IOWA CITY, Iowa – The Penn State men's gymnastics team concluded the 2019 Big Ten Championships on Saturday evening with an individual event title and five total podium finishes. Head Coach Randy Jepson was named the Big Ten Coach of the Year.
Jepson has earned the Coach of the Year title for the fourth time, earning it in 2003, 2008, 2015 and now in 2019.
Penn State junior Sam Zakutney won the parallel bars with a 14.325 for his first Big Ten Championships event title of his career. Zakutney also earned All-Big Ten first team honors for his performance at the championships as he added a third-place finish on high bar and a seventh-place finish on floor.
Joining Zakutney with All-Big Ten honors, Parker Clayton, Stephen Nedoroscik and Noah Roberson all earned second team honors, and Nedoroscik took home the Sportsmanship Award.
Sam Zakutney CRUSHES his PBAR routine!! Scores a 14.325, which is currently the leader! Let's go Sam! pic.twitter.com/iTFSVAgeCe
— Penn State Men's Gymnastics (@PennStateMGYM) April 7, 2019
Redshirt senior Noah Roberson finished in second after scoring a career-best 14.725 on his ring's routine.
A CAREER-HIGH for NOAH ROBERSON!! A 14.725 puts him in second. #WeAre pic.twitter.com/SXtugMjDkx
— Penn State Men's Gymnastics (@PennStateMGYM) April 7, 2019
Parker Clayton was the first athlete up on the still rings, and the sophomore went big, hitting a career-best 14.325 to finish in third place.
Isaac Hammett scored a 14.250 to finish in fifth.
Brayden Borromeo finished in ninth with a 13.475 on his ring's routine.
On pommel horse, Stephen Nedoroscik scored a 14.850, which was good for second.
Both Brennan Pantazis and Zakutney participated in the floor final. Zakutney scored a 13.850 for seventh, and Pantazis scored a 13.750 for eighth.
Michael Burns was the first of the three Nittany Lions to compete on the parallel bars. Burns scored a 12.500 despite a hiccup in his routine. Wyatt Tyndall took a spill on the bars but was able to finish strong for a 11.050. Zakutney's 14.325 was the event winner.
Burns and Zakutney also competed on the high bar, both putting in strong performances. Zakutney finished in third with a 13.900, while Burns finished in fourth with a 13.825.
The Nittany Lions will await the draws for the NCAA Championships on April 19-20 in Champaign, Illinois.