With having two meets which were not as challenging as other competitions and a week off from classes, the No. 1 Penn State men's gymnastics team was hoping to get revitalized.

But because of various injuries and illnesses, the team did not get as rested as it hoped. However, the team did benefit somewhat because some of the younger gymnasts gained competition experience.

"We hoped to get refreshed through the week and as it worked out, we didn't because some guys were sick," Penn State men's gymnastics coach Randy Jepson said. "We went to Navy with the idea that we would rest a lot of people. It was good to get the younger guys some experience."

The Nittany Lions earned the No. 1 spot last week after defeating Santa Barbara 215.950 - 208.400 at the Southwest Cup in Tempe, Az., on Mar. 2. The Lions had a top-notch meet, setting new season-high scores on rings (36.550), vault (36.550), parallel bars (35.400) and high bar (36.750). On Saturday, the Lions topped Navy 215.300- 204.000 to continue their winning ways.

Junior Kevin Donohue led the Lions both weekends as he captured the all-around title at both meets. Donohue, who is the top all-arounder in the county for the fifth consecutive week, scored a career-high all-around score of 55.100 against Navy. He had three first places finishes in the team's meet against Santa Barbara and won four events at Navy.

All of this success came as a surprise to Donohue because he had been fighting a head cold and sinus infection prior to the Navy meet and did not think he would do so well. Donohue was not supposed to compete in the all-around competition against Navy because of his illness, but he was needed when senior captain Adam Benas suffered a back spasm prior to the meet.

"When Adam got hurt, I went in and surprised myself. . .it was good," Donohue said. "It is good knowing that even though I am sick, I can still compete, so if it happens at Big Ten's or NCAAs, I'll have the confidence that I can go in if I'm sick and do a good job."

Several other Lions also contributed to the team's success the past two weekends. Sophomore Kevin Tan won the rings competition at the Southwest Cup with a score of 9.700 and also had a third place finish on high bar with a career-high score of 9.150.

Freshmen Buc Kern and Adam Pierce also had good weekends for the Lions. Kern, who is from Annapolis, Md., had not competed on the floor exercise in a meet, but when a sixth person was needed for the event at Navy, Kern stepped in and came through for the team in front of his hometown crowd.

"Buc was great. I was really pleased with how he did," Jepson said. "Adam Pierce did a great job too. . .his routines were very clean. You're looking for those kind of competitive moments from guys to step in and do that and both of them have shown that they can compete really well."