Dec. 16, 2011
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Nittany Lion men's gymnast Felix Aronovich (Kiryat Bialik, Israel) will attempt to qualify for the 2012 Olympic Games when he competes at the 2012 Olympic Test Event in London, England from January 10-13. A junior at Penn State, Aronovich will compete as an individual, representing his native country of Israel.
To be held at North Greenwich Arena on the banks of the River Thames, the top eight gymnasts on each apparatus in the preliminary round will advance to the individual event finals.
After earning Big Ten Co-Freshman of the Year honors in 2010, Aronovich followed his rookie campaign up with a standout 2011 sophomore season, setting career highs in five events (floor exercise, pommel horse, still rings, vault, and parallel bars) and in the all-around. He recorded Penn State's highest scores of the season in the pommel horse (15.100), parallel bars (15.400), and the all-around (87.150) and ended 2011 nationally ranked in the parallel bars, high bar, and still rings. Overall, Aronovich recorded 20 top three finishes, winning a total of 12 titles.
Aronovich was named National Gymnast of the Week for the first time in his career on March 3 after capturing two first place finishes (parallel bars and all-around) and a third place (high bar) versus Ohio State and then, one week later, earned his second career Big Ten Gymnast of the Week honor for placing first in the all-around and parallel bars and second in the high bar in road tri-meet with Minnesota and Iowa.
Born in Odessa, Ukraine, Aronovich possesses an extensive international resume. He competed in the European Championships from 2004-2009 and at the World Championships in 2006 (Aarhus, Denmark) and 2010 (Rotterdam, Netherlands). At the 2008 World Cup in Cotbus, Germany, Aronovich placed ninth in the pommel horse.
Former Nittany Lions Casey Sandy (Canada), Tommy Ramos (Puerto Rico), and Luis Vargas (Puerto Rico) will also compete at the event, as their respective teams attempt to qualify for the London Olympic Games.
This week, Aronovich was recognized as a Gymnast to Watch in the Big Ten's preseason release, which also had Penn State ranked No. 3 in the conference coaches' poll.
Guided by 21-year veteran head coach Randy Jepson, the Penn State men's gymnastics team enters the 2012 campaign ranked No. 6 in the national preseason coaches' poll. The Nittany Lions return 17 letterwinners, including All-Americans Miguel Pineda (Galloway, Ohio), Parker Raque (Louisville, Ky.), Scott Rosenthal (Clearfield, Pa.), and Wasef Burbar (Arlington Heights, Ill.), from last year's team that placed sixth at the 2011 National Collegiate Championships. Penn State will open the season on Jan. 14, when it hosts Army in a 7 p.m. dual meet at Rec Hall. Other home dates in 2012 include match-ups with Illinois (Feb.18, 7 p.m.), Minnesota (March 17, 7 p.m.), and Temple (March 24, 7 p.m.).