He's done it all.

He has won 11 All-American titles; he was back-to-back all-around NCAA champion; he competed in the 2004 Olympics for his native Puerto Rico, and can now claim that he is the best in the Big Ten.

Former Penn State men's gymnast Luis Vargas was awarded the Jesse Owens Male Athlete of the Year award for his record-setting gymnastic career at Penn State. Vargas' selection as the award winner is the first time a Penn State athlete has won the Big Ten's highest honor since Penn State joined the conference in 1992.

Vargas beat out nominees like former Illinois men's basketball player Deron Williams, former Michigan football player Braylon Edwards, and former Ohio State football player Mike Nugent.

He finished his record-setting career at Penn State winning his second straight NCAA all-around title at the 2005 NCAA Championships. He became the first back-to-back all-around winner for Penn State since Steve Cohen won the honors in 1966 and 1967. Vargas also took first place on the pommel horse and was the only athlete to win multiple titles in 2005.

He did this all while competing with a torn ligament in his thumb.

"Once I knew he was going to compete, I knew he would win," Penn State men's gymnastics coach Randy Jepson said after the championships. "It is a great tribute to a gentleman who is extremely tough."

Vargas also guided the Nittany Lions to the 2004 NCAA title -- the 11th in school history -- and the program's only Big Ten championship in 2003. Vargas was also a finalist for the Nissen-Emery Award, which is presented to the nation's senior male gymnast of the year.

Last summer, Vargas represented Puerto Rico in the 2004 Athens Olympics, finishing 15th in the men's gymnastics all-around competition.

Vargas, who graduated in May, ended his career as a Nittany Lion with 11 All-American honors, the most a Penn State gymnast has received in 25 years. He is currently training in Puerto Rico for the Olympics in Beijing.