University Park, Pa. -- No. 4 Penn State placed first as a team and Luis Vargas (Rio Pedros, P.R.) took the all-around as Penn State dominated the men's gymnastics tri-meet on Friday night in Rec Hall. The Lions scored a 216.875 while Temple posted a 207.325 and Navy finished third with a 203.500.
After the first rotation the Lions led the competition by a three points. Junior Chad Buczek (Bridgewater, Mass.) led on the floor exercise by securing a score of 9.550, and topping his score of 9.150 at Army meet to reach his current season high. Senior captain Steve Tobin (Cherry Hill, N.J.) and Vargas finished second and third with scores of 9.450 and 9.400, respectively.
The Lions kept up the momentum in the second and third rotations, increasing their lead by five points. Vargas' 9.100 was the best score of the night on the pommel horse and in the third rotation the reigning NCAA all-around champion tied his career high of 9.600 from the Army meet and took first on the still rings.
Vault was the Lion's strongest team score of the night, a 37.700, after every competitor posted a 9.000 or higher. Tobin took first with a 9.600, followed by freshman Santiago Lopez (Ciabola del mar, Mexico) with his career-high 9.450 and Vargas with a 9.400.
Rotation five was spent on the pommel horse for the Lions and also provided the team with several season-high scores. The Lions ended the rotation leading by 11 points, their widest margin of the evening. Vargas took first in the event after posting a 9.100. He was the only competitor to score a 9.000 or higher on the apparatus. Temple's Luke Vexler finished second with an 8.850 while freshman Derek Helsby (Orlando, Fla.) finished third with an 8.750.
The Lions secured their victory in the last rotation on high bar, highlighted by a 9.200 by Matt Bowman (Houston, Texas), the first top spot he has grabbed in his young career. Ludwig Kern scored a 9.150 to take second and Temple's David Ramos was third with a 9.000.
Penn State travels to the West Point Open next weekend, Jan. 28-29. The team returns home again for a double dual against Michigan on Feb. 19 at the Bryce Jordan Center. That meet will start at 7 p.m.