UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Eighth-ranked Penn State heads to Champaign, Illinois on Saturday for a tri-meet with two other Big Ten teams ranked in the top 10 nationally. The Lions will take on No. 6 Illinois and No. 2 Michigan beginning at 3 p.m. (ET) at Huff Hall.
Michigan currently leads the Big Ten at 2-0 against league opponents. Penn State is third at 1-1, and Illinois is fourth at 1-1-1.
Saturday, March 7 | Huff Hall (Champaign, Ill.)
No. 8 Penn State (10-1, 1-1 B1G) | No. 2 Michigan (10-0, 2-0 B1G) | No. 6 Illinois (6-3-1, 1-1 B1G)
Watch Live | Live Results
SERIES HISTORY – MICHIGAN
• Penn State leads 13-11 in a series that began in 1958.
• The Lions won two of the last three meetings, but the Wolverines won 409.550-407.800 last season in a meet that also included Illinois. Stephen Nedoroscik won pommel horse at the tri-meet with a score of 14.850.
SERIES HISTORY – ILLINOIS
• Penn State leads 15-10 in a series that began in 1936.
• The Lions won last year's matchup 407.800-406.900.
NATIONAL RANKINGS
• Michigan is ranked second with a three-score average of 413.200.
• Illinois is ranked sixth with a three-score average of 406.733.
• Penn State is ranked eighth with a three-score average of 404.350.
LAST TIME OUT
• Penn State won four individual events but dropped a road meet to Nebraska.
• Winners for the Lions including Kaleb Booth on floor (14.650), Stephen Nedoroscik on pommel horse (14.650), Isaac Hammett on rings (14.600) and Sam Zakutney on high bar (14.100).
• The Lions led 207.650-200.100 after three rotations.
SCOUTING MICHIGAN
• Michigan is 10-0 overall and 2-0 in the Big Ten following a 408.900-396.300 win over Minnesota.
• The Wolverines rank first in the nation on high bar, second on pommel horse and second on parallel bars.
• Paul Juda ranks first in the nation on high bar with an NQA of 14.267 and a season-high score of 14.400.
SCOUTING ILLINOIS
• Illinois is 6-3-1 overall and 1-1 in the Big Ten following a 403.050-403.050 tie with Iowa.
• The Illini ranks second in the nation on rings and third on floor.
• Michael Paradise ranks second in the nation on pommel horse.
A LOOK AT THE BIG TEN STANDINGS
Michigan is all alone atop the Big Ten standings at 2-0, while Nebraska sits in second at 2-1. Penn State and Minnesota rank third at 1-1, Illinois is fifth at 1-1-1, Iowa is sixth at 0-1-1 and Ohio State is seventh with an 0-2 record.
WEEKLY AWARDS
CGA National Gymnast of the Week (1) – Stephen Nedoroscik (2/4)
CGA National Specialist of the Week (3) – Stephen Nedoroscik 3 (1/15, 2/4, 2/25)
Big Ten Gymnast of the Week (1) – Stephen Nedoroscik (2/4)
Big Ten Freshman of the Week (1) – Robbie Shamp (2/4)
PENN STATE INDIVIDUAL NATIONAL RANKINGS
• The Lions have numerous individual in the top eight nationally in individual events, based off their national qualifying average.
• Pommel Horse – 1. Stephen Nedoroscik (15.583), 3. Nick Mock (14.183), 8. Favian Valdez (13.900)
• Rings – 1. Isaac Hammett (14.433)
• High Bar – 3. Alex Frack (13.967)
UP NEXT
Penn State will complete its home-and-home season series with William & Mary when the Lions travel to Williamsburg for a meet on Saturday, March 14, at 1 p.m.
