UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Sophomore Michael Jaroh finished fifth all-around to highlight Penn State's opening day at the Big Ten Championships Friday night at Rec Hall. Jaroh is one of six Nittany Lions that will combine for nine routines at Saturday night's event finals.
Jaroh qualified for the event finals on rings, vault, and parallel bars. He will be joined by sophomore Matt Cormier (vault, parallel bars), junior Robbie Shamp (floor), junior Chase Clingman (pommel horse), senior Nick Mock (pommel horse), and freshman Josh Karnes (parallel bars).
Jaroh earned his fifth-place all-around finish with a score of 79.0. He tied for fifth on parallel bars (14.05), tied for sixth on vault (14.45) and tied for sixth on rings (13.80).
Parallel bars was the best event of the night for Penn State. The Nittany Lions scored a season-best 67.450 while sending three gymnasts to the event finals. In addition to Jaroh, Karnes tied for seventh with a personal-best score of 13.8, and Cormier was 10th with a score of 13.7.
Clingman and Mock give the Lions a pair of gymnasts competing on pommel horse Saturday. The two finished in third and fourth, respectively, with Clingman matching his personal-best score of 14.2 and Mock scoring a season-best 14.1.
Cormier will represent Penn State on vault after tying for ninth with a score of 14.4, while Shamp will compete for the Lion on floor after taking 10th with a score of 13.55.
Michigan ran away with the Big Ten team title with a score of 413.350. The Wolverines were followed by Nebraska (404.350), Ohio State (402.700), Illinois (396.950), and Penn State (395.800).
Michigan's Paul Juda dominated the all-around portion of the meet, winning with a score of 85.350. He was followed on the podium by Ohio State's Jesse Tyndall (82.600), Michigan's Jacob Moore (80.650), Illinois' Hamish Carter (79.400), Jaroh (79.000), and Nebraska's Sam Phillips (78.300).
The event finals will be held at Rec Hall on Saturday at 7 p.m. The finals will air live on B1G Network.
