1948 NCAA gymnastics championships

1948 NCAA gymnastics championships

1948
Bartlett Gymnasium, site of the 1948 NCAA gymnastics championships
Tournament information
Sport	Collegiate gymnastics
Location	Chicago, Illinois
Date	March 27, 1948
Administrator	National Collegiate Athletic Association
Host(s)	University of Chicago
Venue(s)	Bartlett Gymnasium
Participants	10 teams[a]
Final positions
Champions	Penn State (1st title)
1st runners-up	Temple
2nd runners-up	Illinois
Tournament statistics
All-Around Champion	Ray Sorensen, Penn State (1537)

The 1948 NCAA gymnastics championships were contested at the sixth annual National Collegiate Athletic Association-sanctioned men's gymnastics championships to determine the team and individual national champions of men's collegiate gymnastics among its member programs in the United States.^[1] Due to the interruption of sporting events caused by World War II, these were the first championships held since 1942.

The championships were hosted by the University of Chicago at Bartlett Gymnasium in Chicago, Illinois.^[2] It was the location's 5th time hosting out of 6 total events, but following 1948 the championships would not return to Chicago until 2018.

Four-time defending champions Illinois, who won the last event in 1942, were bested by Gene Wettstone-led Penn State. It was the Nittany Lions' first team gymnastics championship.

The individual all-around championship was won by Ray Sorensen from Penn State.

Team results

The table below reflects the official NCAA record books. However, newspaper recaps of the event reported participation by Navy who scored 0 points.^[3][4]

Rank	Team	Points
	Penn State	55
	Temple	34.5
	Illinois	22.5
4	Minnesota	14
5	California	12
6	Michigan	7
7	UCLA	5.5
8	Nebraska	1.5
9	Chicago	1
	USC

Individual event finals

According to the NCAA record books, Free Exercise (now known as the Floor Exercise) did not award a championship in 1948. However, newspaper reports show the event taking place.^[5]

Medalists

Event[5]	Gold	Silver	Bronze
Individual All-Around	Ray Sorensen, Penn State (1537)	William Bonsall, Penn State (1462)	Jim Peterson, Minnesota (1415.5)
Side Horse[b]	Steve Greene[c], Penn State (286)	Vito Zinzi, Illinois (283)	Joe Berenato, Temple (275)
Long Horse[d]	Jim Peterson, Minnesota (260.5)	William Vrettos, Chicago Vito Zinzi, Illinois (258.5)	—
Parallel Bars	Ray Sorensen, Penn State (285)	Steve Greene[e], Penn State (280)	Bob Stout, Temple (273)
Horizontal Bar	Joe Calvetti, Illinois (269)	Jim Peterson, Minnesota (261.3)	William Bonsall, Penn State (259)
Trampoline	Gay Hughes[f], Illinois (266)	Charles Lucchesi, California (248)	Thomas Tillman, Michigan (247)
Tumbling	Charlie Thompson[g], California (269)	Bill Meade, Penn State (248)	Robert McKinney, Temple (233)
Rope Climb	Ken Foreman, USC (3.5 sec.)	Joseph Linn, Penn State (4.0 sec.)	George Hoffman, Navy (4.4 sec.)
Flying Rings	George Hayes, Temple (268)	William Bonsall, Penn State (266)	William Winnenberger, Temple (257)

See also

• Pre-NCAA Gymnastics Champions

Notes

1. As reflected in the NCAA Record Book. Newspaper articles state participation from Navy who scored 0 points.
2. Currently known as Pommel Horse
3. As reflected in the NCAA Record Book. Penn State has also referenced him as Stephen Greene.^[6]
4. Currently known as Vault
5. As reflected in the NCAA Record Book. Penn State has also referenced him as Stephen Greene.^[7]
6. As reflected in the NCAA Record Book. Illinois has also referenced him as Gaylord Hughes.^[8]
7. As reflected in the NCAA Record Book. California has also referenced him as Chuck Thompson^[9] and newspapers have referenced him as Charles Thompson.^[10]

References

1. "National Collegiate Men's Gymnastics Championships" (PDF). ncaa.org. 2023. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
2. "Nation's Leading Gymnasts To Seek Olympic Team Honors In NCAA Meet". Atlantic City Press. March 27, 1948. p. 14. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
3. "Penn State Wins, Temple 2d In NCAA Title Gym Meet". The Philadelphia Inquirer. March 28, 1948. p. 1S. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
4. Cromie, Robert (March 28, 1948). "Penn State's 13 Points Lead In NCAA Gym Meet". Chicago Sunday Tribune. p. 2, Part 2. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
5. "Penn State Wins, Temple 2d In NCAA Title Gym Meet". The Philadelphia Inquirer. March 28, 1948. p. 4S. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
6. "Men's Gymnastics 2022 Media Guide". issuu.com. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
7. "Men's Gymnastics 2022 Media Guide". issuu.com. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
8. "Fighting Illini Gymnastics 2024 Men's Gymnastics Record Book" (PDF). fightingillini.com. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
9. "CHUCK THOMPSON". calbears.com. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
10. "Penn State Wins, Temple 2d In NCAA Title Gym Meet". The Philadelphia Inquirer. March 28, 1948. p. 4S. Retrieved April 30, 2024.