UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The final regular season road trip for No. 6 Penn State men’s gymnastics is on deck when the team travels to No. 5 Illinois on Saturday, March 8 for a midday battle in Huff Hall.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Date: March 8 at 2 p.m.
Location: University Park, Pa. | Venue: Huff Hall
TUNE IN
LAST TIME OUT
The Penn State men’s gymnastics team posted 11 sticks on Saturday evening in Rec Hall to help secure the team’s 321.350-314.450 win over No.2 Stanford. With the win, Penn State improved to 4-1 (1-1 Big Ten), while the Cardinal fell to 8-3.
Penn State won just two of the six event titles, but stronger overall performances by the Nittany Lions aided the team to a nearly seven-point victory.
For his efforts in the meet, senior Josh Karnes was named this week’s Big Ten Gymnast of the Week. The Erie, Pennsylvania, native helped guide the Nittany Lions to a win over five-time reigning national champions No. 2 Stanford on Saturday afternoon. The senior posted two sticks in the contest, including on his high bar routine which, at a score of 13.600, earned the event title and secured the 321.350-314.450 win for the Nittany Lions.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
No. 5 Illinois enters the weekend with a 4-2 overall record, most recently besting Army and Greenville in a tri-meet at Huff Hall on Saturday, March 1. The has already bested Big Ten foe Nebraska this season, in addition to facing Michigan twice, a series which the Fighting Illini split.
Illinois’s Ian Sandoval in the No.2-ranked All-Arounder in the nation, only behind Stanford’s Taylor Burkhart. In addition to Sandoval, the Illini have the country’s No.2 ranked pommel horse routine in Brandon Dang, and two of the top five vault performers in Garrett Schooley and Ameri Sewell.
MEET HISTORY
The series between Penn State and Stanford dates back to 1936, with the Nittany Lions boasting a 16-13 advantage all-time.
Despite PSU leading the series, Illinois has won four of the last five head-to-head meetings.
2025 SEASON PREVIEW
The Nittany Lions entered their 2025 campaign ranked sixth in the College Gymnastics Association (CGA) Preseason Coaches Poll.
Head coach Randy Jepson returns for his 34th season at the helm of the program along with associate head coach Tony Beck (ninth season) and assistant coach Carlos Vazquez (13th season).
Penn State finished their 2024 season 3-3 overall and 1-3 in the Big Ten. The team has 14 returners including All-Americans Josh Karnes, Michael Artlip, and Luke Esparo.
Karnes finished the 2024 season as an NCAA Bronze Medalist following his third-place finish in the parallel bars at the national championships.
Karnes along with graduate student Matt Cormier were named Big Ten Gymnasts to Watch after stellar regular and off seasons.
The team has a new face. Graduate Student Kellen Ryan will make his debuts with the Nittany Lions, joining the program from the University of Minnesota.