UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The No. 8 Penn State men's gymnastics team shucked the No. 7 Nebraska Cornhuskers, 409.70-395.00, on Saturday afternoon in the Big Ten opener at Rec Hall.
Penn State saw junior Sam Zakutney earn the Gene Wettstone Award for his performance at the meet where he won the floor, the high bar and the parallel bars.
The Nittany Lions opened up the meet with a strong showing on the floor, with Zakutney taking first with a score of 14.250. Senior captain Chris Sands added a 13.70, and Brennan Pantazis followed with a 13.60. Redshirt senior Greg Tamargo tacked on a 13.5, while Brayden Borromeo wrapped up the countable scores with a 13.05. Favian Valdez rounded out the floor routines with a 12.3. Penn State took a 68.2-64.55 advantage on floor over the Huskers.
In the second rotation, Penn State saw junior and reigning national champion Stephen Nedoroscik win the pommel horse with a 14.350. Valdez rebounded from his floor routine to score a 13.5 on pommel, and sophomore Alex Frack scored 13.3 and senior Michael Burns added 13.25. Jack Baldwin scored a 12.85, while freshman Nick Mock finished with a 11.2. Penn State outscored Nebraska, 67.25-65.20, on the horse, and through two events held a 135.45-129.75 advantage.
On rings, Isaac Hammett continued his roll, winning his third-straight rings event, this time with a score of 13.80. Parker Clayton followed with a 13.65, while senior Noah Roberson added a 13.40. Burns tacked on a 13.15 and Borromeo wrapped up the countable scores with a 12.85, while Tamargo recorded a 12.80. Penn State took the rings, 66.850-61.600.
Vault was the lone event to go in favor of the guests as the Huskers scored 71.45 to Penn State's 71.00. Zakutney led the Nittany Lions with a season-high 14.40, Pantazis added 14.30, and Borromeo followed with a season-high 14.20. Clayton came in a personal-best 14.10, and Tamargo added a 14.00 score. Valdez wrapped up the Nittany Lion vaulters with a 13.850. Through four events, Penn State held a 273.300-262.80 lead.
Zakutney picked up his second win of the night with a 13.750 on parallel bars. Wyatt Tyndall added a 13.50, while Valdez recorded a 13.250. Clayton scored a 13.10 on his routine, and Frack scored a 13.050. Burns' 12.75 was the low score for the rotation, and Penn State took the event with a 66.65-65.00 score comparison.
In the final event of the day, Zakutney recorded his third win of the day with a career-best 14.70 on high bar. Burns put in a good showing at 14.05, and Frack and Valdez both score a 13.700. Frack's 13.7 0 tied a career high. Tyndall wrapped up scoring a 13.60, while Sands scored a 13.50. Penn State took the event, 69.75-67.20.
Pen State returns to action on February 10 at 2 p.m. as they head to the University of Illinois-Chicago to take on both the Flames and Springfield in a tri-meet in Chicago.
