LAS VEGAS, February 9, 2003 - Penn State men's gymnast Kevin Tan (Fremont, Calif.) won the rings event on both nights of the Winter Cup Challenge in Las Vegas, Nev., this past weekend. All-American Kevin Donohue (Saddle River, N.J.) and freshman Luis Vargas (San Piedros, P.R.) placed among the top 10 in the all-around preliminaries on the first night of competition on Friday. The meet featured 80 of the nation's top male gymnasts who were competing for spots on the U.S. National Team.

Last year's runner-up NCAA Champion on rings and two-time All-American on the apparatus, Tan scored a 9.525 to win the event for the second-straight year. This year, Tan swept both nights of competition on the apparatus, also winning at the event finals with a score of 9.250. On the first night of action, he also earned a top-15 showing on parallel bars with an 8.400 for 15th place.

Donhue won gold on vault, notching a 9.400, and posted a 9.150 on floor for a fourth-place tie en route to a ninth-place showing in the all-around with a 51.600 and advancing to the event finals on both events. He also posted top-20 showings on rings (16th, 8.450) and parallel bars (14th, 8.600).

Competing as an exhibition-only entry, Vargas earned a 51.200 to place 10th in the all-around. Already a member of the Puerto Rican National team, he was fourth on horse (9.250) and scored a 9.100 on the second night on the apparatus. He also qualified for the event finals on high bar after finishing eighth with an 8.800 on Friday.

Senior Matt Abboud (Dayton, Maine) was 36th overall in the all-around with a score of 48.100. His 8.400 on horse was good for a 20th-place finish and placed just out of the top-20 on vault, scoring an 8.900 and tying for 23rd.

Former Nittany Lion Adam Benas (Latham, N.Y.) also participated in the competition as a member of World Class Club team. He was 40th in the all-around, with his best showing coming on parallel bars, tying for 27th with a 7.900.

The Penn State men's gymnastics team is back in action on Saturday, Feb. 15, travelling to Temple for a quad meet with Illinois, William & Mary and the host Owls. The meet is scheduled for a 2 p.m. start.

--LIONS--