UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Former Penn State men’s gymnasts Jean Cronstedt ’54, Mark Sohn ’91, and Armando Vega ’59 along with the 1954 Penn State team have been inducted into the College Gymnastics Association Hall of Fame, the organization announced Friday afternoon.
Cronstedt is two-time all-around NCAA Champion, winning the titles in 1953 and 1954. He also won the parallel bar title in both years. The Nittany Lion nearly swept every event champion title in 1954. In addition to being named the all-around and parallel bar, he took the floor and high bar title in the. After college, Cronstedt went on to compete at the 1960 Summer Olympics for Sweden.
Sohn is one of the most dominant pommel horse champions in Penn State history. He owned the event from 1988-91, winning the NCAA championship title all four years. At the time, he was just the second person in gymnastics history to win four titles in a single event.
Vega is a two-time all-around NCAA Champion, winning the title in 1957 and 1959. He also took three parallel bars titles in 1956, 1957, and 1959. Vega also added a rings title in the 1959 season. The Nittany Lion went on to compete on behalf of Team USA at the 1956 and 1960 summer Olympics.
The 1954 Penn State men’s gymnastics team, led by Gene Wettstone, won the NCAA championship for the third time in program history and second-consecutive year. This 1954 Nittany Lions were just the third program to ever win consecutive titles. PSU, under the guidance of Wettstone and the performances of Cronstedt, posted an incredible 137 points, more than doubling second place Illinois score of 68. The team boasted six national champions and 15 All-Americans in total.
The Hall of Fame, which celebrated its inaugural class in 2024, has already inducted Gene Wettstone and the 1959 Nittany Lions' team.