“My name is Stephen Nedoroscik. I went to Penn State, and Olympians are made here.” After a pommel horse routine for the ages that gave the USA’s men’s gymnastics team its first Olympic medal in 16 years, this is what the 25-year-old had to say about his alma mater. But did you know the “lesser-known gymnast”-turned-Clark Kent may not have become a Nittany Lion had it not been for a road trip he took with his mother?

Despite his mastery of the pommel horse since he was in high school (Nedoroscik had the apparatus in his backyard, too!), Stephen didn’t have any college gymnastics prospects. Mind you, this was someone who won back-to-back Junior Olympic titles on the pommel horse in 2015 and 2016. But his talent flew under the radar, and his mom – Cheryl Nedoroscik – opened up about their struggle to find a college program on the Got It From My Momma podcast.

The host said, “I’m guessing when you enrolled him into that gymnastics program, you could’ve never dreamed the path it would open up for him, even to compete at the collegiate level, and certainly not to go to the Olympics!” While this may be true, Cheryl explained just how much effort getting into Penn State took while acknowledging her son’s gymnastics prowess.

“When Steve started, we knew he was doing well. It didn’t take long for him to get on the team. Our gym started at Level 5, and he was competing since he was in first grade… By the time he was a junior in high school, he had made it to the Junior Olympic Final.” 2015, followed by 2016, he won the pommel horse events at the Junior Olympics. “But people didn’t realize he was ready to graduate,” Cheryl continued.

“He never got invited to go to any of the schools. Me and Steve, during his junior summer, went on a road trip ourselves. We visited Penn State, Ohio State, Champaign, Illinois.” Of all the unofficial visits they made, the one that stood out was Penn State. For Stephen Nedoroscik, it was because his club coach told him there was no place better. And for his mother? Well, “I actually fell in love with Penn State,” she said. But why?

“You go in, and (“Dean of College Gymnastics Coaches”) Gene Wettstone’s name is right up on top when you walk into the white building. There’s an opening, and then, right in the center of the window, was a pommel horse. And it was almost befitting to [Stephen] because he was a pommel horse specialist.” That was where head coach Randy Jepson came in. 

As Stephen’s mother explained, “Randy really sold us on Penn State, and he knew Steve was gonna be something. That’s why we decided to go to Penn State.” Once that decision was made, it was only a matter of time before the college sent the now-25-year-old an offer. And a scholarship. Recalling how it had played out, Jepson said, “When it came time to sign a scholarship, we didn’t make a big offer, but it was something that he liked.”

Speaking of scholarships and how important they are for student-athletes, the pommel horse specialist recently shared his frustration about what’s happening in colleges regarding the same. Ohio State announced that they’re removing scholarships for the men’s gymnastics program. And understandably, this was quite shocking for Nedoroscik. “Ohio State removing athletic scholarships from Men’s Gymnastics. Yet again, another step backwards for MGYM,” he tweeted.

“With the success of current and former NCAA gymnasts at the Olympics, you’d think NCAA programs would be excited for the upcoming season, not stripping away opportunities.” But that’s what is happening. Imagine if this had been the case when he was looking to join Penn State, and they removed athletic scholarships. Who knows what Stephen Nedoroscik’s career would’ve looked like? But that didn’t happen, and in the words of Randy Jepson, “Lo and behold, he comes in his first year and has an outstanding season.”

Under Jepson’s tutelage, the gymnast shined in competition. Jepson realized that despite Nedoroscik’s niche talent of excelling primarily in the pommel horse, he could find a place on the Nittany Lions roster, and he was right. Stephen Nedorscik qualified for the NCAA Championships, finishing among the top 10 on his apparatus of choice as a freshman.

Nedorosick continued to improve as the years progressed until he proved himself on the world stage. In 2021, the 25-year-old earned bronze on the pommel horse at the World Championships. In 2023, he won gold in the Pan-American Games. However, the double bronze medal in Paris has been his biggest achievement so far. And now, the gymnast is not ready to slow down.

Stephen Nedoroscik has big plans after his DWTS campaign

After the Olympian’s success in Paris, the internet dubbed the former world champion the ‘Pommel Horse Guy.’ Thanks to the similarities with Superman’s journalist persona, Clark Kent, Nedoroscik’s popularity skyrocketed. So now, the two-time Olympic medalist is taking some much-deserved time off from the sport and exploring new horizons, courtesy of Dancing with the Stars.

While fans love him on the dance reality show, Stephen Nedoroscik has no plans of slowing down with gymnastics. During his conversation with Joe Vulpis, the podcast host asked, “Once the show is over, do you start training already for the next one?” The gymnast answered with a resounding yes. DWTS will be his only detour from the sport.

“As soon as this show is going to be over, I’m immediately going to go back to my alma mater, Penn State,” explained the Olympic bronze medalist. While Nedoroscik plans to start with a “quick gymnastics camp,” he’ll immerse himself in the sport as he starts preparing for next year’s world championships. Stephen Nedoroscik’s first goal is to get to gold at worlds and “keep on rolling” until LA 2028. Nedoroscik has no plans to rest until the Olympic bronze turns into a gold medal.