Week 1: #NCAAMGym Recap
What happened this past weekend in the world of NCAA men’s gymnastics? Look no further than the #NCAAMGym Weekly Recap.
Illinois vs. Northern Illinois (Virtual)
Illinois 384.7500, Northern Illinois 310.1000 (Virtual)
In the inaugural COVID-era virtual matchup, Illinois took down NIU 384.75 to 310.1. It was nice to see the return of Michael Fletcher to the lineup for the Illini after he missed last season due to an ACL injury. Both teams were a bit rough around the edges but came into the meet with high energy that was tangible even through the virtual platform.
We got to see two very different teams in terms of strategy and performance. The Illini showed up to Kenny Gym with high start values and took many risks for a meet this early in the season. The Huskies took a more conservative approach and showed a high hit percentage.
Although the Illini were plagued with inconsistency throughout the meet, they had many individual highlights. On floor and vault, a pair of sophomores, Evan Manivong (FX 13.6, VT 14.55) and Connor McCool (FX 13.5, VT 14.0), showed impressive and unique routines that look to challenge for top spots on those events this postseason. Senior Captain Tommy Mistretta held the Illini pommel horse squad together with his (13.7), and in a display of veteran leadership, Danny Graham put up two very strong performances on rings (13.7) and parallel bars (13.15).
Maybe the most noteworthy showing for the Illini was from freshman, Logan Myers, who hit all four of his events (SR, VT, PB, HB) for an average of (13.2). That consistency from a talented freshman bodes well for the Illini as this season progresses. The Illini will undoubtedly clean up and have much stronger performances as this year unfolds.
NIU stepped onto the competition floor for the first time this year led by sophomore David Dortmund who averaged (11.9) across 5 events and placed 5th on vault (13.65). The Huskies hit set after set to start the meet highlighted by a pommel horse team that managed to count no falls, an impressive feat for a young team this early in the year. The energy from the NIU team was palpable throughout the competition and made the virtual experience more enjoyable.
Army vs. Penn State (Virtual)
Army 355.2000, Penn State 383.6500 (Virtual)
Competition kicked off on the east coast this Saturday with Penn State competing from State College and Army competing from West Point over Virtius. It was a fairly shaky start for both teams, but the Nittany Lions were still able to finish with a decisive win over the Black Knights.
The 383.65 they scored would have been far and away Penn State’s lowest score in 2020. This may seem alarming, however, only one of the freshmen in the number one recruiting class in the nation competed. Ethan Dick, the New Zealand native, looked solid in his debut, notching two third place finishes (PH - 12.95 and PB - 12.70). With Michael Jaroh, Matt Cormier, and the rest of this strong freshmen class presumably joining the lineups in the coming weeks, it is fairly safe to say this is Penn State’s floor.
The Nittany Lion senior class carried much of the workload on Saturday. The Captain, Brennan Pantazis, was able to take the floor title (13.55) and Alex Frack took both the p bars and high bar titles (13.0 and 12.65). Parker Clayton notched his first rings title of the season with a 13.5. His first of many as he faces the tough task of replacing Isaac Hammett as the anchor of the Penn State rings lineup.
Army did not have the best season opener but they were without their MVP, Mathew Davis. As soon as he returns to the lineup, expect the Black Knight’s team score to take a massive jump. Connor Cavanaugh secured the lone Army event title of the day with his 14.0 on vault. Patrick Armstrong added a strong showing on high bar with a second place finish (12.15).
Rocky Mountain Open
Arizona State 371.5500, Oklahoma 414.4500 @ Air Force 384.1000
414.450
This is the score Oklahoma posted at the Rocky Mountain Open. It could be expected that the Sooners would hit this mark sometime during the season, but hitting it week one shows that OU is here to compete.
Spencer Goodell and Matt Wenske led the team by finishing first and second in the all-around. Gage Dyer secured the floor title scoring a huge 14.85. Collier won the pommel horse title, Wenske the rings and parallel bars, and Seyler the Vault.
Not only did the Sooners show that they will be a tough team to compete against, but they proved to have measurable depth to their line-ups. David Sandro, coach Mark William’s Sleeper pick, only competed on the pommel horse. We can expect to see Sandro competing for an all-around spot in the coming weeks.
Although OU demonstrated strength on every event, they have considerable room for improvement, and upgrades that they will continue to push for as the season progresses.
The Sooners will be competing to beat their 414.45 against Air Force at home this Saturday.
Air Force finished second in the Rocky Mountain Open scoring a 384.1. Freshman Garrett Braunton brought some energy to the Falcon’s roster putting up a 78.2 in the all-around and taking the event title on high bar scoring a 13.95. Although Braunton had a successful freshman debut, he can’t carry the Falcon team alone.
Since last season, the Falcons have increased their difficulty, starting a few routines in the 15.4+ range. However, until they start executing and hitting their routines, they will struggle to bring up their team score. The Falcon’s job moving forward will be to start hitting more routines and sticking more landings.
The Falcon’s have a couple days to work on their consistency before heading to Oklahoma this Saturday.
ASU finished in third place scoring a 371.55. Although they did not start off the season as strong as last year, glimpses of light were shown from Kiwan Watts. Watts led the team on all four of his events. Anthony Mills was there to back up Watts by competing in the all around. The Sun Devils strongest event was vault where they scored a 68.75, but they missed out on counting scores from all of their 5.2 vaults. They suffered on parallel bars posting a 59.5, counting three scores in the low 11s range.
If ASU wants to defend their GymACT title and be competitive with teams in the NCAA, they are going to have to start executing their routines.
ASU has a break this week before taking on Cal in a virtual competition Jan. 30.
Michigan vs. UIC (Virtual)
Michigan 409.0000, UIC 328.1000 (Virtual)
Paul Juda’s performance on Saturday was the main takeaway from this one. The sophomore was outstanding, winning the all around with an 86.55 to lead Michigan to a huge 409 team score. Juda scored above a 14 on every single event to earn four event titles (FX - 14.45, VT -14.65, PB - 14.7, and HB - 14.45) to go along with two second place finishes (PH - 14.35 and SR - 14.1). The dominant performance makes him the early front runner for the NCAA all-around title.
Juda was joined by Cameron Bock in the all around, finishing second behind his teammate with an 83.0. Bock won the pommel horse title (14.4) and the rings title (14.25). This duo puts Michigan on the map as the current strongest team in the Big Ten and competitive at the top of the NCAA with OU and Stanford.
UIC kicked off their season with a 328.1 and were led by Sam Montague who competed in the all around. The Flames will look to build on this performance with improvements on pommel horse to boost their team score.