The men's gymnastics team accomplished its first step for a national title by placing second at the Eastern Regionals this past weekend at Ohio State. The team posted a season-high score and the third best score nationally in its best meet of the year.

But for a team that has waited all year for the NCAAs to arrive in Rec Hall on April 18-20, it is a quiet confidence and determination that has taken over.

"We are right in the thick of things," assistant coach Randy Jepson said. "Our No. 1 goal was to make NCAAs and we did that. This meet proved to the guys that they are an excellent team and that they can score to win."

The Lions posted a 284.05 to finish second behind Ohio State, which scored 285.5. Iowa (280.8) and Minnesota (280.45) finished out the NCAA qualifiers.

In the West region, Stanford (284.65), UCLA (283.10), Oklahoma (282.50) and Nebraska (280.4) finished in the top four filling out the NCAA field. This places Penn State third for the NCAAs behind Ohio State and Stanford.

"They were pumping Ohio State's scores all weekend, and I think we have a better team than them," Adam Carton said. "We can also beat Stanford's score, but Oklahoma's score scares us."

Oklahoma, the nation's No. 1-ranked team, has scored near 285 and 286 all year long. The 282.50 at the West Regionals has prompted Jepson and others to wonder about possible injuries to the Sooners. The region's scores will come out today along with the draw of where the teams will begin the meet.

In posting the season-high score, the Lions captured five of the six individual event titles. Carton won the all-around with a 57.40 score; Jamie Downer won the high bar (9.8) and the vault (9.6); Wayne Cowden won the rings (9.85) and Mark Sohn won the horse (9.90).

"Carton was solid as a rock all the way through," Jepson said.

The senior scored between 9.5 and 9.65 in all six events, matching a consistency he's shown all year. Jamie Downer finished sixth in the all-around with his season-high score of 56.75. Downer has built up his performance since the middle of the year and his stability and leadership are important for the team.

"Jamie has always done well at NCAAs no matter how he's done all year," Jepson said. "He's a senior and that kind of leadership helps out a tremendous amount."

Sohn continues his hunt for a record fourth consecutive pommel horse title. Coming off his first break of the season against Michigan State, and first since his freshman year, Sohn scored a 9.90.

"That routine was underscored at 9.9," Jepson said. "That was the best routine I've ever seen him do, in a meet or a practice."

The team showed some inconsistency on the horse, a kink that will need to be worked out. The major concern heading into nationals will be the parallel bars, where the team scored 46.25.

"I don't understand P-bars," Mike Reichenbach said. "We had a lot of momentum going through the meet until then. We're just not very consistant there."

The team's other concern of late has been the vault. But added routines and extra work helped the team turn in its best score all year -- a 47.45. Adding to this score along with Downer's 9.6, was surprise competitor junior Doug Wilson. Wilson, competing in his first meet since his freshman season, scored a 9.45 on the vault and then added a 9.65 on the rings.

"Doug did an excellent job with a good vault and the rings set of his life," Reichenbach said. "He is very strong mentally so we weren't too concerned how he would do."

"I'm normally pretty confident, but since I haven't competed I was a little worried about that," Wilson said. "I didn't find out I was going until Thursday but I'm just very excited about doing a good job and helping the team."

Now the team will head back to the gym for more work. The NCAAs are two weeks away as things seem to be falling together for the Lions.

"We feel we have a shot; we're right there," Carton said.

"This is a talented team," Jepson added. "We have the routines but it was a question of making believers of everyone and this meet did that."