| March 18, 2017 | 2:30 p.m. | University Park, Pa. | | Rec Hall |
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March 17, 2017
MEN'S GYMNASTICS RETURNS TO REC
The Penn State men's gymnastics will return to Rec Hall for its third home meet of the 2017 campaign Saturday, March 18. The Nittany Lions will take on the University of Michigan in a 2:30 p.m. meet that is set to be featured on the Big Ten Network.
SERIES HISTORY WITH MICHIGAN
The Nittany Lions lead the all-time series with the Wolverines, 22-19-0, but most recently fell to Michigan in Ann Arbor in the 2016 campaign. However, Penn State has won four of the last five meetings when taking on Michigan in the friendly confines of Rec Hall. The Nittany Lions have not fallen to the Wolverines at home since the 2007 campaign. Most recently, the Blue and White earned a 444.700-436.350 victory at Rec Hall in the 2015 season.
PENN STATE SET TO HONOR 2007 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM
The Penn State men's gymnastics team will honor the 2007 national champions against Michigan. The Nittany Lions scored a 221.000 in the finals, edging out Oklahoma, who notched a 220.200. The title marked the 12th NCAA win for the Blue and White and is still the most of any gymnastics program in the nation. Finally, Matt Cohen was named the 2007 Nissen-Emery Award winner for the Nittany Lions.
RETURNING HOME
After three weeks on the road, the Penn State men's gymnastics team is anxious to return to the friendly confines of Rec Hall. The Nittany Lions close out 2017 at home before heading to Champaign, Illinois for the Big Ten Championships April 7-8.
STEPPING IT UP ON FLOOR AND VAULT
The Blue and White saw two season-high scores in its tri-meet at Nebraska with Iowa, notching a 70.650 on the floor exercise and a 71.900 on the vault, while two Nittany Lions took home individual event titles. Senior Dominic DiFulvio tallied his fifth still rings title of the season and redshirt-senior Leroy Clarke, Jr. earned his first parallel bars victory of the year.
PENN STATE BESTED IN TRI-MEET WITH NEBRASKA AND IOWA
The Penn State men's gymnastics team fell to both Iowa and Nebraska in a Big Ten Conference tri-meet hosted by the Cornhuskers Saturday, March 4. Nebraska picked up the victory with a 418.350, while Iowa came in second with a 413.500 and the Nittany Lions scored a 409.600.
The Blue and White saw two season-high scores, notching a 70.650 on the floor exercise and a 71.900 on the vault, while two Nittany Lions took home individual event titles. Senior Dominic DiFulvio tallied his fifth still rings title of the season and redshirt-senior Leroy Clarke, Jr. earned his first parallel bars victory of the year.
Senior Christian McSwain and freshman Sam Zakutney earned matching 14.600s on the floor exercise to take over as the top individual performers in the event this season, while DiFulvio's 14.900 bests his previous team-high score of 14.750 on the still rings. Furthermore, the Blue and White saw four career-bests and five season-best performances in the tri-meet.
RANKING IN THE TOP FIVE
Despite its recent losses, the Penn State men's gymnastics team remains as one of the top competitors in the nation, ranking seventh overall by the CGA Coaches Poll and sixth in the Road To Nationals Rankings. Randy Jepson's squad ranks in the top five in three team event, while remaining in the top 10 in the three other events. The Nittany Lions ranks third on the pommel horse (68.714) and still rings (68.993) and come in fourth on the parallel bars (69.193).
GLANCING AT MICHIGAN
The Wolverines are coming off a big upset over No. 3 Illinois Saturday, March 11, scoring a season-high 407.300 en route to victory over the Fighting Illini. Michigan comes into week 10 of the season ranking No. 9 in the latest CGA Coaches Poll and ranks in the top-10 in three events. Sophomore Anthony McCallum leads the Wolverine squad as he is ranked second on the vault, averaging 14.917, while Emyre Cole ranks fourth on the vault and ninth on the floor exercise.
2017 PROMOTIONS
With the 2017 men's gymnastics home schedule starting Saturday, Jan. 21, the Nittany Lions have numerous promotions for its four home duals this season.
Penn State opens the 2017 home slate against Army West Point Saturday, Jan. 21 at 4 p.m. The double dual against the Black Knights will be its annual THON meet where 25 percent of tickets proceeds will go to THON. The Nittany Lions will also be giving away its 2017 schedule poster.
The Blue and White will ask fans to White Out Rec Hall Saturday, Feb. 11 for its second double dual with the women's team, this time against Ohio State. Fans will receive white shakers to cheer on the Nittany Lions and there will be a special Kid's Zone with an airbrush tattoo artist, caricature artist and balloon artist. The Nittany Lions will also ask those in attendance to submit their favorite White Out memory from any Penn State sporting event for a chance to be featured at the meet. All prior Penn State gymnastics campers will be admitted to the meet free of charge in honor of Camper Day.
The meet against the Buckeyes will also be Veterans, Armed Forces and Public Safety Day with all being invited to the meet for free with valid veteran, military or public safety I.D. Finally, the 2017 Nittany Lions will be signing autographs after the meet against Ohio State.
Penn State welcomes back its 2007 National Championship team Saturday, Mar. 18 for a special recognition ceremony between rotations. The meet against Michigan will also be the first of two meets featured on the Big Ten Network.
In its final home meet of the 2017 campaign against Iowa, Saturday, Mar. 25, the Nittany Lions will honor its six seniors for their last home meet of their careers. The six seniors set to be honored for their careers at Penn State are Joseph Boyle, Franz Card, Dominic DiFulvio, Christian McSwain, Jeremy Munn and Leroy Clarke, Jr. The meet against the Hawkeyes will also be featured on the Big Ten Network.
TICKET INFORMATION
For information on purchasing 2017 season tickets fans can visit http://www.GoPSUsports.com/tickets or call 1-800-NITTANY weekdays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Penn State will host its final home duals Saturday, March 18 against Michigan and Saturday, March 25 against Iowa.
NEXT UP
The Nittany Lions remain at Rec Hall for their final meet of the season in which they will honor their six seniors. Penn State will take on Iowa Saturday, March 25 starting at 3 p.m. with the meet set to be featured on the Big Ten Network. The Blue and White will also honor the careers of its six seniors including: Joseph Boyle, Franz Card, Leroy Clarke, Jr., Dominic DiFulvio, Christian McSwain and Jeremy Munn.
