NCAA Men’s Gymnastics Week 4 Recap: Paul Juda season debut; Xander Hong, Kai Uemura make debuts for Cardinal

Head-to-head matchups dominated Week 4 of NCAA men’s gymnastics and scores appeared to cool off as teams settled into the season. While scores at the top decreased slightly, this was the first week of the season where all teams competing went 300+. Three teams (Simpson, William & Mary, and Air Force) were off.
We also saw some scores swing substantially higher and lower. Most notably, Navy jumped over 8 points, increasing from a 306.350 to 314.600, and Oklahoma dropped almost 8 points from a 330.700 to a 322.900. The Sooners still recorded the highest score of the week.
Keep reading for a high-level recap of the weekend, including the top scores and other key storylines.
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Top Scores of the Week
Team
Oklahoma notched the highest team score for the second straight week with a 322.900. The Sooners were on the road for a head-to-head with the Buckeyes. Arthur Ballon won the floor title (13.65), Matthew Burgoyne claimed the rings title (14.05), Brigham Frentheway won vault (14.1), and Emre Dodanli took home the high bar title (14.05). Ignacio Yockers and Zach Nunez were second and third on pommel horse, scoring a 14.3 and 14.25, respectively. (Yockers was reportedly a bit sick Sunday. Still, he wanted to compete, so he did a slightly easier set.) The Buckeyes claimed the remaining event titles; Parker Thackston won pommels (14.5), and Drake Andrews won parallel bars (14.1). The Sooners struggled on p-bars, putting up their lowest event score of the season (51.05) by more than a point. Regardless, the Sooners looked good, and if this is their squad on an “off” week, it just reinforces that they may capable of their first NCAA title since 2018.
Individual
- All Around: Ian Sandoval (Illinois) – 79.25
- Floor: Charlie Larson (Michigan) – 14.35
- Pommel Horse: Aidan Li (California) – 14.65
- Rings: Matthew Burgoyne (Oklahoma) – 14.05
- Vault: Garrett Schooley (Illinois) – 14.4
- Parallel Bars: Evgeny Siminiuc (Michigan) – 14.2
- High Bar: Emre Dodanli (Oklahoma) – 14.05
In four-up, four-count, every routine matters more than ever
Illinois hosted Nebraska Friday in what was the closest head-to-head of the year so far; five-tenths decided the competition (321.300-320.800). This serves as a reminder of the importance and weight of each routine. Falls were felt on both sides, including one from Husker star Taylor Christopulos on pommels and a spooky one from Matthew Nguyen on p-bars. Ian Sandoval was the sole all-around competitor at the meet and notched a 79.25 – the fourth highest mark in the country this season. This was Nebraska’s second meet of the season, and the Huskers improved a few tenths. Illinois saw a 4+ point decrease from Week 3. Both teams continue to prove themselves as contenders, with Illinois currently sitting second overall with a team average of 322.167 and Nebraska sitting fourth with an average of 320.625.
In sad news, Husker-turned-Illini Sam Phillips announced Saturday – the day after the meet – that he tore his Achilles during warmups before the meet. Phillips was using a sixth year of eligibility and will now transition to an off-the-mat role with the team.
“This is not the way that I imagined my sixth year going, especially because I have never in my career felt more prepared and confident to attack this season alongside my Illini family,” Phillips said on social media. “This is devastating, but I am blessed and grateful to have had both my Illini and Husker families there to support me. As I process this, the goal is still the same: for the Illini to win.”
Navy bounces back, Army builds a case
Navy was undoubtedly the team of the week. While the Midshipmen didn’t post the highest team score, they saw the most improvement, score-wise, from their last competition. Their 314.600 was the Midshipmen’s first score above 310. They were led by Isaiah Drake, who stuck his Kas 1.5 for a 14.3 to win the vault title. Drake also claimed the p-bars (13.15) and high bar title (13.55). Danilo Viciana (floor – 13.65) and Aaron Stein (rings – 13.4) claimed event titles for themselves. Not surprisingly, Maddox Pabellon’s 13.95 on pommels won the event for Army.
This was the Navy team we’ve gotten used to seeing in previous seasons that has won six straight conference titles. Army is continuing to produce good, consistent gymnastics. The Black Knights also posted their first score above 310 and currently sit ahead of Navy, California, Air Force, and Greenville in the lower middle of the national rankings. Is an epic battle brewing for ECACs?
Paul Juda competes three as Michigan falls to Penn State
Olympic bronze medalist Paul Juda took the floor for the Wolverines for the first time this season against Penn State, competing rings (13.55), p-bars (14.05), and high bar (13.6) and taking home the rings title. The highlight of the competition was easily Charlie Larson’s 14.35 on floor to win the title – the highest score on the event in Week 4. Penn State’s 319.000 was its highest score of the season so far and good enough for the fourth highest mark of the week. The Nittany Lions are currently sitting sixth nationally, just ahead of Michigan in seventh. Penn State looks solid, but making NCAA finals will not be easy. And while Michigan may not look like a national title contender right now, it’s still early in the season, and the Wolverines have two Olympic medalists who haven’t shown their full hand yet.
Notable performances and debuts
2023 Core Hydration Classic junior champion Xander Hong and 2023 U.S. junior 17 champion Kai Uemura made their highly anticipated debuts for the Cardinal against California. Hong (one Asher Hong’s younger brothers) posted a 12.7 on rings en route to their third win over the Bears this season (you can see Asher going crazy in this video). Uemura competed floor (13.25) and high bar (13.2).
California was led by Aidan Li’s 14.65 on pommels to win the title, as well as a strong performance by Theodor Roald Gadderud, who competed four for the Bears, including a solid handspring double front vault for a 13.8.