NCAA men’s gymnastics Week 5 recap: Michigan, Illinois nab Big Ten wins; Navy earns narrow victory over Army

This week in NCAA men’s gymnastics: Michigan vaulted to No. 1 in the Big Ten standings after its win over Nebraska, and Illinois put up a season-best performance during a decisive win over Penn State.  

Navy fought hard to fend off a charging Army team and capture a less than one-point win. Meanwhile, Springfield and William & Mary each put up season-best performances in a dual meet that saw the Pride come out ahead. Oklahoma and Simpson also faced off in Norman, with the Storm notching a season-high.

Here’s a recap of Week 5 of the NCAA men’s gymnastics season.

Michigan sets season high in road win over Nebraska

The Wolverines captured a 1.15 point win over the Huskers in Lincoln on Saturday after weathering some late-competition mistakes that narrowed the gap between the two Big Ten teams. 

Michigan took the lead after the first event, floor, and kept hold of it throughout the matchup. Still, Nebraska rallied on high bar while the Wolverines counted a few misses to shrink the gap from the 3.5 points that separated the teams after the fifth rotation. 

Michigan’s strong night started on the first event, with the team setting a nearly 1.5-point season high on floor (70.55). Adam Wooten led Michigan in the anchor spot, sticking his double-double opening pass and his Arabian double half-out dismount to take the title with a 14.65. Nebraska was right on the heels of the Wolverines, putting up a more than two-point season best of 69.5. Taylor Christopulos led the Husker effort on floor, taking second after landing his layout double-double opening pass and sticking three of five passes (14.4).

Both teams counted misses on horse, the next event, but Nebraska fared better overall, finishing the rotation within two-tenths of the Wolverines. The Huskers’ Cooper Giles was best on pommel by almost half a point with his 14.1. Giles moved through a clean full Kehr, E flop, and D flop, displaying an extended swing throughout. Fellow Husker Nathan York tied for second (13.65), while Michigan’s David Willett led the Michigan horse lineup from the lead-off spot, tying York for a runner-up finish. Both teams counted three falls on the event. 

Michigan scored two 14s on rings to beat the Huskers by 0.9 on the event and notch a season high, with Wooten and Javier Alfonso tying for second with 14.1s. Wooten opened his set with an Azarian cross before executing a whip-it cross to a pull to L-sit and sticking his full-twisting double layout dismount.  Alfonso performed a back uprise straight planche lower to Maltese, back uprise Maltese, and took a small hop on his full-twisting double layout dismount. Nebraska earned its own season high on the event with a 68.25, headlined by Chris Hiser’s 14.15 routine. Hiser showed off his own back uprise to straight body planche lower to Maltese, a back uprise Maltese, and a stuck double-double dismount to take the event title.

The meet remained tight at the halfway point with the Wolverines leading by about a point. Both teams then had excellent vault rotations, scoring above 71 with five-for-five performances. Nebraska was better on the event by two-tenths, though. The Huskers’ Christopulos and Donte McKinney placed second and third, respectively. Christopulos took a small hop on his Kas 1.5, while McKinney had a large step and hop forward after a very clean Yurchenko 2.5. Michigan’s David Wolma won the event after sticking his Kas 1.5, and Landen Blixt tied for fourth for his Yurchenko 2.5. 

Michigan widened its lead significantly on parallel bars, taking the top four spots, even while counting a miss by Fred Richard in what would’ve been a high-scoring routine. The Wolverines had two big sets that scored 14.15 from Virgil Watkins and Evgeny Siminiuc, with Logan McKeown and Lais Najjar close behind with 13.9s. Watkins executed a front uprise Stutz, Bhavsar, and double front dismount to tie for the title and notch a season high. Siminiuc, who’s No. 1 in the country on the event, showed off an explosive peach half, straddle front-one-and-a-quarter, and a Bhavsar. 

Nebraska made up ground on high bar, however, counting one miss to Michigan’s multiple. The Huskers saw strong performances from McKinney and Zachary Tiderman, who placed first and second, respectively, and helped Nebraska close out the meet on a high note after a fall in the lead-off high bar set. McKinney performed another great Tak half to handstand, big releases, and stuck his full-twisting double layout dismount to take the event title with a 14.05. Tiderman went 13.9 with a Tak half, layout connected to straddle Tkatchev, and a pike Tkatchev.

