STATE COLLEGE, Pa., January 5, 2004 - Penn State head coach Randy Jepson announced today the signing of Derek Helsby (Orlando, Fla.) to attend Penn State and compete as part of the men's gymnastics team. Helsby, a member of the men's junior national team, is on the Houston Gymnastics Academy/Gymasters club team.

At the Junior National Meet (Canada vs. Germany vs. USA) in 2003, Helsby finished third in the all-around as well as posting a second place finish on the high bar en route to his team's championship. In his other international competition in 2002 at the Junior Pan American Championships, his team again finished first with Helsby earning a second place finish on the pommel horse and a fourth place finish in the all-around.

On the national scene, Helsby has competed in the Junior Olympic Nationals every year since 2000, finishing third on the pommel horse in 2001 and fifth on the apparatus in 2003. A U.S. Championships participant in 2001, 2002 and 2003, his highest finishes were second place honors in 2003 on the floor exercise, pommel horse and vault. He also finished sixth overall in the all-around in 2003 and third in 2002.

The No. 5 Nittany Lions are the defending Big Ten champions and return NCAA ring champ Kevin Tan (Fremont, Calif.) as well as All-Americans Luis Vargas (Rio Pedros, Puerto Rico), Zach Roeder (Montrose, Pa.), and Ludwig Kern (Annapolis, Md.). The 2004 men's gymnastics season begins this weekend at Army at 1 p.m.. The Lions have their home opener on Jan. 17 at Rec Hall when they host Big Ten foe Illinois at 7 p.m.