STATE COLLEGE, Pa., Feb. 22, 2003 - Both the top-ranked Penn State men's gymnastics team and the 18th-ranked Penn State women's gymnastics team posted victories over the Ohio State men's and women's teams in a double dual meet held at the Bryce Jordan Center in front of 4,142 fans. The men posted a score of 220.000 to 216.875 over second-ranked Ohio State while the women defeated the 21st-ranked Buckeyes, 195.875 to 195.325. The Penn State men improve to 11-0 while the women increase their record to 8-5. With the win, Penn State men's head coach Randy Jepson earned his 200th career victory. In his 12 years at the Lion helm, he has compiled a 200-39 record.

The Men

Junior Kevin Tan (Fremont, Calif.) won three of four events to lead the No. 1 Penn State men's gymnastics team. All-American Kevin Donohue (Saddle River, N.J.) took top honors in the all-around with a 54.750. The Nittany Lions scored season-high marks on rings (37.175), vault (37.550) and high bar (37.125) and outscored the Buckeyes on every event en route to a season-best 220.000. It is Penn State's highest score since the reorganization of scoring and routines by the International Gymnastic Governing Council in 2001.

Tan posted career-high marks on horse (9.300) and parallel bars (9.450) while scoring a 9.675 on rings to remain undefeated on the apparatus this season. He was awarded the Gene Wettstone award which is presented to the most outstanding gymnast of the meet.

"I am pleased for Kevin. He had a slow start to the season and he kept improving," commented Jepson on Tan winning the Wettstone award. "He has really turned the corner and stepped up tonight."

Sophomore Ludwig Kern (Annapolis, Md.) earned a career-high score on the vault for the second-straight week with a 9.550 to win the event.

A meet-high 9.750 on high bar gave Donohue his third win on the event of the season. The score was also a career best. He had top-three showings on floor (9.150, 3rd), horse (9.250, 2nd) and vault (9.450, 2nd), as well, winning the all-around for the third time this season.

Freshman Luis Vargas (San Piedras, P.R.) also recorded one of his best performances of his short Nittany Lion career. He earned career-bests on floor (9.050), parallel bars (9.350) and high bar (9.725) and placed second in the all-around with a career-high 54.675.

Ohio State's Kerry Adderly was the only winner for the Buckeyes, posting a 9.550 on floor for a first-place showing. He also placed third in the all-around, scoring a 53.250.

"This was a good win. Whenever you beat a team of the caliber of Ohio State, you have to enjoy it," said Jepson. "There are still some things the team can improve on, but it gives the guys an idea of how far they can go."

Penn State will take on two Big Ten teams as it travels to Illinois for a tri-meet with Iowa on Saturday, Mar. 1 at 8:30 p.m. ET.

 PENN STATE FINAL TEAM RESULTS: PENN STATE TOP INDIVIDUAL SCORES: Total: 220.000 All-Around: Kevin Donohue, 1st, 54.750 Floor: 35.650 Floor: Kevin Donohue, 3rd, 9.150 Horse: 36.250 Horse: Kevin Tan, 1st, 9.300 Rings: 37.175 Rings: Kevin Tan, 1st , 9.675 Vault: 37.550 Vault: Ludwig Kern, 1st, 9.550 PBars: 36.250 PBars: Kevin Tan, 1st, 9.450 HBar: 37.125 HBar: Kevin Donohue, 1st, 9.750 

The Women

Senior Katie Rowland (Georgetown, Ontario) placed second in the all-around with an overall score of 39.025 while claiming the top spot on the vault, beam and floor. Ohio State's Shelby Warner took top honors in the all-around with a total score of 39.075.

As a team, Penn State posted scores of 48.825 on the vault, 49.100 on the bars, 48.900 on the beam and 49.050 on the floor. The Nittany Lions' team score of 195.875 marks a season high, as the squad posted season-bests on the bars and beam.

The Nittany Lions trailed 146.825 to 146.975 going into the final rotation, but Ohio State falls on the beam and strong floor scores from Rowland (9.925) and senior Katie McAvoy (9.850) sealed the win for Penn State.

Penn State trailed 48.825 to 49.125 after the first rotation, as the Lions competed on vault and the Buckeyes competed on the bars. Freshman Meredith Hoover (Dublin, Ohio) began action with a 9.600 with freshman Jennifer Orlando (Herndon, Va.) following with a 9.200 after a deduction. Senior Nikki Bongiovanni (Meriden, Conn.) posted a 9.775 while sophomore Kate Stopper (Reinholds, Pa.) recorded a 9.775. Seniors Katie McAvoy (Winnipeg, Manitoba) and Rowland finished up for the Lions, posting scores of 9.825 and 9.875, respectively, to finish first and third. Ohio State recorded three scores of 9.800 on the bars while Jill Weber posted a team-high 9.875.

Senior Dana Cuomo ( Robbinsville, N.J.) led Penn State on the bars, tallying a career-high with a 9.850 to finish second. Bongiovanni, McAvoy and junior Kelly Streicher (Colorado Springs, Colo.) all recorded scores of 9.825 to tie for fourth while senior Leslie Bair (Lancaster, Pa.) finished in 10th with a 9.775. The Nittany Lions led 97.925 to 97.825 going into the third rotation.

The Nittany Lions claimed the top spots on the beam, with Rowland scoring a 9.875 to claim the crown. Hoover and Stopper tied for second with OSU's Elizabeth Meaney and Kaylin Schlecht, all scoring a 9.800. Orlando posted a career-high 9.750 to claim sixth.

The Penn State women remain at home, hosting 5th-ranked Nebraska on Saturday, March 1 beginning at 7:00 p.m. at Rec Hall.

Visit Penn State's official athletics website, www.GoPSUsports.com, for more information on the Nittany Lion women's gymnastics team.