COLUMBUS, Ohio – No. 6 Penn State had numerous quality individual performances, but the depth just wasn't there this time around as the Nittany Lions fell to No. 5 Ohio State 405.500-403.900. The Lions took four outright individual event titles and shared first place in a fifth.
It was the first loss of the season for Penn State, which dropped to 3-1 overall and 2-1 in the Big Ten. Ohio State improved to 3-1 overall and 2-1 in the conference.
"We faltered in the last three events and the Buckeyes overtook us to get the victory today," Penn State head coach Randy Jepson said. "It's tough to go on the road and give up one we could get even though we weren't full strength."
Penn State entered the meet shorthanded with numerous starters out, including the reigning CGA National Gymnast of the Week, Michael Jaroh, but came out fast with season-best scores in each of the first three events.
Nick Mock really set the tone early for the Lions, winning pommel horse with a score of 14.8. That's the best score in the nation this season by a wide margin, eclipsing Illinois' Ian Skirkey (14.55). It's also Mock's personal-best score, topping his previous best of 14.45.
Things only got better for Penn State on the next rotation as the Lions posted a season-best score of 70.6 on floor. Matt Cormier led the way with a score of 14.55 and finished first in the event. Ohio State's Jesse Tyndall was the runner-up, but Penn State took the next four sports – Eric Lung (14.2), Brennan Pantazis (14.1), Robbie Shamp (13.85), and Kaleb Booth (13.85).
The momentum carried over to vault for Penn State. The Lions scored a season-high 71.05. Cormier again led the charge, scoring 14.55 to share the event title.
After one routine in rings there was a delay to fix the apparatus, and that's when Penn State began to unravel. But even then, the Lions continued to show glimpses of what they can do with standout individual performances. Parker Clayton was one of those with his first-place finish on rings with a score of 14.15.
Penn State took the top three spots on high bar, led by Alex Frack in first and followed by Pantazis and Andres Perez Gines in second and third. Gines added a runner-up finish on parallel bars.
"We had some solid performances today, including a great pommel horse by Nick Mock with a nation-leading 14.8. Jack Baldwin was solid also with a 13.4," Jepson said. "We got good performances throughout the meet by Andres Perez and Alex Frack. Ethan Dick also continues to do a great job for us."
Halfway through its Big Ten competition, Penn State sits in a tie for second place in the league standings behind Iowa (2-0). The Hawkeyes are next on the schedule for the Lions as the two will square off on Saturday at 6 p.m. in Iowa City.
"It will be a short week of training and then we're off to Iowa City to take on the Hawkeyes," Jepson said. "That will be a great test as well, so we have to bounce back and be ready."
