MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – No. 5 Penn State gymnastics posted three event wins but came out on the wrong end of the overall score in Saturday's Big Ten meet at No. 9 Minnesota, falling 404.30-398.25. The Lions dropped to 4-3 overall and 2-3 in the Big Ten, while the Gophers improved to 1-3 while competing in four conference meets.
Senior Parker Clayton highlighted the day for Penn State, winning rings with a score of 14.3. That narrowly beat out Minnesota's Shane Wiskus (14.2) and ranks as the fourth-best rings score in the nation this season. Clayton has been dominant on the rings this season, winning the event title in six meets while finishing as the runner-up in the seventh.
Nick Mock wasn't anywhere near his personal best on pommel horse – mostly because he set the bar so high with a 14.8 earlier this season – but still did enough to take first place. The junior won with a score of 13.6. Ethan Dick and Michal Jaroh tied for third.
Freshman Michael Artlip recorded the best vault of his young collegiate career while sharing the event title against the Gophers. He earned a score of 14.3 to tie Minnesota's Ben Eyles for first place. Brennan Pantazis, fresh off a 14.8 last week against Navy, scored 14.25 to take third, while Michael Jaroh tied for fourth.
The Lions had multiple solid showings on floor as they took second through fourth. Freshman Matt Cormier led the way, taking second with a score of 14.6. Cormier has excelled on floor in his rookie season with just one sub-par routine in five tries. Three of routines were scored 14.6 or better while a fourth was 14.35. Pantazis was third on floor, while Eric Lung was fourth.
Andres Perez Gines was the runner-up on high bar, while Jaroh took fourth. In the final event, Alex Frack was fourth and Perez Gines was fifth on parallel bars.
Penn State has the next weekend off before closing the regular season with a home meet against Michigan on Saturday, March 20.
Jack Baldwin, Clayton, Frack and Pantazis will all be honored for Senior Day at the meet against Michigan.
The Lions are under a month away from postseason competition. The Big Ten Championships are on April 3 in Lincoln, Nebraska. The NCAA Championships are on April 16-17 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
