ROSEMONT, Ill. – Penn State freshman Shaun Smith and senior Matt Underhill have each earned their second weekly recognition for the Big Ten conference offices, garnering Freshman and Specialist of the Week honors, respectively. Of the 12 weekly awards so far this season, Penn State now owns four. Only Michigan has been recognized as often.
Smith, a Lexington, Kentucky native, garners the recognition after helping Penn State to a second-place finish at the Sam Mikulak Invitational. He posted the second-best vault of the event, scoring a 12.150 and earning a stick bonus. In addition to the vault, the freshman posted a 13.000 on floor for a 10th-place finish.
Underhill made his mark this weekend at the same meet, powering home the Penn State finish. He posted a 14.700 on rings, the top score in the nation so far this season. The senior also earned a fourth-place finish on floor with a 13.550 and a sixth-place finish on vault with a 13.800.
The pair and the rest of Penn State are back on the road this weekend when the team hosts Illinois for the THON meet. Competition begins at 1 p.m. on Sunday, February 1.