UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State junior Scott Rosenthal (Clearfield, Pa.) has been honored as Big Ten Gymnast of the Week, the conference office announced on Monday. He was recognized with the award for the second time in his career for his record-setting performance in the No. 6 Nittany Lions’ convincing victory over No. 14 Army on Saturday.
Rosenthal helped Penn State post the nation’s highest team total in the season’s first week (349.800), capturing the still rings title in milestone fashion. The 2011 All-American shattered the Nittany Lion program record and tied the NCAA FIG-scoring era rings mark, recording a 16.300.
The Penn State record was previously held by three-time still rings All-American Tommy Ramos, who scored a 16.000 in 2008, the first season the FIG scoring system was implemented in collegiate men’s gymnastics. Rosenthal also equaled the effort of former Ohio State national champion Brandon Wynn, who scored 16.300 twice in his career.
As a sophomore in 2011, the local central Pennsylvania product established himself as one of the nation’s top still rings performers. Rosenthal won titles in the event in nine of 10 regular season meets and finished second at the Big Ten Championships, earning Second Team All-Big Ten honors. At the National Collegiate Championships qualifier, he helped Penn State set a program record as a team in the still rings (62.300), placing second with a score of 15.850.
Penn State is back in action this weekend, traveling to Ann Arbor for a Big Ten clash with No. 3 Michigan. The Nittany Lions’ first road test of the 2012 season is scheduled for a 7 p.m. start on Saturday, Jan. 21 at UM’s Cliff Keen Arena. A year ago, Penn State knocked off the then-defending national champion Wolverines, 350.400-346.900, in a dual meet at Rec Hall in the third week of the regular season.
