Going into tonight's Big Ten Championships, the Penn State men's gymnastics team is last in the conference.

"There's no way we're finishing seventh," Randy Jepson said. "Not with this team. Not at home."

Maybe it's bulletin board material. Maybe it's a challenge to his team. But Jepson is serious about it.

"Sure, it's one of the toughest Big Tens I can remember," he said. "But if our team competes we will be up there."

The No. 9 Nittany Lions got their first Big Ten win over Michigan State last weekend in their best performance this season.

"That's what we wanted going into the championships," senior Ted Johnson said.

This will be the last meet in Happy Valley for six Nittany Lion seniors. They wouldn't mind being the first Penn State team to capture the conference title.

"It's very big to us," Johnson said. "We want to go out and win these last two events. That's the legacy we want."

The Nittany Lions are the most prolific program in NCAA men's gymnastics history, with ten team titles and 44 individual champions.

Events to watch

Probably the most exciting contest between individual gymnasts will come Friday night in the all around. The seven highest ranked competitors on the event will be at the meet.

Clay Strother (54.200) of Minnesota is ranked first and Jamie Natalie (53.812) of Ohio State is second. Natalie, a senior, has more experience and is favored in the event.

But Strother qualified for the National team at the high-pressure South West cup earlier this season.

"He's (Strother) certainly my most improved gymnast," Ohio State coach Miles Avery said of his vote for most improved gymnast in the conference.

The individual contest Saturday on the rings will also be heated. Second-ranked Chris Lakeman of Penn State will battle Daren Lynch of Ohio State, Linh Hoang and Leo Oka of Illinois and Scott Vetere of Michigan.

Jepson believes fans will enjoy the rings because of the incredible feats of strength and high scores.

The show within the show

If the gymnastics action isn't enough adventure for you, there will be a special theme night at Rec Hall tonight.

"For a lot of guys this is the end of a journey," Jepson said. "The story of those guys is going to unfold throughout the night."

In what he termed to be a "Gymnastics Adventure," there will be a multi-media accompaniment added to the meet tonight.

"Anybody who's seen a blockbuster movie will be pleased," Jepson said.

Penn State will also commemorate the 25th anniversary of the 1976 national championship team with an appearance by the squad and special ceremony.

No missing the madness

Jepson isn't just making guarantees about where his team will finish.

He did guarantee that the meet will be over in plenty of time for the fans to get home and catch the Penn State men's basketball team's Sweet 16 game against Temple, slated for 10 p.m.

"I made some calls, contacted a few people and pulled some strings," he joked.

"I'm glad the basketball game was scheduled late, because I want to watch it, too," Jepson added.