STATE COLLEGE, Pa., April 7, 2003 - The No. 2-ranked Penn State men's gymnastics team begins its quest for an 11th NCAA title on Friday, April 11 at 1 p.m. in the first session of the team qualifier. The Nittany Lions are one of 12 teams participating at the 2003 NCAA Championships at the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, Pa. The team and all-around finals, as well as the qualifying event finals, are on Saturday, April 12 at 4 p.m. and the individual event finals are scheduled for Sunday, April 13 at 3 p.m.

The second seed in the championships with a qualifying score of 219.017, the Lions captured the Big Ten's automatic bid after winning their first-ever conference crown. The top 12 teams in the nation are invited to the team qualifier. The top three teams from both qualifying sessions advance to the team finals on Saturday. Ohio State, Iowa, Minnesota, Stanford and William & Mary will also compete in the first session of the team qualifier. The top seed in the competition, Oklahoma is the defending national champion. The Sooners, California, Michigan, Illinois, Nebraska and Temple will compete in session two on Friday at 7 p.m.

The top three all-arounders not on the qualifying teams, plus the top three individuals on each event not already qualified on a team or as an all-around competitor will advance from each qualifying session to the all-around finals and individual event preliminaries on Saturday.

Penn State owns an NCAA-record 10 national titles with the Lions capturing the 2000 crown under the guidance of head coach Randy Jepson. The Lions also hold the record with 45 individual crowns.

The Lions posted their first undefeated season since 1987, going 16-0. Penn State has scored three of the top 10 scores since the change of the FIG scoring system in 2001, including posting a 221.525 in the win against Army which is the third-highest mark.

Individual tickets for the NCAA Men's Gymnastics Championships are $8 per session for the first day of competition on Friday, April 11, and $12 per session for the second and third days. Tickets are on sale now at the Liacouras Center Box Office and all Tickermaster locations throughout the Delaware Valley. Tickets can also be charged by phone by calling Tickermaster at (215) 336-2000, (865) 338-9000 or (302) 984-2000. All-session and group sales packages are available by calling (215) 389-9543. The Liacouras Center is located on the Temple University campus along Avenue of the Arts in Center City, Philadelphia.

For more information visit Penn State's official athletics' web site at www.GoPSUsports.com or the NCAA's championship web site at www.ncaasports.com. Event information can also be obtained at www.liacourascenter.com.

Friday, April 11
SESSION I, 1 p.m.
PENN STATE (219.017)
Ohio State (217.958)
Iowa (213.975)
Minnesota (213.617)
Stanford *213.092)
William & Mary (210.075)

SESSION II, 7 p.m.
Oklahoma (221.058)
California (214.550)
Michigan (214.008)
Illinois (213.092)
Nebraska (212.125)
Temple (210.217)

Saturday, April 12, 4 p.m.
Team and All-Around Finals, Individual Preliminaries

Sunday, April 13, 2 p.m.
Individual Event Finals

--LIONS--