WEST POINT, N.Y. – Penn State men’s gymnastics kept the momentum heading into week two, winning the West Point Open for the team’s 26th time with a 313.500 final score. Behind the Nittany Lions, Army finished second with a 306.650 and Navy rounded out the top three with a 302.550. Springfield finished fourth with a 300.950, William & Mary grabbed fifth with a 294.600 with Simpson narrowly behind in sixth with a 294.300.
Penn State had three different student-athletes win three event titles, and Penn State alumnus Michael Artlip posted the day’s best floor routine with a 13.750.
“Hard fought victory tonight from our guys,” said men’s gymnastics head coach Randy Jepson. “Not as sharp as I know we can be, but really glad we were able to come out here and get the win We are going to need to be better for Big Ten competition as we were only able to get two sticks tonight, but I am really pleased with the amount of finalists we are sending on and of course the Landon all-around victory.”
Landon Simpson was the evening’s All-Around champion, scoring a 78.550. Teammate Akseli Karsikas finished in second, narrowly missing Simpson with is 78.350.
The Nittany Lions opened the meet on the parallel bars, where Luke Esparo got the action rolling with his 12.950 routine. Akseli Karsikas posted a 13.200 on his routine and Kellen Ryan posted a 12.500 to round out the returners scores. Freshman Eliran Ioscovich put up the difference maker for the Nittany Lions, scoring a 13.800 on the routine, earning the event title by the end of the night and putting PSU in second after the first rotation. An All-Around routine from Simpson earned him a 13.500 for his first score of the evening.
A few hiccups on the high bar saw Penn State drop down to fourth place. All-Arounder Akseli Karsikas posted the top score with a 13.600, but of the scores counting towards PSU’s team score, Simpson’s 12.850 was the top mark.
Penn State righted the ship as the team advanced to the third rotation. Matt Underhill opened the floor with a 13.550, a score that led the apparatus until former teammate Michael Artlip posted his event win. Kellen Ryan finish fourth overall with a 13.400, and Shaun Smith and Landon Simpson each put up a 13.300 for a sixth-place tie.
Simpson was the top Penn Stater on pommel horse, scoring a 13.700, good for third place. The next highest finisher for the Blue & White was Kacper Garnczarek, who placed ninth with a 13.050.
PSU dominated the rings rotation. Underhill, Esparo, and Karsikas made up the top three, scoring a 13.600, 13.450, and a 12.950, respectively. Kellen Ryan was the next PSU finisher at ninth, scoring a 12.450.
Penn State’s last rotation, the vault, saw freshman Shaun Smith post the top Nittany Lion score, pounding home a 14.100. Kellen Ryan was the only other PSU athlete to finish in the top eight posting a 13.800, but by then the Blue & White’s team lead was already enough, as Penn State closed the West Point Open on top.
UP NEXT
Qualifying Penn State student-athletes advance to tomorrow’s individual session on Saturday, January 17 for a chance to win some hardware and earn bids to the 2026 Winter Cup.