MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Penn State's Parker Clayton is a men's gymnastics All-American after taking eighth place on rings Saturday in the final session of the National Collegiate Championships at Minnesota's Maturi Pavilion. The senior closed out his collegiate career on a high note with his first All-America honor.
Clayton qualified for the final round with a 14.133 on Friday and then scored a 14.0 in the final. The fourth through eighth-place finishers were separated by just 0.66 points.
A second-team All-Big Ten performer in 2019, Clayton looked poised to earn his first All-America honor as a junior in 2020 before the season was canceled. He made the most of his final opportunity as a Penn State gymnast, becoming the program's 50th All-American on rings.
Penn State has had an All-American on rings in three consecutive National Championships. Noah Roberson earned the honor in 2019 and Greg Tamargo earned the award in 2018.
The Lions had numerous gymnasts finish just outside the top eight, coming up short of All-America status. The closest of that group was senior Jack Baldwin, who tied for eighth on pommel horse with a score of 13.4. He was kept off the podium due to a tiebreaker that uses the tied gymnasts' execution score.
Freshman Matt Cormier tied for ninth on floor with a score of 14.566, finishing just behind the eighth-place finisher's score of 14.6. Cormier advanced to the finals with an impressive 14.9 routine on Friday.
Michael Jaroh made the finals in two events and had his night highlighted by a 10th-place showing with a score of 13.766 on parallel bars. He also took 30th on pommel horse.
Another freshman, Ethan Dick, wrapped up a solid rookie season with the Lions. After qualifying for the final with a score of 80.464 in his first collegiate all-around on Friday, he placed 14th with a score of 78.732.
Kaleb Booth made the final in a pair of events. He took 27th on floor and 37th on vault. Also competing in the final for Penn State were Nick Mock, who finished 27th on pommel horse, and Alex Frack, who closed his solid collegiate career with a 29th-place finish on high bar.
