WEST POINT, N.Y. – Sophomore Matt Cormier won an individual title on high bar as the Penn State men's gymnastics team wrapped up competition at the West Point Open on Saturday. Cormier was one of seven Nittany Lions gymnasts to advance to the individual event finals.
Cormier took the title on high bar with a score of 13.5, edging the runner-up from William & Mary, Giovanni Gambatese, who scored 13.45. Cormier added a third-place finish on vault (14.2) and tied for seventh on floor.
"We had a very solid showing tonight. It was great to get a victory from Matt Cormier on high bar," Penn State head coach Randy Jepson said. "It's good to see us making progress meet by meet. These two-day meets are great for our preparation for the end of the season. This meet will go a long way in helping us get to where we need to be."
Three Penn State gymnasts had runner-up finishes, including sophomore Ethan Dick with a score of 13.05 on parallel bars. That was one of three events in which he made the finals as he tied for fifth on high bar and tied for seventh on pommel horse.
Senior Nick Mock advanced to the final in each of the events he competed in on Friday. On Saturday, he posted a runner-up finish on pommel horse with a score of 13.05 and scored 12.95 on parallel bars to take third.
Senior Kaleb Booth also made the finals in both of his events. His day was highlighted by a second-place finish on floor with a score of 13.25 and a fifth-place showing on vault.
Rounding out Penn State's finalists were sophomore Michael Artlip, who was fourth on parallel bars, sophomore Colin Wingrove, who was fifth on rings and sixth on vault, and freshman Derek Schlagenhauf, who took sixth on pommel horse.
"I'm proud of the way the guys hung together, but we have a lot of refinement to do," Jepson said. "The good news is that we have a lot of points that we can gain back, both in execution and also getting guys back in the lineup. I'm pretty optimistic about what the future can hold."
Penn State will face a similar field of opponents next week at the Navy Open. Joining the Lions at the meet on Saturday, Jan. 15, will be Navy, William & Mary, Springfield, and Temple.
