As the Penn State men's gymnastics team entered Rec Hall Saturday night, there was one familiar face leading the Nittany Lions for the first time in over a year.

When he was introduced as the team captain, he stepped forward with a big smile and a simple wave and then graciously wished every competitor on the Michigan team good luck.

But at the same time he showed them a face they would not forget at the end of the night.

After completing his first all-around performance in a year and a half, senior Jose Palacios raised his arms with clenched fists in excitement and pointed to his team and crowd to say that he's back.

It wasn't the first time his fists were pumping with enthusiasm and it definitely was not the last.

Palacios entered Rec Hall with nervousness and anticipation, but exited it with the all-around title (55.050) and the Wettstone Award for the outstanding gymnast of the meet, but more importantly a win for the Lions.

In addition, Palacios won the horse (9.500) parallel bars (9.450) and posted season highs on every event while only scoring below a 9.000 on the floor exercise.

"I don't care much about my performance," Palacios said.

"I care that the team did good, I'm back in the all-around, I'm back in gymnastics and I'm healthy."

After redshirting last season because of an ankle injury, Palacios has come back for a fifth year and has been steadily working his way back to full competition. Penn State men's gymnastics coach Randy Jepson was unsure earlier in the week whether Palacios would return to the all-around, but it was evident early on as he performed on the floor exercise, an event that he has been working on all week in practice.

Palacios' anxious return to the all-around competition was apparent throughout the meet as he constantly paced around the bench while shaking out his arms and legs.

"I had the butterflies all day and I usually do not get nervous that much," he said, "but today was special because I haven't competed in the all-around in a year and a half."

But Palacios' early butterflies subsided when his team needed him to perform a solid routine.

After two uncharacteristic falls on the pommel horse by junior Kevin Donohue, Palacios picked up his teammates with an impressive performance.

"I'm real happy for him," Jepson said. "He was ready and worked hard and it was nice to see him put on a great all-around."

Despite the layoff from the all-around, Palacios showed no ill effects of the injuries that he sustained in years past.

The only sign of his long road back from recovery was an elbow brace during the parallel bars, but Palacios said his elbow hurts everytime that he does anything and it's not enough to keep him out of competition.

Palacios will be making another return this week.

He will be traveling to Spain where he is going to be trying out for the World Championship team.

Palacios said he will be working out with the team and showing them tapes from a couple meets because he's been out of the loop for two years with his injuries.