COLUMBUS, Ohio; February 25, 2006 - The No. 4-ranked Penn State men's gymnastics suffered its first defeat of the 2006 season Saturday evening, dropping a dual meet to No. 2 Ohio State, 216.300-209.050, at St. John Arena in Columbus, Ohio.

As a team, the Nittany Lions won just one event but did it in decisive fashion, besting Ohio State, 37.650-35.550, on the still rings. Penn State swept the top three spots en route to establishing a season high team score. Sophomore Tommy Ramos (Guaynabo, P.R.) and junior Matt Cohen (Agoura Hills, Calif.) tied for first place, earning identical scores of 9.550 while defending Big Ten Men's Co-Gymnast of the Week Derek Helsby (Orlando, Fla.) took third by earning a career-best mark of 9.350.

Ramos also secured a share of the high bar title, tying Ohio State's Willie Ito, the nation's No. 1-ranked performer on the apparatus. The sophomore's score of 9.450 was an individual and team season high.

Chad Buczek (Bridgewater, Mass.) contributed an impressive effort on the vault, placing second with a personal season best score of 9.400. Sophomore Santiago Lopez (Cibola del Mar, Mex.) set a career high on the floor exercise, scoring a 9.450 to finish third.

The Nittany Lions carried the all-around, finishing 1-2-3. Derek Helsby placed first (50.400), earning his second consecutive all-around title, followed by Matt Cohen (50.350) and Shaun Antonio (Rio Rancho, N.M.) (49.900).

Penn State returns to University Park next week to take on No. 10 William & Mary in its final home meet of the 2006 season. The Nittany Lions and the Tribe will take center stage at Rec Hall on Sat., March 4 at 7:00 p.m. In addition to saluting the career of senior captain Chad Buczek, a special presentation in honor of legendary Penn State men's gymnastics coach Gene Wettstone is scheduled. One week later, Penn State will travel coast-to-coast, making the trip to Berkeley, Calif. to compete against No. 8 Cal in the Lions' final dual meet before the Big Ten Championships (at Iowa, March 24-25).

Final Team Standings and Individual Results Team FX PH SR V PB HB Total 1. Ohio State 37.150 34.950 35.550 36.950 35.800 35.900 216.300 2. Penn State 35.550 30.950 37.650 36.400 34.150 34.350 209.050 Floor Exercise 1. Eddie Hay, Ohio State 9.750 2. Jimmy Wickham, Ohio State 9.600 3. Santiago Lopez, Penn State 9.450 Pommel Horse 1. DJ Bucher, Ohio State 9.200 2. Grant Osborne, Ohio State 8.800 3. Kris Kline, Ohio State 8.700 Rings 1. Matt Cohen, Penn State 9.550 Tommy Ramos, Penn State 9.550 3. Derek Helsby, Penn State 9.350 Vault 1. Jimmy Wickham, Ohio State 9.700 2. Chad Buczek, Penn State 9.400 3. Jake Bateman, Ohio State 9.350 Parallel Bars 1. Nic Searcy, Ohio State 9.200 2. Jake Bateman, Ohio State 9.100 3. Shaun Antonio, Penn State 8.800 Mike Marino, Ohio State 8.800 High Bar 1. Tommy Ramos, Penn State 9.450 Willie Ito, Ohio State 9.450 3. Grant Osborne, Ohio State 9.100 All-Around 1. Derek Helsby, Penn State 50.400 2. Matt Cohen, Penn State 50.350 3. Shaun Antonio, Penn State 49.900