STATE COLLEGE, Pa.; October 16, 2000 -- The Penn State men's gymnastics team will begin defending its NCAA Championship title on January 13, 2001, when the Nittany Lions open the season against the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, Mass.
The Lions will compete in seven regular season meets and will also take part in the West Point Open hosted by Army on January 19 and 20. A select number of Lions will also participate in the highly competitive Winter Cup in Las Vegas, Nev., to qualify for the U.S. National Team.
A couple of Big Ten foes highlight the 2001 schedule. After a home meet against Army on January 13, Michigan will visit Rec Hall on February 3. The Lions beat out the Wolverines for the national title by just 0.125 points. So expect Michigan to come in looking for revenge. That day will also mark the only double dual meet of the season with the Penn State women's gymnastics team who will be competing against Pittsburgh. After a stop in Philadelphia for a meet against Temple on February 17, the Lions will visit Big Ten runner-up Ohio State on February 24.
Penn State will also be competing in a tri-meet at Arizona State. Oklahoma, who finished fourth at the NCAA Tournament, will complete the trio.
March 16 marks the Lions' final regular season meet against Michigan State.
This year, the Big Ten Championships will be decided at Rec Hall on March 23-24.
"We will face some of the top teams in the country. I am thrilled that our guys will be challenged. We have a great match against Michigan, they are NCAA runners-up and I am sure that they will be out for blood. We have exciting meets against Army and Michigan State at home and will top off at home at Big Tens. It should also be very exciting for the fans. We also face two of the top teams in Oklahoma and Arizona State on the road which will prepare us for Big Tens and NCAA's," comments head coach Randy Jepson.
The Nittany Lions were 14-6 last year and won an NCAA-record 10th NCAA Championship title. Penn State lost two lettermen, including two-time NCAA pommel horse champion, Brandon Stefaniak, but return 12, including four all-Americans.
2000 PENN STATE MEN'S GYMNASTICS SCHEDULE
| Nov. 19 | MIXED PAIRS (with Penn State women) | 2 p.m. |
| Jan. 13 | at Massachusetts | 7 p.m. |
| Jan. 19-20 | at West Point Open | 7 p.m. |
| Jan. 27 | ARMY | 7 p.m. |
| Feb. 3 | MICHIGAN (DD) | 7 p.m. |
| Feb. 9-10 | Winter Cup 1 | 7 p.m. |
| Feb. 17 | at Temple | 7 p.m. |
| Feb. 24 | at Ohio State | 7 p.m. |
| Mar. 3 | at Arizona State (with Oklahoma) | 7 p.m. |
| Mar. 16 | MICHIGAN STATE | 7 p.m. |
| Mar. 23-24 | BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS | 7 p.m. |
| Apr. 4-7 | NCAA Championships 2 | 7 p.m. |
1 in Las Vegas, Nev.; 2 at Columbus, Ohio; Home games in CAPS
DD indicates dual meet with Penn State women
All times local to site.
