April 12, 2013
By Chelsea Howard, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - When watching Scott Rosenthal compete on the still rings, coaches, gymnasts, and fans alike can all note his incredible strength and determination. But what most don't know is growing up in Clearfield, Pa. the senior never had the finest training conditions.
Instead of letting that stop him from fulfilling his goals and reaching his dreams of starting a collegiate career, his family took a new approach that not many gymnasts can relate to.
His father built a set of rings in their garage to allow Rosenthal to get in as much practice time as possible to replace any time lost while commuting to a gym an hour away.
"My parents have always been really supportive," Rosenthal said. "Having the rings in my garage never let me miss a day of training. I originally started in Philipsburg, which is a half hour away from where I lived ...then when I was 12 years old I started getting more serious about gymnastics and went an hour away to Altoona. That's two hours out of their day."
Rosenthal's parents continued to show their dedication and support during the summer months when they would send him off to gymnastics camps to ensure he was training at the highest level possible for his age.
"I wouldn't see them much during the summer because I was at these camps, but they made every effort they could to come down to see me," Rosenthal said. "They have been fully behind me the whole way."
It was at one of these camps when Rosenthal first met head coach Randy Jepson and had the opportunity to talk about competing for the men's gymnastics team at Penn State.
"It was interesting because I was coaching here and my assistant [coach] happened to be at the camp," Jepson said. "He told me that there was this really strong kid who was there and I needed to see him so I got in my car and drove down to the camp."
When Jepson got there, he immediately saw how strong Rosenthal really was and already knew he would be a good fit for Penn State academically as he was valedictorian of his high school class.
"When he was done working out I asked him what his plans were [for college] and he said he would like to go to Penn State if he could." Jepson recalled. "I said `well I can make that happen and it's done. You can be on our team if you want.'"
Making the transition from club gymnastics to the college level allowed Rosenthal to advance his training to an elite level.
Rather than spending an hour getting to practice and training alone in his garage, he can now train after a short walk across campus with some of the top equipment in the country.
"To go from equipment that was made in the 60's and practicing in my garage to brand new models of equipment was crazy," Rosenthal said. "Everything was so much nicer and more forgiving. To jump into an atmosphere with all of the equipment you could possibly need with some of the best coaches in the nation really just accelerated my training."
Before Rosenthal had time to consider the equipment and other resources available as factors in representing Penn State, he watched as the 2007 Nittany Lions captured a national title inside Rec Hall.
That's when he put carrying on the traditions of men's gymnastics in University Park at the top of his list of goals.
"I grew up an hour away so before I decided to come here, I went to a lot of the home meets," Rosenthal said. "In 2007 the NCAA's were [at Penn State] and I went to all three days of that. It was awesome to be in that atmosphere and watch the team win. That was the defining moment when I decided I wanted to be on Penn State's gymnastic team."
Rosenthal excelled his freshman and sophomore years as he proved to be one of the best still ring competitors out there. Reaching this status started with the strength he built starting in his makeshift garage gym and continued into the White Building training facility.
"His biggest asset is he's the strongest kid you've ever seen and you need that when you're on the rings," Jepson said. "Scott had committed himself to do whatever it was going to take to get to be as good as he could be. By the end of his sophomore year he was one of the best ring performers in the country and knocking on the door to being one of the best in the world."
Unfortunately, at the end of last summer, Rosenthal suffered a shoulder injury that would put him out for at least three months and limited the training he was capable of doing throughout most of the season.
"[An injury] really tough when you're a worker - and Scott is a worker." Jepson said. "He is used to taking turns and making things happen but with his injury he couldn't train. We've bided our time with that and he will hopefully be at his best at the end of this year."
Hoping to recreate that ecstatic environment he witnessed the last time Penn State hosted the NCAA Championships and to reclaim the national title for the first time since 2007, Rosenthal can't wait to be a part of the host team for the 2013 National Championships.
"To be on the team now and on the other side actually competing on the floor is very exciting," Rosenthal said. "It's everything I ever dreamed about as a kid watching from the stands."
--NITTANY LIONS--