UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – No. 7 Penn State men's gymnastics will travel to Champaign, Ill. for the 2024 Big Ten Men's Gymnastics Championships Friday, April 5-Saturday, April 6.
MEET INFORMATION
Date: Friday, April 5 – Saturday, April 6 at 8 p.m. EST
Location: State Farm Center | Champaign, Ill.
Tickets | Big Ten Championship Central
FOLLOW ALONG
Live Stats: Fox Sports
Watch: Big Ten Network
LAST TIME OUT
Penn State dropped their final meet of the regular season against Illinois, 406.500-405.950, at Rec Hall nearly two weeks ago.
Josh Karnes led the Nittany Lions taking first on parallel bars with a score of 14.650. The junior earned a pair of third place finishes on floor and high bar. His performance earned him his third Big Ten Gymnast of the Week award this season and first national recognition in the CGA Gymnast of the Week honor.
Freshman Luke Esparo tabbed his third Big Ten Freshman of the Week honor after winning rings for the fourth time this season. Esparo also claimed CGA Rookie of the Week for his performance.
Senior Michael Artlip had a solid showing in the all-around, earning a score of 80.550 against Illinois.
Penn State finished 1-3 in the Big Ten with its lone conference victory being against Ohio State.
The Nittany Lions are ranked seventh in the nation. The team is nationally ranked fourth on high bar and on parallel bars and sixth on rings.
Individually, Karnes leads the nation on parallel bars and is ranked fifth on floor. He is also ranked ninth on high bar.
Other Nittany Lions ranked individually are Artlip (sixth-AA), Esparo (seventh-SR) and Matt Cormier (ninth-PB).
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Nebraska, Illinois, Michigan, Penn State and Ohio State will all compete for the 2024 Big Ten Championship this weekend.
No. 3 Nebraska
The Huskers won a share of the 2024 Big Ten regular season title after finishing the season 3-1. Nebraska is ranked third overall in the nation and is ranked second on floor as well as high bar.
Leading the Huskers is senior Sam Phillips ranks fifth in the all-around with a season high score of 80.650.
No. 5 Illinois
The Illini also claimed a share of the 2024 Big Ten regular season title finishing 3-1 on the season. Illinois is ranked fifth in the nation and is ranked third on floor and high bar.
Leading the Illini is freshman Brandon Dang, who was recently named the Big Ten's Freshman of the Year. Dang ranks first in the nation on pommel horse with a season high score of 15.200.
No. 4 Michigan
The Wolverines finished the regular season 2-2 with victories over Nebraska and Penn State in the Big Ten. The reigning Big Ten champions are ranked fourth in the nation and second in parallel bars and rings.
Leading the way for the Wolverines is Big Ten Gymnast of the Year, Fred Richards. The sophomore leads the nation on high bar with a season high score of 15.300.
No. 6 Ohio State
The Buckeyes wrapped up the regular season 1-3 in conference match ups. Ohio State is ranked sixth overall and second on vault.
Sophomore Justin Ciccone is No. 1 in the nation on vault with a season high score of 14.950. Senior Kameron Nelson is ranked second on floor with a season high score of 14.800.
MEETING HISTORY
Penn State has won the Big Ten on four occasions with the most recent victory being in 2019. The team took the championship with a score of 410.450. Sam Zakutney was the lone individual event winner for the Nittany Lions on parallel bars that year.
In 2023, Penn State finished second with 410.700 points. Karnes won parallel bars and was named first team All-Big Ten. Matt Cormier also earned a spot on the first team. Chase Clingman was named to the second team.
The last time the Big Ten Championships were hosted by Illinois was in 2017 where Penn State finished fourth out seven teams.
PENN STATE ROTATION SCHEDULE
Rotation 1: Parallel Bars
Rotation 2: Horizontal Bar
Rotation 3: Floor
Rotation 4: Pommel Horse
Rotation 5: Still Rings
Rotation 6: Vault
UP NEXT
The 2024 NCAA Men's Gymnastics Championship will be held in Columbus, Ohio Friday, April 19-Saturday, April 20.
