July 27, 2015
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Head coach Randy Jepson and his staff have announced the addition of four student-athletes to the 2015-16 roster Monday. Matthew Bunke (Toughkenamon, Pa.), Chris Sands (Lancaster, Pa.), and Alex Thomason (Houston, Texas) join Wyatt Tyndall (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada) who signed a National Letter of Intent this past April.
"We are very excited to have an outstanding freshmen class join our squad," Jepson said. "This group of young men represent not only top gymnastics talent but, each of them are outstanding students. They will undoubtedly carry on the tradition of success that our program has established both in the gym and in the classroom."
Bunke's Honors
2013-15 first team Academic All-American
2013-15 Region 7 Junior Olympic pommel horse champion
2010-15 Junior Olympic National Championship qualifier
2015 all-around finalist
2014 pommel horse, still rings, high bar and parallel bars finalist
2013 pommel finalist
Before coming to Penn State, Bunke trained at KMC Gymnastics in Kennett Square, Pa. and qualified for the Junior Olympics six-straight times from 2010 to 2015. For his dedication in the classroom, Bunke tallied four Academic All-America honors, including first team honors three times (2013-15).
Why Penn State: "Penn State offers an excellent computer science program and gymnastics program. From the first time I visited Penn State when I was little, I knew this is where I wanted to attend college."
Sands' Honors:
2015 USA Gymnastics Academic All-American (second team)
2015 University of Calgary International Cup - third place in the all-around
2015 Junior Olympic Nationals Championships - third place on the still rings, ninth place on the floor exercise
2015 floor exercise and still rings state champion
2014 Junior Olympic National Championships - fourth on the vault, seventh in the all-around, eighth on the still rings and 10th on the floor exercise
2014 Region 7 - fourth place in the all-around
2014 USA Gymnastics Academic All-American (honorable mention)
2013 state champion floor exercise
2013 Junior Olympic National Qualifier
2011 regional vault champion
Two-time team captain
While training at Prestige Gymnastics in Lancaster, Pa., Sands posted several top performances at the regional, state and national level. Sands joins the Nittany Lions after posting a third-place finish on the still rings and a ninth-place floor exercise at the 2015 Junior Olympic Nationals Championships. Also in 2015, Sands placed third in the all-around at the University of Calgary International Cup and tallied state titles on the floor exercise and the still rings. Sands was also named a second team Academic All-American.
Why Penn State: "The total and complete support that Penn State offers me will let me achieve excellence in my academics and my gymnastics."
Thomason's Honors:
2014-15 team captain
Junior Olympic elite competitor
2014 Junior Olympic Nationals - placed 10th on the floor exercise and 12th on the vault
2014 Region III: finished fourth on the pommel horse, fifth on the high bar, seventh on the parallel bars and placed seventh in the all-around
2013 Region II: placed fourth on high bar, member of the region team
Three-time USA Gymnastics Academic All-American
Thomason comes to the Nittany Lions from Houston, Texas, where he trained at Champion Gymnastics. While competing during high school, he tallied several top finishes at the regional level. Thomason also competed at a high level in the classroom and was named a United States of America Gymnastics Academic All-American three times (2013-15).
Why Penn State: "I chose Penn State because of its first-class learning environment and my confidence that it is the best fit for me academically and athletically. From my very first visit to Penn State, I connected with the coaches and knew that I wanted to work with them and be part of the Penn State team."
Tyndall's Honors:
A member of the Canadian Junior National Team
2012 Kyle Shewfelt Invitational all-around champion
Silver medalist on the floor exercise at the 2013 Canadian National Championships
2013 Gymnastics Saskatchewan Men's National Athlete of the Year
Three-time provincial all-around champion (2012-13 & '15)
Tyndall trained at the Taiso Gymnastics Club, while also competing on the Canadian Junior National Team. He is a three-time Provincial all-around champion, as well as the 2012 Kyle Shewfelt Invitational all-around champion. In 2013, Tyndall took home the silver medal on the floor exercise at the Canadian National Championships and he was named the Gymnastics Saskatchewan Men's National Athlete of the Year. He also has trained and competed in Belgium and Colorado Springs, Colo.
Why Penn State: "I chose Penn State because of the integrity of the people, its well-respected academics, and of course its very successful gymnastics program."