June 11, 2012
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.>/b> - Five Penn State men's gymnasts competed at last weekend's 2012 Visa Championships, a two-day event that serves as USA Gymnastics' national championships, at Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis, Mo. Highlighting the Nittany Lion contingent were the efforts of junior Scott Rosenthal (Clearfield, Pa.) and freshman Craig Hernandez (Libertyville, Ill.).
Rosenthal placed fifth overall in the still rings. The 2012 Big Ten champion and NCAA runner-up in the event was consistent, scoring a 15.050 on day one and two. He was one of only five competitors to surpass the 15.000 plateau in the rings. Rosenthal, a two-time All-American, was in exclusive company at the top of the still rings standings, as the first four finishers are all members of the 2012-13 U.S. Senior Men's National Team.
Hernandez finished in sixth place in the pommel horse. After a slow start on day one, the 2012 Big Ten champion and NCAA runner-up in the event came back strong on day two, recording the field's third-highest score, a 15.200. Hernandez also competed in the floor exercise, placing 21st.
Based on the national team selection points program, Rosenthal ended the championships with 14 points while Hernandez totaled 13.
Freshman Matthew Felleman (Medway, Mass.) had Penn State's best showing in the all-around, placing 26th. His top event was a 15th place finish in the high bar, tying Nittany Lion teammate junior Mackenzie Dow (Cranford, N.J.).
Senior Miguel Pineda (Galloway, Ohio), a 2012 finalist for the Nissen-Emery Award, finished one spot behind Felleman in the all-around, highlighted by a 17th place (tie) effort in the still rings.