The men's gymnastics team opened its season by adding three more members to its list of wounded but still posted an impressive victory over Eastern-rival Syracuse 276.9-267.25 Saturday at Syracuse.

The Lions entered the meet without all-arounder Jim Delaney, lost for the season with a hand injury, and specialist Rich Briggs with a shoulder injury. Added to the list were Mike Reichenbach who dislocated his finger at practice Thursday and freshmen Tabor Cowden (jammed thumb), and Armando Gonzalez (rash), who suffered injuries during the meet.

"It wasn't the best lineup we could have and we still went 277," Coach Karl Schier said. "This was a very good early season score and I am encouraged that this is, potentialy, a fine team."

The Lions, which captured every event except the vault, were led by Wayne Cowden who won the rings (9.80) and placed second in the all-around with a 55.80. Chris Kirby (56.55) of Syracuse won the all-around.

Mark Sohn, who scored 9.90 on the pommel horse, Mike Masucci, who posted a 9.55 on the parallel bars and team captain Jamie Downer, who earned a 9.55 on the floor exercise, also captured first-place finishes.

Sohn led the Lions' pommel horse effort, an event which Schier doesn't expect the team to lose this season.

"I'm satisfied with my performance and its good that we started off with an excellent score on the horse," Sohn said. "This is definately one event where we can take on other teams and put some distance between us and them."

Added Schier, "I would say that on pommel horse and rings we are coming close to our absolute maximum."

Adam Carton and Masucci placed third and fourth respectively in the all-around. For Carton it was a strong return to action that included an 8.7 on the high bar even though he fell off. Massuci is trying to get over nagging injuries and posted an 8.1 on the floor and an 8.65 on the high bar.

"For Mike, that is not what he normally can do, he had a rough day," Schier said. "He will be back to his form."

Reichenbach would have competed in five events but only performed on the floor exercise, rings and vault because of his finger. He turned in a 9.55 on the rings which Schier said was helpful and very surprising because of the injury.

Freshmen Cowden and Gonzalez were expected to fill in for Delaney and Reichenbach. Gonzalez developed a rash Friday night that may have been caused from the hotel soap and which kept him up all night and out of the floor exercise and vault.

"Armando had a rough meet and some problems but he still turned in a 9.00 on the pommel horse, and that was with a break on the dismount," Schier said. Breaks cost the gymnast five-tenths of a point or more.

Because of Reichenbach's and Gonzalez's injuries, Tabor Cowden ended up competing in five events instead of one. Schier said he was very pleased with Cowden's effort with the short warning and jammed thumb.

"I was pretty excited to prove myself and I thought I came through pretty well," Cowden said. "I was a little bit nervous with the short warning, but I guess when you raise your hand, it's all the same, you have to go out and do your best."

Team depth is a strong point for the Lions and Schier said he feels the team is in good shape and the injuries won't have too much of an effect on the team. Both Briggs and Reichenbach have a chance to be back for next week's home meet against Kent State. Tabor Cowden and Gonzalez also are expected to compete.

"I think after this weekend, the upperclassmen got behind us (the freshmen) a little more after seeing we could fill in and do the job," Tabor Cowden said. "After counting our (the freshmen) scores, and getting a 276, it has helped to pull the team together."