UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Three Nittany Lions earned CGA Regular Season All-American honors for their performances this season, the College Gymnastics Association announced Thursday.
Josh Karnes earned a pair of honors, coming from the floor and parallel bars while Michael Artlip earned the distinction in the all-around and Luke Esparo earned it on rings.
All-American honors are given to the top-eight gymnasts in each event across the country.
Karnes adds his third and fourth regular-season All-America award to his list of accolades in his career. Karnes earned All-American status last season in the all-around and on parallel bars.The Erie, Pa. native finished first in the nation on parallel bars with a season high score of 14.900 and an average score of 14.163. Karnes claimed first place on the apparatus on four occasions. Every time Karnes has competed on parallel bars he has scored above a 14 this season.
The junior is fifth in the nation on floor with a career best score of 14.500 and a season average of 13.850. Karnes was named Big Ten Gymnast of the Week four times this season.
Artlip earns his first ever regular season All-American honor in his four-year career. The senior has been solid every time he has competed in the all-around this season. Artlip earned a career high score of 81.400 in the all-around at the Navy Open where he took first. His score ranks sixth in the nation. The Belaire, Texas native also competed in the all-around against Illinois where he notched a score of 80.550.
Esparo collects his first regular season All-American award after a stellar rookie campaign. Esparo ranks seventh in the nation on rings with a career high score of 14.450 and a season average of 13.694. The Wallingford, Conn. native placed first on the event four occasions this season. Esparo received Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors four times this season.
Penn State will begin the post season this weekend at the Big Ten Championships in Champaign, Ill.
