More than a dynasty: Stanford men’s gymnastics eyes history with potential five-peat

Every college athlete’s goal is to win a national championship for their team. Few are able to achieve this goal, and even fewer are able to win back-to-back championships. Stanford men’s gymnastics is one of those “even fewer” teams who have been able to repeat as NCAA champions – again and again and again and again.

The Cardinal won four in a row starting in 2019 and, were it not for the COVID-19 pandemic cutting the 2020 season short, they would have most likely already won their fifth national title in a row.

Head coach Thom Glielmi said winning consecutive national championships has “been tremendous.”

“We worked really hard to be in that position,” Glielmi told Gymnastics Now. “[Everyone] got on board with the tremendous team culture… It’s been really enjoyable having the guys work together for a common goal.”

Glielmi noted that winning is great, but it’s the by-product of the work they’ve put in and the foundation they’ve built – “[I’m] more pleased with how they’ve taken to the culture.”

Being there for and trusting one another is going to be important this weekend, because we get to watch Stanford attempt to make history and join the 1979-1983 Nebraska team as only the second men’s gymnastics team ever to win five consecutive national titles.

There’s a lot on the line this weekend, from etching their names into the history books to having every other team trying to take them down. In dealing with all this pressure, the Cardinal squad exhibits a sense of gratitude and uses this energy as motivation.

The Cardinal would not be in this position were it not for the 2019 squad upsetting the Oklahoma Sooners to win the first title of this exceptional streak. David Jessen, a junior at Stanford that year, said their 2019 win was “more meaningful than any individual accolade – it was not just about one person, it was about our entire team coming together at exactly the right time… it was definitely one of the most cherished moments of my career.”

Grant Breckenridge is the only member of that 2019 team that is still at Stanford, only this time his eyes are set on a national championship as an assistant coach. That squad laid the foundation for the culture and mindset that has allowed Stanford to be as successful as they’ve been for as long as they have. 

Culture

J.R. Chou, a fifth-year for the Cardinal, shared some insight into the culture that has developed on The Farm: “You have to be willing to give your everything into every single practice, not for yourself, but for the guys on the team and the guys that came before us. We owe it to the alumni and to our teammates to show that we deserve a spot on the team, and that we deserve our spot in the lineups.”

Chou talked about the importance of “showing up when it matters” – in competition and especially in practice. Gratitude and understanding the history of the team is a central tenant for this Cardinal squad.

Taylor Burkhart, a junior on the team, spoke to what it meant to be a part of this team at this point in its history: “It’s hard to put into words what it meant to win a national championship… It was really the culmination of all our hard work, and going through those ups and downs alongside the guys. It was so special to be on this team and have the opportunity to be a part of something so much bigger than myself.”

There is not a doubt in my mind that every single member of this Cardinal squad, and each squad that came before them, are hard-working and dedicated to each other; but something that really stood out to me was the emphasis the team places on gratitude.

Burkhart spoke to this year and how they wouldn’t even be in this position without the alumni: “I know how hard my predecessors and alumni worked, both to win national championships but to also build this team to where it is now. Personally, winning this year would mean so much to me because it’s my purpose to understand and to be grateful for them, and also to further that hard work and effort they put in.”

Having the chance to listen and learn from the current Cardinal squad showed just how understanding and grateful they are for the opportunity to be a part of such a special group. 

Chou added some motivating insight: “Winning this year is a way of appreciating all that’s been said and done before us – I feel that we have a duty to make that history happen… we owe it to everyone, especially our predecessors who made this team what it is.”

These sentiments demonstrate exactly what it means to be a part of something bigger than yourself and how important it is to understand your place within that larger group. To be grateful of the others within that group – those before you, alongside you, and even after you – who have come together to allow this possibility and success to come to fruition.

With each national championship that Stanford has won, the expectation and pressure to stay at the top has continued to grow; the other teams’ resolve and determination to dethrone Stanford has also grown. The proverbial gap between Stanford and the rest of the teams has shrunk in recent seasons, which has heightened the intensity and competition in NCAA gymnastics. This squad is well aware that there’s a lot on the line; while they are on the verge of history, they also understand that the rest of the NCAA wants to beat them.

Burkhart noted that the Cardinal start every practice with their team mantra, fuel the fire, as a reminder. They pull motivation from this and use it to get fired up.

Chou spoke to the importance of not breaking under the pressure and explained the team’s mentality: “If you aren’t working harder than the other teams, then it’s not going to happen.”

The team’s other mantra, staying in the bubble, explains how they’ve dealt with and thrived under the pressure. 

