UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State men’s gymnast Josh Karnes is slated to return to the College Gymnastics Association (CGA) All-Star Games after being named MVP of the 2023 games, alongside redshirt freshman Bobby Alessio and sophomore Landon Simpson, who are both competing at the games for the first time. The group will all compete on the Team East roster on Friday, January 3, 2025, to kick off the 2025 NCAA men’s gymnastics season.
Karnes earned an automatic qualifier bid for his bronze medal on parallel bars at the 2024 NCAA Championships. He is back to compete in the event after posting a 9.675 in the parallel bars at the 2023 CGA Games, where he earned the event title at the 2023 CGA All-Star Games.
Alessio and Simpson earned their qualifications via the new selection system, which after the top gymnast from each event at the 2024 NCAA Championships accepts their nomination, the remaining two spots were selected via a social media campaign and fan voting.
Alessio is set to get his first CGA affiliated action after missing the 2024 season due to injury. Simpson is back for his second season after a trip to the 2024 NCAA Championships where he competed in the vault finals.
The All-Star Games were started in 2022, where the nation’s best collegiate gymnastics compete against each other divided into two divisions, the East and the West. Gymnasts pre-record their routines and get judged on a 10-point system by the judges in the virtual event.
The East looks for a three-peat after winning the competition in 2022 and 2023.