UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – No. 4 Penn State men’s gymnastics hits the road to Sarasota, Florida, where the team will compete at the 2026 Sam Mikulak Invitational on Saturday, January 24. The event is set to begin at 7:30 p.m. with awards announced around 9:30 p.m.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Date: Saturday, January 24 at 7:30 p.m.
Location: Sarasota, Fla. | Venue: Sailor Circus
LAST TIME OUT
The Nittany Lions followed up their strong start to the season with a win at the 2026 West Point Open, earning the team’s 26th title at the event. 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.
The team rounded out the 2026 West Point Open with seven total podium finishes, including two even titles. Penn State alumnus Michael Artlip even showed out, scoring a 13.150 on floor and a 13.000 on parallel bars, both good for second-place finishes. Kellen Ryan was the first Nittany Lion to post an event title, putting up a 13.400 on floor. The graduate student also finished second on vault with a 13.800. His rings score of 12.450 missed the podium but was good for seventh place overall. Luke Esparo was the other Penn Stater to take home a championship, posting a big 13.900 on rings. He also competed in the parallel bars for the Blue & White. Esparo narrowly missed the podium there, finishing fourth with a 12.750.
MEETING HISTORY
This is Penn State’s first attendance at the annual Sam Mikulak Invitational, while the event enters its third season. Penn State will face off against Illinois and Air Force in addition to club gyms Florida Storm, Aussie Gems, EVO Gymnastics, Gymnastics Saskatchewan, Kovacs Gymnastics, and all Level 10 Event Qualifiers.
2026 SEASON PREVIEW
The Nittany Lions entered their 2026 campaign ranked seventh in the College Gymnastics Association (CGA) Preseason Coaches Poll.
Head coach Randy Jepson returns for his 35th season at the helm of the program along with associate head coach Tony Beck (10th season) and assistant coach Carlos Vazquez (14th season). Vazquez received the prestigious Honor Coach Award from the CGA at the conclusion. The award recognizes a member-coach of twenty-five years or more who has gained the admiration of his coaching associates. The Honor Coach Award Committee selects the recipient of this award each year by a secret ballot. The chairman presents this, the most prestigious of all gymnastics coaches’ awards, at the banquet prior to the NCAA Championship.
As a trio, the group was recognized as the CGA Central Region Coaching Staff of the year.
Penn State finished their 2025 season with a 6-1 overall record and 3-1 conference mark, good for a Big Ten regular season title. The team went on to have a record book finish in the post season, grabbing a second-place finish at the Big Ten Championships and earning the best PSU team finish in nearly a decade with s fifth-place spot at the NC Championships. The team has nine returners including All-Americans Matt Underhill and Luke Esparo.
Underhill is the lone returner to the roster with 2025 All-American honors after being recognized by the CGA for his work on rings during the regular season. Esparo is expected to be another big contributor this season foe the Nittany Lions after having to miss the 2025 season due to injury. The Wallingford, Connecticut, native was an All-American in his freshman season back in 2024.
Akseli Kasikas, who spend the summer and fall at various national team events with Finland, is back in action for the Blue & White. He and teammate Kacper Garnczarek were named Big Ten Gymnasts to Watch heading into 2026.
In addition to the returners, Penn State added a class of seven new faces to the roster.
UP NEXT
Penn State resumes traditional dual competition next week when the team hosts Illinois at Rec Hall on Sunday, February 1 for the team’s THON Meet. Competition is set to begin at 1 p.m.