Blocking out the noise and focusing on themselves, Chou says, is what has helped them remain steadfast. Not worrying about the other teams or the fifth national championship being on the line, and instead focusing on what they can control has helped them build that trust and confidence in each other.

Burkhart said this mentality of staying in the bubble is nothing new – “It was instilled in me as soon as I arrived on The Farm as a freshman.” It has proven invaluable for the Cardinal, because it keeps them on the same page and helps them have each other’s backs.

Team

There are two major things that separate this Cardinal squad from those that came before them.

First are the all-arounders, especially Khoi Young and Asher Hong. Injuries and other factors have impacted the depth of their lineups, but the all-arounders have stepped up and led the squad this season. Five current team members, and three Cardinal alumni, are currently on the U.S. men’s national team. Especially with it being an Olympic year, many of the guys on the team have their sights set beyond NCAAs, and you can see this in the difficulty and execution of their routines. Seeing such dedicated athletes continue to give this team and the NCAA their all is a true testament to their character and commitment to each other.

Second, is the team’s mentality walking into the postseason. Chou said in previous years they would find and settle into their rhythm before the postseason and focus on maintaining that level. This year, however, they are continuing to push into the postseason. Things are a little up in the air; there is less lineup rigidity, which actually speaks to their depth as a squad. Pushing all the way up until the week of NCAAs proves that guys who have not been in lineups all year may have the opportunity to step up when it matters the most. While some may consider this unsettling, Chou says it goes back to confidence and trust and remembering that everyone who makes the lineups earned their spot. It goes both ways – “I have confidence and trust in myself and the other guys in the lineups the same way that they trust me and each other.” This approach has helped the team grow close and form a real brotherhood. 

This weekend is so much bigger than a single season; it is the culmination of the past six years and beyond.

From the gymnasts, coaches, support staff, fans, and the gymnastics community, there are a lot of people who will be tuning in. Having the chance to speak with some of the current team makes it apparent that their hearts and minds are in the right place. To maintain this mentality and level of gymnastics and determination for a whole season is difficult; to maintain it for five seasons in a row is truly extraordinary, and it is a testament to the team and program that Coach Glielmi has developed on The Farm.

Developing a good team culture has always been a priority for Glielmi: “One of the things [I] want for the guys is to have a great experience and to be a part of something bigger than themselves.”

Gratitude and taking advantage of the opportunity are the core of the team’s culture and legacy. Glielmi said, “The COVID year really made us step back and do a deep search for what was really important… we had to find our motivation again; we learned to fall back in love with doing gym for the love of the sport.” 

Legacy

Legacies are nothing new in sports.

The 1991-1998 Chicago Bulls, the 1957-1969 Boston Celtics, and the New York Yankees (who have multiple dynasties). Even in college gymnastics there have been dynasties, the 1979-1983 Nebraska Cornhuskers and the 2015-2018 Oklahoma Sooners stand out the most.

The Stanford dynasty began in 2019, but the funny thing about a dynasty, is you don’t realize it is one until years later.

Jessen said, “You don’t think of starting a legacy in the moment; it’s something that unfolds as the years go on… then you look back and realize you started a culture and mindset. It is so fulfilling, and I’m so grateful to have been a part of that starting out. As an alumni, I love watching the meets and seeing the team continue the legacy.”

Furthering this legacy adds a layer of pressure and can absolutely be daunting. This Cardinal squad acknowledges that but opts to focus on the positives instead; the fact that it’s a privilege to be on this team and an honor to continue building on that legacy. 

Burkhart put it plain and simple: “I want this Stanford team to go down as the best team in NCAA history.”

This perfectly captures the determination and commitment of the entire team. An achievement of this magnitude is an incredibly high bar to set, but if anyone is capable of succeeding, it is this Cardinal squad.

Chou wants to build a legacy of giving the team your everything – “This can be done in many different ways, but for me it means leading by example, in and out of the gym.” He said it doesn’t matter where you came from or what you’ve done, what matters is that you put everything you have into every practice, not for yourself, but for the team.

This mindset of loving what you do and putting the team above yourself speaks to each individual’s selflessness, the trust within the team and the program, as well as the strength of the organization.

Learning about these gymnasts has given me a much greater understanding and appreciation of who they are and what they have accomplished. Watching Stanford the last five years has been nothing short of incredible. Their run isn’t over, and we get to watch them chase history this weekend.

Regardless of who you are rooting for, this NCAA championships is a must watch, and Stanford, best of luck in Columbus.

Click here more information on the 2024 NCAA Men’s Gymnastics Championships, including the field, schedule, and how to watch.