Michigan
Penn State
Wolverines Cruise Past No. 6 Penn State with Season-High Score
3/7/2026 4:45:00 PM | Men's Gymnastics
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Cliff Keen Arena)
Scores: #5 Michigan 326.250, #6 Penn State 311.550
Records: U-M (9-1, 2-0 B1G), PSU (9-3-1, 1-2 B1G)
Next U-M Event: Monday, March 16 -- at Ohio State (Columbus, Ohio), 6 p.m.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 5-ranked University of Michigan men's gymnastics team dominated No. 6 Penn State, posting a season-high score en route to a 326.250-311.550 victory on Saturday (March 7) at Cliff Keen Arena.
Michigan (9-1, 2-0 B1G) took control of the meet early, establishing a nearly six-point lead over PSU (9-3-1, 1-2 B1G) after the second rotation and never looking back. U-M posted season-high scores on floor exercise (55.700), parallel bars (53.600) and high bar (54.450), while tying its season high on vault (56.050). The Nittany Lions were plagued by falls throughout the meet and notched two event scores under 50 points, allowing the Wolverines to win by nearly 15 points.
The Maize and Blue won all six event titles and swept the podium on floor, with five Wolverines posting a career high. Charlie Larson picked up a pair of titles for the second straight meet, winning floor (14.450) and vault (14.600), while Aaronson Mansberger won his fifth pommel horse title of the season (13.800) and Akshay Puri won his fourth still rings title (14.100). Fred Richard earned his second parallel bars title of the season and Pierce Wolfgang won high bar with a career-high 14.000 for his first event title of the season.
How it Happened
Rotation 1
Adam Lakomy opened a dominant floor exercise run for the Wolverines with a career high of 13.800. Jake Islam and Landen Blixt followed with season-high performances of 13.650 and 13.800, respectively, before Larson closed it out with a season-high score to win the event. U-M swept the podium as Lakomy and Blixt tied for second, while Islam finished fourth.
Michigan leads Penn State 55.700-53.200
Rotation 2
Zach Granados led off on pommel horse with a solid 13.300 before Islam and Richard suffered falls to both post 12.850s. As the anchor, Mansberger earned the event title with a 13.800. PSU posted just one score above 13.000, Kacper Garnczarek's second-place 13.600.
Michigan leads Penn State 108.550-102.900
Rotation 3
Carson Eshleman earned the team's first stick of the day, opening still rings with a season-high 13.350. The Nittany Lions posted a stick of their own, but a 13.100 from Robert Noll and a 13.050 from Richard put U-M in a good position heading into the final routine. Puri hit a season-high 14.100 to win the event, only one-tenth off his career high.
Michigan leads Penn State 162.100-153.550.
Rotation 4
Despite a neutral deduction from Solen Chiodi and a solid 55.650 from Penn State on vault, a season high from Blixt (14.400) and career highs from Noll (13.950) and Larson (14.600) gave Michigan a slight edge over Penn State on the event, allowing U-M to lead by nine points.
Michigan leads Penn State 218.200-209.200.
Rotation 5
Wolfgang opened parallel bars with a 12.450 before Eshleman tied his career best of 13.400 in his season debut on the event. Chiodi's career-high 13.750 and Richard's season-high 14.000 gave the Wolverines their first double-digit lead of the day heading into the final rotation.
Michigan leads Penn State 271.800-258.850
Rotation 6
Wolfgang got the Wolverines off to a strong start with a career-high 14.000. Despite a fall, Eshleman earned his second stick bonus of the day and posted a score of 13.600 to keep the momentum going. Blixt and Richard closed out the rotation with a 13.500 and 13.350, respectively, to seal the victory.
Michigan defeats Penn State 326.050-311.550
Up Next
The Maize and Blue will close out its road slate on Monday, March 16, when they face rival Ohio State at the Covelli Center. The meet is set to begin at 6 p.m. and will be broadcast live on Big Ten Network.
Players Mentioned