Michigan’s Richard came off on his Kovacs, but he recovered well to earn a 13.2. Wooten missed a Tkatchev, and Michigan took a one-point neutral deduction after Blixt suffered an injury during his lead-off set and did not finish. Najjar filled in for Blixt and fell on a Tkatchev. Siminiuc came up big for the Wolverines, scoring a 13.8 to place third after catching a couple Tkatchevs and landing his full-twisting double layout dismount. Michigan’s 64.9 was the team’s second-lowest score on the event this season.    

Still, the Wolverines’ three season highs — on floor, rings, and vault — culminated in a road win over one of the Big Ten’s best teams. Michigan will be a tough team to stop once Paul Juda returns to full strength and the team raises its hit percentage from Saturday’s 73% figure. Juda shared an update on Wednesday about his ankle, saying what he initially thought was a sprain has become a more serious injury. Juda added that he’s been spending time working on his weakest events while healing the injury.

Nebraska’s season highs on floor and rings showed the team continues to improve week to week. The Huskers remain one of the most competitive squads in the conference. 

Illinois holds off Penn State at home

A nation-best horse rotation lifted the Illini to a decisive victory over Penn State in Champaign on Saturday. Illinois’ 408.8 was a season best by 4.5 points and the second-highest score in the conference this season. Penn State finished with a 401.75. 

Illinois started out the meet with a season-high 68.0 on floor, counting a miss. Connor McCool, who’s No. 2 in the country on the event, performed another excellent set, sticking his first three passes and taking tiny hops on the remainder to score a 14.4 for the win. Penn State’s Matt Cormier was runner-up with a 14.05 after landing his double-double, back 3.5, and triple full dismount. 

Illinois was up by a point entering horse, where the team put up a huge 69.5 to take the top five spots. Connor Micklos led off the rotation and tallied a season-high 14.0 for second with a 9.1 execution score, performing a Wu, Roth, and a beautiful triple-Russian dismount. Ian Skirkey then hit his 6.5-difficulty set in the anchor spot to score a nation-leading 14.9. Skirkey glided through two E flops, a Sohn, Bezugo, Wu, Roth, and triple Russian dismount to cap an exceptional rotation for the Illini. The Nittany Lions went four-for-five on horse and counted a couple of choppy routines, with Michael Jaroh coming off on a Sohn before finishing up well. Illinois led by 5.5 points after horse.

Penn State and Illinois were almost exactly even on the remaining four events and within two-tenths on three of them. On rings, Josh Cook and Ashton Anaya led the Illini lineup with first and third place finishes, respectively. Cook performed a pair of straight planches and nearly stuck his double-double dismount, while Anaya’s set included an Azarian Maltese, butterfly pull to straight planche, and a full-twisting double layout dismount that landed a bit low. Penn State counted one fall on the event, but Jaroh and Cormier closed out the rotation well with scores of 13.95 and 13.75, respectively. Jaroh executed a clean Azarian cross and stuck his double-double dismount for a runner-up finish.  

Illinois extended its lead on vault, scoring a 72.5 to Penn State’s 72.05, and the event featured a wild number of near-perfect Kas 1.5s. Amari Sewell and McCool both stuck their Kas 1.5s to place first and third, respectively, while Michael Fletcher had the faintest of foot movements on his Kas 1.5 to score 14.5. Meanwhile, Penn State’s Cormier stuck his own Kas 1.5 to place second with a 14.6. Matthew Underhill and Jaroh tied McCool for third with excellent Kas 1.5s. A bona fide Kas fest.

The Illini performed better on parallel bars by 0.2 as the Nittany Lions counted two falls. Penn State’s Josh Karnes won the event (14.3) with a beautiful set comprising a whip-it, a stratospheric Bhavsar, and a double-front dismount. Will Hauke was best among the Illini on parallel bars, notching a 13.75 after swinging through a peach half, Bhavsar, and showing off a clean handstand position throughout to place second. 

