Feb. 2, 2002

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. --The University of Illinois men's gymnastics team was defeated for only the second time this season, coming up short against the Nittany Lions today, 215.600-213.950. The Illini recorded a season-high team score of 38.850 on the vault, but it was not enough as Penn State earned higher scores in the other five events. Illinois' record now stands at 6-2 overall, 4-2 in the Big Ten.

Scott Wetterling vaulted to a career-high score of 9.400 to earn the individual title on the apparatus. He was also the individual champion on the high bar, recording another career-high score of 9.550. Wetterling also scored a career-best of 53.000 to finish second in the all-around.

Bob Rogers was the top place-winner for Illinois on the floor exercise, finishing third with a 9.050. Sean-Paul Crawford tied for fourth in the event with an 8.950. Ben Newman and Jonathan Plante shared third place honors on the pommel horse, leading the Illini with scores of 8.900. Several Illini vaulted well. J.G. Ketchen scored a season-high 9.350 to finish second to Wetterling in the event. Sean-Paul Crawford took fourth place with a 9.150. Ketchen also finished second to Wetterling on the high bar, scoring a 9.300. He recorded a third place finish (8.650) to lead the Illinois parallel bars team.

The Illini remain on the road throughout the month of February. Their next competition will be Sunday, Feb. 10 at UIC.

RESULTS

Floor - 35.500
Seward  8.600 (9)
Garnett  8.500 (11)
Wetterling  8.900 (6)
Plante  8.250 (12)
Rogers  9.050 (3)
Crawford  8.950 (4)

Pommel - 35.450
Wetterling  8.350 (9)
Spelic  8.800 (6)
Filla  8.850 (5)
Rogers  8.600 (8)
Newman  8.900 (3)
Plante  8.900 (3)

Rings - 36.200
Cano  8.350 (8)
Newman  8.300 (12)
Wetterling  8.600 (8)
Plante  9.050 (4)
Crawford  9.250 (3)
Ketchen  9.300 (2)

Vault - 36.850
Filla  8.350 (12)
Spelic  8.950 (7)
Garnett  8.800 (11)
Ketchen  9.350  (2)
Crawford  9.150 (4)
Wetterling  9.400 (1)

P Bars - 33.600
Cano  7.500 (12)
Plante  8.300 (7)
Crawford  7.800 (11)
Spelic  8.400 (5)
Ketchen  8.650 (3)
Wetterling  8.250 (8)

H Bar - 36.350
Seward  9.000 (6)
Cano 8.450 (11)
Rogers 8.550 (10)
Spelic  8.150 (12)
Ketchen  9.300 (2)
Wetterling  9.500 (1)

AA
Wetterling  53.000 (2)