RESULTS
USAF ACADEMY, Colo. – Two-time national champion Stephen Nedoroscik earned the best pommel horse score in the nation in over five years while leading the No. 7 Penn State men's gymnastics team to a 399.600-375.850 win over Air Force in a non-conference meet Saturday at Cadet West Gym.
Penn State remained unbeaten at 9-0 with a first-place finish in the seven-team West Point Open and dual wins over Army West Point, Ohio State and Air Force. The Falcons dropped to 2-6.
Nedoroscik set a personal record for the second time this season on his way to a first-place finish on pommel horse. He opened the year with a 15.5 at the West Point Open and easily topped that Saturday with a 15.9. The three-time All-American entered the season with a personal-best score of 15.3.
"One huge bright spot tonight was the routine by Stephen Nedoroscik," Penn State head coach Randy Jepson said. "That routine would have medaled at the last Olympic Games and World Championships. It was just spectacular. Hopefully he can build off that and keep helping our team and maybe down the road earn a trip to Tokyo."
Penn State won five of six individual events against Air Force but saw its overall score drop by over six points from last week's win over Ohio State. The Lions were at least a full point off their season-best score in all six events.
"It was an up-and-down meet for us," Jepson said. "We made some bad mistakes. We need to iron some things out and find our identity. Hopefully we can get back on track and get healthy if we want compete for a Big Ten Championship."
Robbie Shamp won a pair of events for Penn State against Air Force, taking first on vault with a 14.05 and on floor with a personal-best 14.1. Kaleb Booth was the runner-up on vault, while the Lions took the top four spots on floor with Eric Lung, Alex Frack and Booth following Shamp.
Sam Zakutney won on parallel bars for the second-straight week, scoring a 13.8. The Lions took the top five spots in the event, including Nick Mock with a runner-up finish. Mock was also the runner-up to Nedoroscik on pommel horse.
A pair of Penn State gymnast shared the title on high bar with Frack and Andres Perez Gines each scoring 13.1. Favian Valdez was third.
The Lions have a weekend off from competition before returning to action in a non-conference meet with William & Mary on Saturday, Feb. 15, at Rec Hall.
