Watching Mike Masucci in practice or during a meet, it's hard to believe the gymnast ever smiles.

Even in his picture in the men's gymnastics yearbook he wears a grimace.

But Masucci isn't miserable, he's just thinking intensely. And usually he's thinking about gymnastics.

"Outside the gym, he still thinks gymnastics -- lives, eats, sleeps gymnastics," roommate Jim Delaney said. "He's mentally tough. Everything has to be exactly right even if it's just a stand in the corner."

But for anyone who was wondering, Masucci does smile.

"He's a very likable chap, really," senior Karl Abraham said. "Even though he's so intense, he's a lot of fun."

It's hard to criticize Masucci's attitude, which has paid off quite well this season. Masucci has scored as high as a 56.50 in the all-around and has gone below a 55 in the all-around only once -- a 54.70 against Iowa early in the year.

Those statistics are even more astounding considering Masucci is a freshman.

Coach Karl Schier said when he recruited Masucci from the World Cup Gymnastics Club, he knew he had a winner. Not only was Masucci trained by former Penn State All-American Steve Friedman, but his intensity was already obvious.

"His credentials were really high," Schier said. "We heard a lot about his work ethic -- that it was very good.And he was an Eastern boy anyway, so he was hard to pass up. "

In 1989, Masucci won the all-around title in the National Boys Invitational. Plus, he was the all-around winner at the Garden State Games for three consecutive years as well as a gold medallist at the Olympic Sports Festival in 1989.

Such success takes dedication, and, like most gymnasts, Masucci geared his energies to gymnastics at an early age. In seventh grade, while most young boys are devoting their time to after-school fun, Masucci devoted his time to his sport.

"It was something different to do besides playing football and basketball," he said. "It started taking up most of my time -- practicing every day. You can only do one thing really well, so I stuck with it."

Since coming to Penn State, the Matawan, N.J., native has taken Rec Hall by storm. In his first collegiate meet, he tallied a 55.25 in the all-around and hasn't looked back. At the age of 19, Masucci is currently the No. 21 all-arounder in the nation, averaging a 55.95.

His exceptional start reminds a number of the gymnasts and Schier of another great freshman -- Adam Carton. Carton, who transferred this season, scored in the 56s and 57s in the all-around his freshman year and was an All-American on high bar his sophomore year.

Masucci has yet to tally a 57 in the all-around, but because of rule changes which change the value of certain tricks, his 56 is equivalent Carton's 57 of two years ago.

"His aggressive training tactics, serious kind of workout attitude, are all like Adam," Abraham said. "He's also similar in some ways to Adam in his build. They're both very strong, but Mike's very flexible. Adam wasn't."

While Masucci claims his work ethic is not odd, but rather expected, his teammates are amazed at his early dedication. Captain Mark Sohn said that such hard work is the key for freshman success, but it's very hard to come by because of the big adjustment to college life. That isn't the case with Masucci.

"He's not satisfied -- ever -- with what he does," Sohn said. "If he learns a new skill, he wants to know how to make it better. If he goes 9.5 on pommel horse, he wants to know how he can throw a 9.7. He's always trying to find out how to do better."

Schier added that he has never, since September, had to remind Masucci to work, which, he said, is extremely unusual for a gymnast of any age. During the meets, too, Masucci rarely socializes with the other gymnasts, but concentrates solely on the task at hand.

"Most people watch the individual of the moment on the apparatus or they watch the team in general," Schier said. "But I watch my athletes constantly. And if you do that, you'll notice (Mike) sits quietly, his mind is very set on what he's doing even between the events.

"And, there are many times that you'll see him and he looks like he's asleep because his eyes are closed. But he's visualizing. He does that leaning back, with his eyes closed, but very intense about what is to occur in the meet -- much more than anyone else. "

The next challenge for Masucci. is the NCAA Championships, April 19-21. Only the top six gymnasts in each event and in the all-around earn All-American honors, but Masucci is shooting for such a goal.

All-arounders must do both their optional routines and Olympic compulsories. Because Masucci is so young and not a member of the national team, he does not work on the compulsories as often as other top-seeded gymnasts. Consequently his chances for All-American in the all-around are narrow. This, however, does not deter the freshman.

"My ultimate goal is all-around, top 15 would be nice," he said. "I know that's tough, but if I put a good program together I can do it. That's all I ever worry about -- all-around. It would be nice if I took All-American on an event, but that's not my ultimate goal."

In fact, Masucci admitted if he won All-American on event, but didn't give his best in the all-around, he would be disappointed in himself.

Although Masucci may not be concentrating on specific events, his coach said that he does have a good shot at All-American status on at least one -- pommel horse.

But as Sohn pointed out, Masucci does not have a weak event and the NCAAs are a funny meet. High bar was Carton's worst event, but the one on which he was an All-American.

Ultimately, Masucci would like to be a member of the Senior National Team, comprised of the top 12 gymnasts in the nation. Schier would like to see him on an Olympic team in the future. Both seem possible -- especially if he keeps up the attitude that's carried him this far.

"You have to be focused. You can't be thinking about school, girls," Masucci explained. "In the gym, you block everything out. When you leave, you try not to think about gymnastics, but it always sneaks in there.

"I guess it gives me an edge, but I don't see it that way. You come in here for a purpose. I don't want to go out there and have a bad showing. If you do something, you want to do the best you can and in order to do that, you got to think about what you're doing."