WEST POINT, N.Y. – The No. 8 Penn State men's gymnastics team wrapped up the 28th Annual West Point Open at Christl Arena by claiming all six of the individual titles led by junior Sam Zakutney won all three of the final events he competed in.
"We set a goal to take home the team, all-around and individual titles and we did that tonight, so that's the great news," head coach Randy Jepson said after his squads performance on Saturday evening. "We accomplished our objective and swept all the top spots in all the events, and it gives momentum into the first part of the season."
Zakutney, who was Friday night's all-around champion, claimed the title in all three of the events he qualified for. The junior took home the floor exercise, the high bar and the parallel bar victories.
In the floor exercise, Zakutney finished with a score of 14.550 to lead the pack, and fellow Nittany Lion redshirt sophomore Favian Valdez finished sixth with a 12.650.
Zakutney and Valdez went 1-2 on the high bar. Zakutney finished with a 13.800, while Valdez followed at 13.250.
The third title for Zakutney came on the parallel bars as he claimed a score of 14.000. Valdez followed Zakutney once again, this time coming in fourth with a 12.950. Senior Wyatt Tyndall came in fifth with a 10.900.
Valdez was able to claim a title of his own as he finished the night with a first place finish on the pommel horse with a score of 13.250, his first pommel horse tile of his Penn State career.
Tyndall also earned a title for the Blue and White as the senior scored a 13.250 on the vault.
Penn State went 1-2-3 on the rings for their sixth tile as junior Isaac Hammett claimed his first career title, tying his career high mark of 14.350. Redshirt senior Greg Tamargo claimed second with a 14.000 routine, and sophomore Parker Clayton tied for third with a 13.800.
"Sam had a big weekend, his did the all-around and a few events tonight, so we will want to rest him this week and get him some recovery after a great weekend. Isaac Hammett put together two great ring routines back-to-back, and as a junior, to have him step up and do an outstanding job is so exciting to see. Also to see Favian Valdez competed in an outstanding way tonight. Those two, plus Sam, were really highlights for us this weekend"
Penn State will return to West Point as they will take on Army in a dual on Saturday, January 19.
