March 5, 2011
MINNEAPOLIS - Despite an overall uneven performance, the No. 5 Penn State men's gymnastics team maintained its winning ways along with its unblemished 2011 record, totaling a 351.600 to defeat host No. 8 Minnesota (344.600) and No. 10 Iowa (333.800) in a tri-meet on Saturday evening at the Gophers' Sports Pavilion in Minneapolis. The Nittany Lions set season highs in floor exercise (59.800) and high bar (58.900) but posted their lowest scores in the pommel horse (55.200) and still rings (59.700) since early January.
Penn State claimed five of six events, both as a team and individually. Its team depth was on display, as five different Nittany Lions captured titles. With the wins, Penn State has defeated every Big Ten team during the regular season following previous dual meet victories over heavyweights Michigan, Illinois, and Ohio State.
Sophomore Felix Aronovich (Kiryat Bialik Israel), the reigning CGA National Gymnast of the Week, competed in the all-around for the second consecutive week, winning it again unopposed with a score of 86.200. He secured the parallel bars title (14.600) and placed second in the high bar (14.800).
The remarkable season for sophomore Scott Rosenthal (Clearfield, Pa.) continued on Saturday, as he finished first in the still rings for the eighth time this season, scoring a 15.600 to take the title. Rosenthal spearheaded a top three sweep in the rings, with junior Miguel Pineda (Galloway, Ohio) and sophomore Matt Chelberg (Athens, Ohio) placing second and third, respectively.
Chelberg also played a role in helping the Nittany Lions record a season high total in floor exercise, earning a career best score of 15.100 to secure first place. Redshirt freshman Francisco Vazquez (San Juan, P.R.) finished second, just off Chelberg's pace, registering a 15.000.
The performance of the night for Penn State, however, was contributed by freshman Wasef Burbar (Arlington Heights, Ill.). He won the high bar with a career best and team season high score of 15.100. Burbar's score also ranked third nationally this season among active competitors.
Sophomore Parker Raque (Louisville, Ky.) saved Penn State from a below average team score in the vault, winning the event with a score of 15.900. The last competitor in the line-up, Raque came through for the Lions with a strong effort.
The conference triangular will be broadcast by the Big Ten Network on a tape delay basis, with the airing of the competition set for Sat., March 12 at 12 p.m.
Next week, the Nittany Lions will not only venture outside the NCAA but also the country, visiting San Juan, Puerto Rico for an exhibition competition with the Puerto Rican National Team. The dual meet is scheduled for Fri., March 11 at 7 p.m. ET. Former Nittany Lion All-Americans Luis Vargas and Tommy Ramos will compete for Puerto Rico while current PSU gymnasts and Francisco Vazquez and freshman Nestor Rodriguez (Guaynabo, P.R.) will return home to perform in front of friends and family. Penn State has not competed against an international opponent during the regular season since March 1, 2005 when it hosted a team of college all-stars from Japan at Rec Hall.