The American Dream
All-American gymmen Roeder, Stefaniak have reached top

By DARREN STEELE
Collegian Staff Writer

Penn State gymnasts Ron Roeder and Brandon Stefaniak know what an All-American is. They have each worked hard to earn this distinction and have a lot to show for it.

But what goes into being an All-American?

The men and women who are able to earn this honor are few, but are admired by many. Traveling down the road to All-American status can be an adventure. Sometimes athletes encounter a smooth, straight path to glory, whereas others find the road full of potholes and curves.

Nittany Lions Roeder and Stefaniak didn't choose the road they took, but each is proud of the effort he put into his incredible journey.

Romper room

At age 3, Roeder was your typical American kid. It was at this age that he considers his interest in gymnastics to have been sparked.

"My parents put me into it because they knew I would have a smaller body," Roeder said. "I enjoyed it and stayed with it. I mean, every kid loves jumping around in their house and going nuts, I was just like any other kid."

As a senior at Northeastern Pennsylvania's Montrose High School, Roeder qualified for the National Championships.

Stefaniak was introduced to gymnastics at an early age as well. His mother got him started at the age of 5.

"My parents wanted me to get into athletics," Stefaniak said. "My mother worked part time at the local (YMCA) teaching gymnastics. I got into it and it took off from there."

The multi-sport athlete participated in a variety of events at Western Pennsylvania's Apollo High School. Sports such as basketball and football just didn't appeal to him, but gymnastics held a special place in his heart.

"For me, I just got bored," Stefaniak said. "With basketball, everyday it was the same things, shooting the basketball in the hoop. In football we ran the same plays. In gymnastics everyday there is something different, something new."

Stefaniak enjoyed sweet success as well. He won back-to-back high school state championships in 1991 and '92 and was twice named a first-team high school Academic All-American by the United States Gymnastics Federation.

Against the odds

Both men never looked back upon entering high school, deciding to stick with gymnastics as a sports career. Since neither of their high schools supported boy's gymnastics, both had to travel 45 minutes from their respective hometowns to the nearest available gymnasiums to be able to work at their sport.

The success that both had encountered, however, didn't amount to much when they arrived at Penn State.

Neither Stefaniak nor Roeder was highly touted in the eyes of the team. Roeder, now a senior, got his foot in the door with the Penn State men's gymnastics team at a meet, but he wasn't officially a member of the team.

"I didn't know a whole lot about Ron," coach Randy Jepson said. "He came to a home meet and told me he wanted to walk on. I said, ‘Well, send me a tape.' He sent me the tape and he showed some potential, but if you were to tell me at that point that he would be where he is today, I would have been surprised."

Roeder entered his collegiate career ranked No. 90 in the junior nationals. In his freshman year, he finished seventh on the floor exercise at the Big Ten Championships and was named Penn State's most improved gymnast.

Last year at NCAA Championships, he held the top spot in both the floor exercise and rings until being bumped out on the last routine. He earned a 9.775 on the floor and a 9.75 on the rings.

Despite not winning a national title, the performance still earned Roeder All-American honors.

This season, Roeder is ranked No. 14 overall in the nation. He is ranked No. 1 both on the rings and the parallel bars, and has developed into an all-around athlete who can compete in all aspects of the game.

Stefaniak, meanwhile, has limited himself to one event in which he dominates -- the pommel horse.

"Brandon started coming to our practices," Jepson said. "We really liked Brandon's attitude. He was a nice addition. He was strong academically. It wasn't long before he was helping us out."

During his sophomore season, Stefaniak boosted his "specialist" status on the pommel horse. He regularly posted scores in the 9.7-9.8 range, placed an impressive sixth at NCAAs and was rewarded with his first All-American honor.

And this season, Stefaniak is ranked No. 1 in the nation on the pommel horse.

Gunning for No. 1

So far, both Roeder and Stefaniak's performances have helped the team climb to a No. 1 national ranking, and the teammates have carried the squad while acclimating to new situations.

"Now they are dealing with a whole different side of gymnastics," Jepson said. "Ron has never had to deal with the fact that he has done well, and there are some expectations there that he must expect for himself, and that we expect. This is a whole different seat that he is in."

Becoming All-Americans has had a profound effect on both athletes.

"The status of being one is incredible," Stefaniak said. "All of those hours, it felt like it finally paid off."

"For me, it's the highest point in my career, it's the best thing I have ever done," added Roeder.

What then is an All-American?

Just ask Roeder and Stefaniak, they are already on the road to doing it again.