MPSF Men’s Gymnastics Week 10 Recap: Stanford, Oklahoma return to form

Week 9 of MPSF men’s gymnastics saw Stanford (416.350) put up the second highest score of the weekend (and the highest of the Cardinal’s season). No. 1 Oklahoma also returned to form after losing to Michigan last weekend, rebounding with a 415.300 on an emotional senior night that also saw Head Coach Mark Williams honored for his 25 years at the helm.

#2 Stanford @ #11 Air Force

Final score: Stanford: 416.350 – Air Force: 396.450

Stanford

The Cardinal had themselves a weekend in Colorado; Stanford’s 416.350 was the second highest team score of the weekend as well as a season best for the team. The Cardinal swept the event titles as well; Colt Walker won floor (14.15), J.R. Chou won pommel horse (14.7), Asher Hong won rings (14.25), Khoi Young won vault (15.1) and parallel bars (14.05), and Brandon Nguyen won high bar (13.75). Young, Walker, and Taylor Burkhart (14.95) claimed season highs on vault, while Chou claimed a season high on pommel horse. Stanford also claimed a season-high 72.95 on vault, improving more than 2 points from the last competition. The Cardinal only broke 70 on one event this weekend, but this squad is capable of reaching 70 on four or five events, so this tells us that there is room to grow.

This is the Cardinal squad we are more used to seeing, albeit not as dominant and untouchable as before; Nebraska’s 416.550 was the top score of the weekend, and the Cornhuskers are another team that has proven they have what it takes to compete with the Cardinal. Stanford does look to be building some momentum and it appears they will need that momentum to fend off Oklahoma, Michigan, and the rest of the NCAA to claim their fifth consecutive NCAA title.

Air Force

The Falcons notched an impressive 396.450 to score their second highest team score of the season. The Falcons improved on every event from their last competition; most notable was their 70.8 on vault –  season high for the Falcons and the first 70 of their season. Air Force also claimed season highs on rings (66.0) and high bar (63.45). Top scores for the Falcons included Jake Sampier on floor (13.7), Sam Brown on pommel horse (14.05), Garrett Braunton and Dennis Irimiea on rings (13.7), Erich Upton on vault (14.55) and high bar (13.15), and Oliver Zavel on parallel bars (13.8). Garrett Braunton put up a 77.35 as the only all-arounder.

A 9.65 improvement from Week 9 and their second team score north of 395 is starting to solidify the Falcons as contenders to take on Cal, Navy, and Greenville. Air Force is going to look to continue building as they host Simpson on Saturday, March 16.

#9 Navy @ #1 Oklahoma

Final score: Oklahoma: 415.300 – Navy: 392.850

The Sooners hosted senior night in McCasland Field House, honoring their five seniors: Dan Simmons, Zach Nunez, Jack Freeman, Zach Marckx, and Noah Giordano; Head Coach Mark Williams was also honored as a “super senior” for his 25 years as head coach at Oklahoma. I feel I speak on behalf of the gymnastics community when I say Coach Williams, thank you for everything you’ve done for the sport of gymnastics!

The Sooners put up a 415.300 for their third highest team score of the season. The Sooners also broke 70 on floor and pommel horse and registered a huge 72.6 on vault. Oklahoma swept the event titles with Nico Hamilton winning floor (14.35), Ignacio Yockers winning pommel horse with a huge 15.05 and parallel bars with a 13.9, Adriel Perales winning rings (13.85), Max Bereznev winning vault (14.85), and Kelton Christiansen winning high bar (14.4). Other notable moments included Hamilton with a season-best 13.85 on parallel bars and making his high bar debut for the Sooners.

The Sooners close out the regular season in Palo Alto next weekend with a tri-meet against Stanford and California. This will be a telling matchup ahead of the MPSF Championships at the beginning of April.

California

The Bears were off this week and return to competition on Saturday, March 16 in Palo Alto to close out the regular season with a tri-meet against Oklahoma and Stanford.