Penn State and Illinois were within a tenth on high bar. The Nittany Lions’ Michael Artlip suffered a frightening fall on his Kovacs, but managed to walk off unassisted. Penn State replaced Artlip’s routine with Will Fleck’s at the end of the rotation, incurring a one-point neutral deduction. Penn State’s Cormier won high bar with a 13.9 after performing a Tak half, Kolman, Kovacs, layout and straddle Tkatchevs, and sticking his layout double-double dismount. Illinois’ Cook earned a runner-up finish with a 13.8 set that featured a Tak half, Rybalko, and a stuck full-twisting double layout dismount. 

Navy defeats Army in hard-fought dual meet

The Midshipmen came out ahead of Army by less than a point during a tightly contested dual meet in West Point on Saturday. The Black Knights’ 393.15 was a healthy season-high, while Navy’s 394.05 was only half a point shy of a new season-best.

Navy started out the meet strong on floor, taking the top four spots and posting a season-best 67.55 to go up about a point-and-a-half over Army. But the Black Knights took the lead after horse and held it until the end of the fifth rotation.

The Mids’ Caleb Hickey led the floor lineup with a 14.15 for the title. Hickey stuck his whip-Arabian double and his full-twisting double back dismount. Navy’s Connor Van Loo placed second with a 13.6, while Danilo Viciana and Ian Dinmore tied for third with 13.4s. Army had a steady rotation with each of its scores coming in at 13.15 or higher, and its 66.15 was a season-best. Gabe Almeida led the Black Knights with his 13.35 and finished his set with a clean back 2.5 dismount.

Army took the lead after horse and scored more than three points higher than the Mids on the event. Almeida started off the rotation with a big 14.0 for a set that included a Mikulak, flared spindles, and flared travels — before falling into a well-disguised crevice formed by two four-inch mats on his way back to his teammates (who lifted him out a few seconds later). He was runner-up. Army then suffered a couple falls before Maddox Pabellon hit his 5.4-difficulty set to tally a 14.25 for the event win. Pabellon performed a Sohn, E flop, D flop, Tong Fei, and a clean handstand dismount. Navy started the rotation well with a hit from Viciana but then suffered two misses that scored in the 11s. The Mids’ Syam Buradagunta and Ronan McQuillan finished out the rotation well, though, scoring in the high 12s. Army was up 1.7 after horse. 

Navy made up ground on rings, scoring a season-high 65.75 to Army’s own season-best 64.15 and narrowing the gap between the teams to 0.1. Isaiah Drake led the effort for the Mids, putting up a 14.0 with a back uprise Maltese, Azarian cross, and a stuck full-twisting double tuck dismount. Erik Engelke was second with a 13.6 after sticking his 1.5-twisting double back dismount and earning a 8.9 execution score. Army’s Joseph Buselmeier rounded out the podium with a third-place finish and score of 13.5. 

Army and Navy then tied on vault with scores of 70.25 – a season high for the Black Knights. Navy’s Van Loo took the title on the event with a clean Yurchenko double full (14.5). Army’s Pabellon was second with a 14.3 for his Kas full. 

Navy regained the lead on parallel bars, scoring 1.5 higher than the Black Knights on the event and notching another season high (67.15). Navy’s Matthew Petros and Hickey led the parallel bars lineup with scores of 13.6 and 13.45 for second- and third-place finishes. Petros’ set featured a peach handstand and clean double pike dismount. Army’s Patrick Armstrong nabbed the event title with a 13.7 after performing a free-hip mount, whip-it, peach handstand, and double pike dismount. Army entered the final event down 1.4.

A spirited high bar rotation that saw a number of stuck dismounts and a routine-by-routine battle for the win capped the meet in exciting fashion.

