UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- Penn State defeats Army 402.900-378.300 to kick off their 2023 campaign. The Nittany Lions earn their highest team score in an opening home meet since 2016.
Head coach Randy Jepson said "Today was a really solid effort and I am really proud of our team overall. We had a 89% hit percentage which is right where we should be. Matt Cormier did an outstanding job and led the way with four stuck landings which was great to see for him."
Junior captain Matt Cormier led the Nittany Lions with four stuck landings in his four routines. He notched career highs on still rings (13.900), vault (14.800) and high bar (14.050). He holds the highest score of all gymnasts on floor, vault and high bar.
Michael Jaroh earns the highest scores in the other three events with a 14.000 on pommel horse, 14.200 on still rings and 14.000 on parallel bars. He competed in the all-around and finished with a 79.350.
Nate Warren earns himself a career high on still rings with a 14.200, tying him for first with Jaroh.
Freshmen Kacper Garnczarek, Will Fleck, Matt Underhill and Ian Raubal all make their first appearances as Nittany Lions.
Garnczarek placed third on floor (13.250) and high bar (13.200). Underhill earned a 13.950 on rings landing at second and scored a 14.350 on vault taking third. Raubal placed second on parallel bars (12.550) and high bar (13.200).
"Our freshmen class did an outstanding job getting their feet wet and competing for the first time as Nittany Lions. We are extremely proud," said head coach Jepson.
UP NEXT
The Nittany Lions face Army again next weekend at the West Point Open on Jan. 13-14. They will compete against Army, Navy, William & Mary and Nebraska.
