MEN’S GYMNASTICS
UNIVERSITY PARK – A record-setting still rings performance by junior Scott Rosenthal of Clearfield highlighted No. 6-ranked Penn State’s 349.800-321.600 win over No. 14 Army in Rec Hall Saturday night and earned him Big Ten Gymnast of the Week honors.
The 2011 All-American raised the Penn State program standard for the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) era to 16.300 in front of the 827 fans on hand for the season opener.
Rosenthal surpassed the Nittany Lion-record 16.000 set by three-time All-American Tommy Ramos in 2008, the year the FIG scoring system was introduced to college men’s gymnastics.
In addition, he tied the NCAA record established by Brandon Wynn, who was a national champion for Ohio State and achieved that score on two occasions.
Rosenthal’s previous best was a 15.900 in a dual meet at Illinois last February.
Rosenthal, redshirt sophomore Nihir Kothari (personal-best 15.800) and junior Parker Raque (14.900) gave the Nittany Lions a sweep on the still rings as they outscored the Black Knights 61.200-53.100 in that event.
Penn State’s team total was the highest in the nation for opening week even without All-Americans Felix Aronovich and Miquel Pineda in the lineup. Both are standouts on the rings as well as other events. Aronovich was not on campus yet after qualifying for the 2012 Olympics in London earlier in the week.
A year ago, Rosenthal was also named Big Ten Gymnast of the Week following the Nittany Lions’ victory over Army.
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WOMEN’S SWIMMING
CHICAGO, Ill. – Sophomore Brandie Centi of Clearfield helped a trio of relay teams place as Lincoln (Ill.) finished fourth among 11 teams in the University of Chicago Invitational Friday and Saturday.
She swam the third leg in 26.88 seconds for the Lynx ‘B’ 200 freestyle foursome that placed eighth in 1:48.92, turned in a 27-second anchor leg for the ‘B’ 200 medley quartet that took 13th in 2:03.57 and posted a 1:02.10 third split for the 400 free team that was 12th in 3:59.05.
Centi also competed in three individual events, earning a half point by tying for 16th in the 50 free in 27.15 seconds.
She placed 28th in the 100 free in 1:00.84 and tied for 30th in the 200 free in 2:17.94.
The Lynx totaled 406.5 points, just four behind Wisconsin-Whitewater.
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MEN’S BASKETBALL
NEW WILMINGTON – Junior guard Matt Shiner of Clearfield played 36 minutes and recorded two points, one rebound and one assist in two games for Westminster (2-13) last week.
The Titans fell to 1-6 in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference with a 76-66 loss to Bethany (W.Va.) in Buzz Ridl Gymnasium Saturday after dropping a non-conference game 61-56 at Penn State DuBois Wednesday night.
Shiner has scored 45 points, grabbed 14 rebounds and registered 10 assists in 13 games, including six starts.
