STATE COLLEGE, Pa., February 2, 2002 Fourth-ranked Penn State menĄŻs gymnastics recorded its highest score of the season en route to a 215.600-213.950 upset of No. 2 Illinois. The Lions remain undefeated on the season, 10-0, and in the Big Ten, 2-0. For the third-consecutive week, junior Kevin Donohue (Saddle River, N.J.) earned a career-high mark in the all-around, 54.200, to lead Penn State to the win.
The Lions won four of the five events while posting season-high scores on floor (36.400), pommel horse (35.600) and high bar (36.600) in the victory. Penn State held the lead until the fifth rotation, despite struggles on the horse. Career-high scores from Donohue and junior Zack Roeder (Montrose, Pa.) was enough for PSU to stay in the lead after the second rotation as each placed first in the event. The Illini took the lead after the fifth rotation when the Lions had a couple of falls on the parallel bars. But Penn State put up solid scores on the high bar while Illinois struggled on parallel bars, giving Penn State the win in the final rotation.
Donohue also posted season-high scores on the vault (9.200) and parallel bars (8.700), earning second and third place in each event, respectively. He was given the Gene Wettstone Award presented to the best gymnast of the meet.
RoederĄŻs also had a career-high 9.300 on floor to win the event. His wins on floor and horse were the first-career individual wins for the junior.
Sophomore Kevin Tan (Fremont, Calif.) was back to his winning ways on rings, earning a 9.750 for first place. He also won the parallel bars competition with an 8.800 and earned a career-high 9.000 on high bar.
Junior Matt Abboud (Dayton, Maine) tied his career-high on vault (9.200). He was third in the all-around competition with a season-best 52.200. Freshman Adam Pierce (Conroe, Texas) also recorded a career-high, notching an 8.600.
Penn State will take a week off from collegiate competition next weekend. Qualified Nittany Lions will participate in the Winter Cup which is sponsored by USA Gymnastics on Feb. 8 and 9. The Lions are back in action at Rec Hall on Saturday, Feb. 16 to take on Temple at 7 p.m.
Penn State Scores Floor: 36.400 Horse: 35.600 Rings: 36.250 Vault: 36.600 PBars: 34.450 HBar: 36.600 Total: 215.600 Penn State Individual High Scores Floor: Zack Roeder, 1st, 9.300 Horse: Kevin Donohue, 1st, 9.400 Zack Roeder, 1st, 9.400 Rings: Kevin Tan, 1st, 9.750 Vault: Kevin Donohue, 3rd, 9.200 PBars: Kevin Tan, 1st, 8.800 HBar: Kevin Donohue, 2nd, 9.300 All-Around: Kevin Donohue, 1st, 52.950
