoon dual meet with a deep and experience No. 3 Michigan squad but ultimately fell to the Big Ten preseason favorite Wolverines, 355.650-344.750, at Cliff Keen Arena in Ann Arbor, Mich.
The Nittany Lions equaled or surpassed season-high scores in the parallel bars (57.050) and the still rings (58.650) but were hampered by struggles in one of its top events, the floor exercise (56.950), and by a subpar performance in the high bar (54.100). Individually, three of Penn State's young competitors made statements with event wins.
Freshman Felix Aronovich (Kiryat Bialik, Israel) continued his impressive start to his collegiate career winning the pommel horse with a season and team high score of 15.100. Aronovich, who has captured a pommel horse title each time he has competed in the event in 2010, defeated Michigan All-Americans David Chan and Chris Cameron to secure the victory. He also placed second in the parallel bars (tie) (14.550) and fifth in the still rings (14.600), establishing season best marks in both events.
Defending Big Ten Co-Freshman of the Week Nick Grant (Butler, Pa.) shined under the spotlight of his first conference dual meet, tying All-American David Chan for the vault title with a score of 15.800.
Redshirt freshman Philip Harris (Lancaster, Pa.), in his first competitive season, captured his second parallel bars crown of the year, posting a season and team high score of 14.700.
Other standout performances were contributed by senior Nick Virbitsky (Harrisburg, Pa.) and sophomore Miguel Pineda (Galloway, Ohio). Virbitsky and Pineda secured second place finishes in the floor exercise and still rings, respectively. Freshman Tony Beck (Catasauqua, Pa.), competing in the high bar for the first time in his collegiate career, tied for fourth with a score of 14.300.
The Big Ten Network will broadcast Penn State-Michigan clash on a tape delay basis, with the airing scheduled for Sat., Jan. 30 at 12 p.m.
The Nittany Lions return home next weekend, hosting William & Mary in a dual meet set for 2 p.m. on Sun., Jan. 31 in Rec Hall. Penn State possesses a perfect 15-0 record in its all-time series with the Tribe, including a 347.850-340.050 victory last season in Williamsburg, Va. Competing without eventual Nissen-Emery Award winner Casey Sandy, who was given the week off, Allen Harris (Lancaster, Pa.) led the Lions by placing first in the floor exercise and the vault while Noam Shaham and Miguel Pineda captured titles in the high bar and still rings, respectively.
NOTES: Seven of the 12 gymnasts that were in the line-up for Penn State were freshman or in their first competitive season...21 of Penn State's 33 routines were performed by a freshman or a redshirt freshman...Seven freshman or redshirt freshman set 12 personal bests for their career/season: Aronovich (3), Raque (2), Beck (2), Chelberg (2), Dow (1), Grant (1), P. Harris (1).