The Penn State men's gymnastics team is searching for health and stability. Most of the No. 9 Nittany Lions team will have this weekend off to rest.

In a sport like gymnastics, where being healthy and sharp at the end of the season is the only thing that matters, strategically placed breaks like this are a necessity. The injury bug has hit the Nittany Lions hard and the defending national champions have limped to a 1-2 dual meet record.

"I've never seen it this bad," senior Chris Lakeman said. "It seems like everybody is trying to fight off something."

Lakeman, a ring specialist who has not lost on the event all year, is competing with a bad elbow. Still, he will join teammates Kevin Donahue, Matt Abboud and Kevin Tan at the Winter Cup this weekend, a qualifying event for the United States National Team.

Head coach Randy Jepson and assistant Slava Boiko will accompany the squad to Las Vegas for the event. Tan and Donohue will compete in a preliminary round starting at 3 p.m. while Lakeman and Abboud should get into action around 7 p.m.

The top 100 gymnasts in the country of all ages are expected to compete. The top 36 after one day will advance to Saturday's final. The three guys with the highest scores after Saturday win brand new Team USA gymnastics uniforms.

But most importantly for the guys representing Penn State is that they get their names out there. Choose whatever cliché you'd like — foot in door, name in the hat- it all comes down to the same thing. This weekend is about making an impression.

Lakeman has the best chance to leave his mark. Already considered one of the best on rings in the college field, his coaches think he has the potential to be one of the best overall.

"We think he is of that character," Jepson said. "His routine is as hard as any I've ever seen."

Lakeman, currently ranked second in the country on the apparatus, is focusing on finishing his collegiate career with an NCAA title, but sees this as a great first step towards a continued career on the mats.

"This is a high class meet," he said. "I'll get familiarized with what the other guys are doing and some of the politics of the sport."

A solid performance this weekend will earn him the opportunity to qualify for this summer's Goodwill Games.

Donohue has been the most consistent Lion this year. He has dominated on the floor and the vault, earning Big Ten Gymnast of the week honors after winning top honors at the West Point Open on Jan. 19 and 20.

Abboud, also a sophomore, has a sore ankle. Tan, who has a bruised heel, only arrived at Penn State in January and has made an amazing adjustment to the rigors of big time college athletics and to college life.

Donohue, Abboud and Tan face a field stacked with veteran competitors. The meet is low pressure. Jepson is looking for solid, gutsy performances from them.