Michigan
Penn State
Elkind, Caldwell Help Wolverines to Stay Perfect
2/3/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Gymnastics
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- The No. 1-ranked University of Michigan mens gymnastics team defeated No. 2 Penn State 216.750-215.800 at Rec Hall on Saturday (Feb. 3). This is the Wolverines first victory at Penn State since Feb. 3, 2001, when U-M downed PSU with a total of 209.500-207.650.
Heading into the final session of the evening, the Wolverines were trailing by 1.200 points and competing on the parallel bars. The Maize and Blue earned the p-bars team title with a total of 36.550- 36.450. Senior/junior co-captain Andrew Elkind (Cherry Hill, N.J./Cherry Hill East HS) took first place with a point total average of 9.450. Fifth-year senior captain Justin Laury (Marietta, Ga./McEachern HS) tied for second place with a 9.200. The point totals of the Maize and Blue were good enough to earn the 0.95 margin of victory.
Michigan opened competition on the pommel horse, posting a team total of 34.300 to fall short of winning by 0.200. Junior/sophomore Paul Woodward (Tallahassee, Fla./Lawton Chiles HS) took second place for U-M with an average of 8.950. Elkind took third, posting an 8.850 to better his personal best by 0.100 points.
Sophomore Kent Caldwell (Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Latin HS) claimed first place on the floor exercise with an average of 9.650. Sophomore Scott Bregman (Lawrence, Kan./Lawrence Free State HS) placed second with an average of 9.500. U-M claimed the floor exercise with a team total of 37.600-36.750.
The Wolverines struggled on the vault, tallying a total of 33.650 to take third and fifth place. Junior Daniel Rais (Livonia, Mich./Franklin HS) came in third place with an average of 8.800, while Rosso took fifth place, averaging 8.700.
On the still rings, the Maize and Blue posted a team total of 37.750 after the Wolverines took second, fourth and tied for fifth place. Sophomore Ralph Rosso (Morganville, N.J./St. Vianney HS) took U-Ms highest place -- second -- with a point average of 9.600. Elkind finished in fourth with an average of 9.500, while senior Aaron Rakes (Lexington, Ky./Dunbar HS) tied for fifth place with an average of 9.350.
U-M claimed the high bar with a team total of 36.900-34.600 after Michigan competitors took second place, tied for third and claimed fourth. Sophomore Joe Catrambone (Deptford, N.J./Gloucester HS) took second place with an average of 9.350, while Rakes and Laury tied for third with an average of 9.250. Elkind rounded out the top five with a fourth-place performance of 9.050.
The Wolverines improved to 8-0 overall (6-0 Big Ten), and will hit the road to compete in the Winter Cup Challenge in Las Vegas, Nev., on Thursday-Saturday (Feb. 8-10).
Final Team Standings
| Team Scores | FX | PH | SR | V | PB | HB | Total |
| 1. MICHIGAN | 37.600 | 34.300 | 37.750 | 33.650 | 36.550 | 36.900 | 216.750 |
| 2. Penn State | 36.750 | 34.500 | 37.950 | 35.550 | 36.450 | 34.600 | 215.800 |
Event-By-Event U-M Individual Scores
Floor Exercise Mel Santander 8.450 Ralph Rosso 9.300 (5) Scott Bregman 9.500 (2) Daniel Rais 9.150 Kent Caldwell 9.650 (1) Pommel Horse Ralph Rosso 7.100 Paul Woodward 8.950 (2) Mel Santander 7.950 Justin Laury 8.550 (5) Andrew Elkind 8.850 (3) DJ Chan 7.900 Rings Joe Catrambone 8.450 Aaron Rakes 9.350 (t5) Torrance Laury 9.300 Ralph Rosso 9.600 (2) Justin Laury 8.600 Andrew Elkind 9.500 (4)Contact: Joseph Conrad (734) 763-4423
Vault Torrance Laury 7.850 Ralph Rosso 8.700 (5) Scott Bregman 7.700 Daniel Rais 8.800 (3) Kent Caldwell 8.300 Parallel Bars Paul Woodward 8.900 Torrance Laury 8.950 Mel Santander 8.950 Joe Catrambone 8.700 Andrew Elkind 9.450 (1) Justin Laury 9.200 (2)
High Bar Mel Santander 8.650 Daniel Rais 8.150 Aaron Rakes 9.250 (t3) Joe Catrambone 9.350 (2) Andrew Elkind 9.050 (4) Justin Laury 9.250 (t3)
( ) Place in Top 5
Players Mentioned
