University Park, Pa. -- Penn State's Luis Vargas (Rio Pedros, P.R.) has been named this week's Big Ten Men's Gymnast of the Week. The junior is the defending NCAA champion in the all-around and has continued to dominate this season.
Vargas led the Nittany Lions to their eighth-straight West Point Open title by winning the all-around title last week. In the first night of competition, Vargas landed in the top spot in three out of six events, including three first-place finishes on the pommel horse (9.750), on which he leads nationally this week, parallel bars (9.500) and high bar (9.700). He went on to win the all-around title with a career-best score of 56.800, which is also currently the highest mark in the nation. Vargas finished the weekend, claiming the parallel bars (9.200) and high bar (9.750) titles in Saturday's event finals. The defending NCAA all-around champion earns his second career Conference Gymnast of the Week honor as he was also honored last season on March 16, 2004.
Penn State is in action this weekend at the Winter Cup in Las Vegas, Nev., on Fri., Feb. 4 with action continuing on Sat., Feb. 5. Both night's action begins at 10 p.m. ET. The Nittany Lions return home Feb. 19 vs. Michigan in a double dual with the women's team, who will meet George Washington. The meet will be held in the Bryce Jordan Center at 7 p.m. For ticket information, please call 1-800-833-5533 or 863-1000 in the State College area.