WEST POINT, N.Y., January 11, 2003 ¡ª The fourth-ranked Penn State men¡¯s gymnastics team captured its sixth-straight West Point Open title and seventh overall scoring a 208.400 on Friday night at the Christl Arena in New York. Freshman Luis Vargas won the all-around title with a 51.600 in his first meet as a Nittany Lion.
The Lions placed first on rings (35.850), vault (36.100) and parallel bars (34.450) while finishing second on the three other events en route to first-place honors. Temple was second behind the Lions with a 207.300 and host Army placed third (203.550).
At least two Nittany Lions qualified for the event finals on Saturday night, while three will compete on floor and parallel bars. Vargas will participate in the finals on four events. He placed in a tie for third on parallel bars (8.600) and pommel horse (8.900). He also tied for sixth on high bar with an 8.550 and tied for eighth on vault with a 9.100.
Senior captain Jose Palacios competed in his first meet since last year¡¯s West Point Open. Having to sit out the majority of last season because of injury, Palacios won gold on parallel bars with an 8.800, advancing to the event finals. He also advances on floor and high bar after placing in a tie for second on floor (8.800) and eighth on high bar (8.4500).
Senior Kevin Donohue won the vault competition with a score of 9.400 and placed seventh on floor, earning an 8.750 en route to a third-place showing in the all-around with a score of 51.100. He advances to the event finals on both apparatuses.
Junior Kevin Tan starts off the 2003 season as he did the 2002 campaign. He won the rings title posting a 9.400. Sophomore Kyle Fernandez scored a 9.100 on the event, placing fourth overall, helping the Lions win the event.
Also participating at the event finals on Saturday night are sophomores Ed Seward, Ludwig Kern and Steve Tobin. A transfer from Illinois, Seward tied for second on floor recording a career-high 8.800. Tobin¡¯s career-high 8.550 on parallel bars was fifth overall and Kern earned an 8.500 to tie for eighth on horse. It was the first time Kern competed on the even in his career.
Making his collegiate debut, freshman Chad Buczek just missed the cut to advance to the finals, scoring an 8.700 on rings for ninth place.
The event finals on Saturday, Jan. 11 begin at 7 p.m. in Christl Arena.
FINAL TEAM STANDINGS
1. PENN STATE (208.400)
2. Temple (207.300)
3. Army 203.550
4. Springfield (193.950)
5. Southern Connecticut (184.900)
PENN STATE FINAL TEAM RESULTS:
Total: 208.400
Floor: 34.850
Horse: 33.550
Rings: 35.850
Vault: 36.100
PBars: 34.450
HBar: 33.600
PENN STATE TOP INDIVIDUAL SCORES:
All-Around: Luis Vargas, 1st, 51.600
Floor: Jose Palacios, T2nd, 8.800
Ed Seward, T2nd, 8.800
Horse: Luis Vargas, 3rd, 8.900
Rings: Kevin Tan, 1st , 9.500
Vault: Kevin Donohue, 1st, 9.400
PBars: Jose Palacios, 1st, 8.800
HBar: Luis Vargas, T6th, 8.550
