ANN ARBOR, Mich.; January 21, 2006 ¨C Eighth-ranked Penn State successfully met its most serious challenge of the 2006 season thus far Saturday night, downing No. 4 Michigan on its home floor, 209.400-206.450. The team total attained by the Nittany Lions was their best through this year¡¯s three meets and the victory maintains Penn State undefeated record.

The Lions, as a team, won five of six events, falling short by a narrow margin only on the vault. Their best performance came in the floor exercise and on the pommel horse, an event in which they are ranked No. 1 in the nation.

Freshman Casey Sandy (Brampton, Ont.) continued his torrid start to his collegiate career, winning his third all-around title in as many attempts. Ranked No. 4 nationally in the all-around, his score of 54.000 was a season high. Sandy placed first on the pommel horse (9.200), second on the parallel bars (8.300) and the high bar (9.250), and third in the floor exercise (9.000), rings (8.950), and vault (9.300).

Sophomore Tommy Ramos (Guaynabo, P.R.), after not seeing action last weekend versus Temple, came through with a first-place effort on the rings, winning with a score of 9.450. Senior captain Chad Buczek (Bridgewater, Mass.) tied for the top spot in the floor exercise with a score of 9.100, giving him victories in the event in consecutive meets. Santiago Lopez (Cibola del Mar, Mex.) gained Penn State¡¯s other win on the night, taking first on the parallel bars.

Penn State returns to action next weekend when it travels to West Point, N.Y. to participate in the prestigious West Point Open, the largest and highest level gymnastics competition in the East. On Fri. and Sat., Jan. 27-28, the Nittany Lions will compete against some of the nation¡¯s top men¡¯s gymnastics programs, including James Madison, M.I.T., Navy, Springfield, and Temple. Penn State has a tradition of success at the annual meet, as it has captured eight-consecutive West Point Open team titles.

For more information on Nittany Lion men's gymnastics, visit the official website of Penn State athletics at www.GoPSUsports.com.

 Final Team Standings Team FX PH SR V PB HB Total 1. Penn State 35.600 34.300 35.700 36.400 32.650 34.750 209.400 2. Michigan 34.600 33.550 35.150 36.700 32.150 34.300 206.450 Floor Exercise 1. Luke Bottke, Michigan 9.100 Chad Buczek, Penn State 9.100 3. Casey Sandy, Penn State 9.000 Pommel Horse 1. Casey Sandy, Penn State 9.200 2. Justin Miklos, Penn State 8.950 3. Gerry Signorelli, Michigan 8.600 Rings 1. Tommy Ramos, Penn State 9.450 2. Joe Catrambone, Michigan 9.150 3. Casey Sandy, Penn State 8.950 Vault 1. Daniel Rais, Michigan 9.350 Andrew DiGiore, Michigan 9.350 3. Casey Sandy, Penn State 9.300 Parallel Bars 1. Santiago Lopez, Penn State 8.450 2. Casey Sandy, Penn State 8.300 3. Gerry Signorelli, Michigan 8.200 Derek Helsby, Penn State 8.200 High Bar 1. Joe Catrambone, Michigan 9.550 2. Casey Sandy, Penn State 9.250 3. Gerry Signorelli, Michigan 8.750 All-Around 1. Casey Sandy, Penn State 54.000 2. Gerry Signorelli, Michigan 51.000 3. Derek Helsby, Penn State 50.300