UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State men's gymnast Josh Karnes took third in the all-around with a score of 83.000 on day one of the Big Ten Championships in Champaign, Ill. Friday evening.
The team finished fifth overall with a score of 404.050. Michigan won the championship for the fourth time, scoring a 418.100.
"We had a disappointing night," said head coach Randy Jepson. "Six misses are not going to put you in the hunt for a Big Ten Championship. We have two weeks to get refined and to get on top of things. Hopefully, we do."
All three of the Penn State all-arounders finished in the top-six. Michael Artlip took sixth, Michael Jaroh took fifth and Karnes third.
Karnes led the Nittany Lions and the competition with a stunning parallel bars routine that earned him a career high score of 15.100 to advance to the individual event finals tomorrow evening.
The top-ten gymnasts from each event will advance to the finals.
Karnes will also advance to the finals on floor, where he scored a 14.000.
Jaroh earned a score of 13.800 to finish fourth on high bar. He tied for sixth on parallel bars with a 14.100. The senior collected an all-around score of 80.350.
"Michael Jaroh has not been in the all-around or high bar all season. We really needed him today and he came through with a great routine. He made it through to the finals, so I'm happy on his part."
Freshman Akseli Karsikas tied for tenth on high bar with a 13.600 to advance to the finals.
"Akseli Karsikas has been sick and injured for two weeks, and he dug his way through for a good high bar routine for us."
Artlip advanced to the finals on floor (13.900) and vault (14.550).
Matt Underhill tied for third on rings with a score of 14.150 and tied his career on vault to tie for eighth with a score of 14.550.
Five Penn State gymnasts will move on to the individual event finals Saturday, April 6 at 8 p.m.
