UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State junior Felix Aronovich (Kiryat Bialik, Israel) and freshman Tristan Duverglas (West Orange, N.J.) have been recognized with Big Ten weekly gymnastics honors for their standout performances in the No. 3 Nittany Lions’ 350.500-323.500 road victory over Springfield College last weekend. Aronovich was named Big Ten Co-Gymnast of the Week while Duverglas earned Big Ten Freshman of the Week accolades.
Aronovich recorded four top three finishes to lead the Nittany Lions to their highest dual meet score thus far this season. The Israeli national, who qualified in January for the 2012 Olympics, helped Penn State set team season highs in the parallel bars (57.900) and high bar (58.300) by capturing individual titles in each event. Aronovich’s winning parallel bars score, a 15.000, was a team season high, while his 14.900 high bar mark was a personal best for his career. He also used a season high score of 14.900 to place second in the pommel horse. Competing for the first time in the still rings this season, Aronovich finished third (15.000).
For Aronovich, the Big Ten weekly award is the third of his career. He shares the honor this week with Minnesota’s Zack Chase.
Duverglas continued his rapid development into one of Penn State’s top vaulters, winning his third consecutive title in the event. The freshman owns the Nittany Lions’ top two vault scores this year and his season-high score of 15.300 ranks second in the nation.
This weekend, the Nittany Lions return home to the familiar confines of Rec Hall for the first time since the 2012 season opener, hosting three-time defending Big Ten champion No. 2 Illinois. The conference dual meet, which will be broadcast by the Big Ten Network on a tape-delayed basis, is scheduled for a 7 p.m. start on Saturday, Feb. 18. A year ago, Penn State upset the Illini in Champaign, 352.100-351.000. ago, Penn State upset the Illini in Champaign, 352.100-351.000.
