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Mark Selders

No. 8 Penn State Suffers First Loss of the Season at No. 4 Nebraska

RESULTS

LINCOLN, Neb. – No. 8 Penn State suffered its first loss of the season with a 406.950-403.200 defeat to No. 4 Nebraska in a Big Ten men's gymnastics meet Saturday at the Devaney Center. The Lions dropped to 10-1 overall and 1-1 in the conference, while Nebraska improved to 7-2, 2-1.

Penn State led by more than seven points after three events thanks in large part to its best performance on floor this season, but Nebraska erased the lead in the final three events on its way to the victory.

The Lions picked up four individual wins on the day. Stephen Nedoroscik took first on pommel horse, Kaleb Booth was the champion on floor, Isaac Hammett posted another win on rings, and Sam Zakutney was first on parallel bars.

After a slow start with an uncharacteristic struggle on pommel horse, Penn State bounced back quick with a season-best team score of 71.050 on floor. The Lions set three individual personal records, including Booth with a 14.650. It was his first event win of the season and crushed his previous career best of 13.950. Eric Lung and Robbie Shamp each posted personal-best scores (14.2) while tying for fourth.


Booth's win on floor followed Nedoroscik's victory on pommel horse with a score of 14.65. The senior made the trip to Lincoln after returning from Australia earlier this week, where he took the Melbourne World Cup title. Favian Valdez was third on pommel horse against the Cornhuskers.

Penn State had its biggest lead of the meet after scoring 70.150 on vault. Brennan Pantazis took third, scoring 14.350.


Hammett took first on rings for the sixth time this season, scoring a season-best 14.6, but Nebraska cut into the deficit (275-650-271.450) at the end of the rotation. Parker Clayton was solid on rings for the Lions, posting a season-best 14.0.


The meet fell apart for Penn State on high bar as it posted its lowest score (63.800) of the season, allowing Nebraska to take a 339.700-339-450 lead. Zakutney did his part to give the Lions a chance, winning the event with a season-best 14.100.


Nebraska put the meet away in the final rotation with its best score (68.250) of the season.

Penn State continues Big Ten competition with a tri-meet in Champaign, Illinois, on Saturday at 3 p.m. (ET). The Lions will take on the host Illini and Michigan.