TEMPE, Ariz. – The Penn State men's gymnastics team won the Arizona State Invitational with a 402.100 team score, topping Arizona State, Navy, Air Force and NoCal United.
Penn State started the day on the parallel bars, scoring a 63.100, led by junior Sam Zakutney. Zakutney won the event with a 14.00. Brennan Pantazis scored a 13.250 on his routine, while Alex Thomason recorded a 12.400. Michael Burns tacked on a 12.100 and Favian Valdez scored a 11.350.
On high bar, Zakutney again led the way for the Nittany Lions. His 13.850 was a meet-high and paced the Blue & White to a 67.00 on the high bar. Burns turn around his meet with a 13.550 and both Thomason and Chris Sands recorded 13.400's on their routines. Valdez recorded a 12.800.
On floor, Pantazis took home the meet title with a 14.200. Penn State scored a team score of 66.650. Wyatt Tyndall was the second-highest Nittany Lion score with 13.950, while Greg Tamargo added a 13.350. Sands followed with a 13.300 and Brayden Borromeo added an 11.850 score.
Stephen Nedoroscik continued his conquest of the pommel horse as he won the meet with a 14.800. His scored led the way for the Nittany Lions 68.250 team score. Nick Mock sustained his success on the horse once again and scored a 13.650. Jack Baldwin tacked on a score of 13.500, while Valdez recorded a 13.250 on his routine. Burns scored a 13.050.
Parker Clayton recorded his first event win of the season as he scored a meet-best 14.000 on rings. Noah Roberson was a close second as he scored a 13.950 on his routine. Tamargo tallied a 13.550 and Burns scored a 13.300. Isaac Hammett wrapped up the rotation at 13.100. Penn State scored a 67.900 on rings.
The final event of the day was vault, and it was the highest event team score of the day at 69.200. Pantazis recorded a 14.250 for a team-best routine. Borromeo landed his vault for a 14.100, and Clayton scored a 13.750. Tyndall scored a 13.600, while Valdez wrapped up the event with a 13.500.
Penn State returns home on Saturday, March 16 for a 4 p.m. tri-meet with Michigan and Illinois for Big Ten competition in Rec Hall.
Full final results were not provided.