Army tied its season high on the event but had to count a fall in its penultimate routine. Zachary Perez won high bar from the lead-off spot for the Black Knights, scoring a 13.2 with a routine featuring a Yamawaki connected to Gienger and a stuck dismount. Buselmeier took third after catching his Kovacs and sticking his full-twisting double layout dismount. Navy’s Hickey led the Mids on the event, taking second with a 13.15 after completing full and half Taks, a straddle Tkatchev, and sticking his full-twisting double layout dismount. Giovanni Gambatese turned in a clutch routine in the anchor spot for Navy, catching his Kovacs and Kolman to seal the win for the Mids. Army was half a point better than Navy on high bar but finished the meet behind by nine-tenths of a point. 

Around the country

Springfield and William & Mary each hit season highs in a dual meet that the Pride won 390.8 to 378.6 – Springfield’s best team total since 2018. 

Springfield notched their best scores of the season on pommel horse (63.4), rings (65.85), and high bar (63.45), and the team swept the event titles. 

• Jakarie Williams won floor with a 13.75, sticking his front double pike opening pass and landing his double-double and 2.5 dismount. Owen Carney was right behind with a 13.7. 
• Colton O’Brien and Jaden Laubstein tied for the pommel horse title with scores of 13.05. O’Brien performed a clean E flop, triple Russian between the handles, Wu, Roth, and triple Russian dismount. Laubstein was clean through a D flop, Tong Fei, and handstand dismount. 
• David Handron took the rings title with a 13.95. Handron’s set included a back uprise maltese, Nakayama, and stuck full-twisting double back dismount. 
• Dominic Ramalho was first on vault (14.35) with his Kas full. 
• Sam Kaplan won parallel bars with a 13.6, showing off a peach handstand, Tippelt, and a stuck double-front dismount. 
• Carney won high bar with a 13.65, catching his layout Tkatchev before connecting a straddle and pike Tkatchev and sticking his full-twisting double layout dismount. 

The Tribe had season-best performances on every event save parallel bars, the only apparatus on which the team scored under 60. William & Mary cracked 60 on pommel horse for the first time this season. 

The Tribe’s Evan Sikra and Mark Fu earned runner-up finishes on vault and high bar, respectively, with both capturing career highs. Sikra went 14.2 on vault after sticking his Yurchenko 1.5. Fu performed a Tak half, caught his straddle Tkatchev, and stuck his full-twisting double layout dismount to score a 13.2 and tie for second. Christian Marsh was third on floor with a 13.45. 

Oklahoma defeated Simpson in a dual meet in Norman on Saturday 407.65 to 352.55. The Sooners swept the event titles, and Zach Nunez won the all-around with an 83.4. Simpson recorded a 10-point season high. 

OU tallied season-bests on floor, rings, and vault. Earning event titles for the Sooners were: 

• Emre Dodanli on floor with a season-high 14.45. Dodanli opened his set with a full-twisting double layout, moved to a stuck double-double, Randi, and then stuck his triple-full dismount. Teammate Jack Freeman was close behind Dodanli, scoring a 14.4. 
• Ignacio Yockers had another big horse routine, scoring a 14.6 with his 6.1-difficulty set. Yockers performed a Mikulak, two E flops, Sohn, Wu, Roth, triple Russian, and C-value handstand dismount. Nunez was second with a 14.4 after completing gorgeous flop work, square travels, and a fluid swing handstand dismount. 
• Morgan Seyler won rings with a 14.0, displaying strong planche work and sticking his 1.5-twisting double back dismount. 
• Daniel Simmons won vault with a huge 15.05 awarded for his stuck Roche (handspring double front). 
• Nunez took the parallel bars title by a one-point margin with a 14.15. He showed off a peach half, peach handstand, Tippelt, and a stuck double pike dismount. 
• Freeman won high bar by 0.9 with his 14.4.

Simpson had season-best performances on pommel horse (55.9) and high bar (55.25) on the way to their best total of 2023. Ethan Sipos led the pommel horse effort, scoring an 11.7 after performing a Magyar, Sivado, and handstand dismount. Camden Bontempo was best for Simpson on high bar, earning a 12.4 for a fifth-place finish. Bontempo caught his Gienger and stuck his full-twisting double back dismount. Bontempo was also sixth on vault with his Yurchenko 1.5. 

Michelangelo Villani finished with a 71.55 all-around and took seventh on rings and high bar with a 12.3 and 11.75, respectively.