Jan. 15, 2017
RESULTS
WEST POINT, N.Y. - The Penn State men's gymnastics team had 10 individuals compete in the West Point Open individual event finals, earning four victories Saturday, Jan. 14.
"We had a very solid showing tonight," said head coach Randy Jepson. "We walk out of the West Point Open healthy and with momentum into our first home meet. I am very proud of how this team has prepared for the season and they are ready to demonstrate that. They are ready for battle."
Freshman Favian Valdez (Kearny, N.J.) picked up his first victory donning the Blue and White, notching a 14.500 on the floor exercise, while Christian McSwain (Jamestown, N.C.) placed second with a 14.400.
The Nittany Lions saw their second individual event title of the evening when Colin Coates (Emmaus, Pa.) nabbed the pommel horse win for the second-straight year with a 14.700. Last season, Coates helped Penn State to the individual event title sweep, winning the pommel horse with a 15.050 in the event. Redshirt-senior Leroy Clarke, Jr. (Maplewood, N.J.) placed second on the pommel horse after finishing first in the team event Friday night, while Valdez placed fourth overall.
Penn State grabbed its third-straight individual event when senior Dominic DiFulvio (Marietta, N.Y.) came up big on the still rings with a 14.750 and Benjamin Cooperman (Southborough, Mass.) placed second overall with a 14.250.
Valdez and Jeremy Munn (York, Maine) tied for fourth overall on the vault with 13.800's, while Franz Card (Nashua, N.H.) placed second on the parallel bars with a 14.050.
Sophomore Michael Burns (Baltimore, Ohio) capped off the four individual event titles for the Blue and White as he picked up his second-straight high bar title with a 14.650 at the West Point Open, winning the event in the 2016 season as well.
The Blue and White open its 2017 home season Saturday, Jan. 21 when it takes on Army at Rec Hall at 4 p.m. The meet will be a double dual with the women's gymnastics team, who will be going up against Maryland.