A Crowded Big Ten, a Two Team Race in the MPSF, and Navy Looks to Defend the ECAC
After an exciting regular season, far different from the largely virtual 2021, the 2022 Conference Championships are here. Similar to last year, however, the favorites in each conference are going to be tough to beat. Michigan, Stanford, and Navy are all expected to win but an extremely competitive Big Ten and an ever steady OU team will look to foil expectations.
Read more for a full analysis of the teams competing this weekend and where the CGA expects each to finish. This year’s Conference Championship predictions are based on the average individual rankings of three individuals:
Bailey Perez (former Stanford gymnast)
Ben Cooperman (former Penn State gymnast)
Max Soifer (former Washington gymnast)
Big Ten Championships (State College, PA)
Friday, April 1 @ 7pm (Team Finals) & Saturday April, 2 @7pm (Individual Finals)
Where to Watch: Big Ten Network
Tickets
1) Michigan Wolverines
What’s going for them: Paul Juda. The MVP of this team has been outstanding this season. Juda is capable of putting up a 14+ on every single event and has already displayed an all-around score over 86 this season. Additionally, Juda is dominant on high bar, currently ranked second in the country.
What’s going against them: Pommel horse. While far from a weakness, Michigan is currently ranked behind every team in the Big Ten on pommel horse except Penn State. They will be looking to hit five routines on this event and pad their lead elsewhere.
X-Factor gymnast: Cameron Bock. After making their way through the regular season with just one loss to Ohio State, Michigan returned one of the best athletes in the NCAA to their lineups to close out the season. Cameron Bock only competed a handful of routines, yet immediately made an impact. It is unknown how many events he will do, but this team may be untouchable if Bock is close to peak form.
X-Factor event: Rings. While the level of skill has significantly improved on most events over the past few NCAA seasons, there has been a bit of a drop off on rings. Michigan has largely evaded this trend and are currently ranked second in the country on the event behind Stanford. It is possible the Wolverines can beat the next best team in the Big Ten on this rotation by over two points, a margin that will be tough to make up for.
2) Illinois Fighting Illini
What’s going for them: Momentum. The Illini have put on season high performances in each of their last three outings. In their most recent contest, Illinois put up a 416.00, which is the second highest team score this season. If the Illini are able to repeat this type of performance, they will contend for the Big Ten title and a podium spot at NCAAs.
What’s going against them: Early peak? In scoring a 416, the Illini went 30 for 30 and had no scores below the 13 mark. This is a huge accomplishment and very few teams are able to put on this type of a show at any point during a season. However, the Illini will need to show that this is a standard for this year’s team and will need to repeat their perfect hit percentage performance multiple times over the next few weeks in order to contend for Big Ten and NCAA titles.
X-Factor gymnast: Hamish Carter. Carter has been the workhorse for Illinois this season. The senior out of Great Britain is capable of putting up big numbers on every event, and is a contender for an All-Around All-American honor. With his scores counting on nearly every event, Illinois’ team score will hinge on how well he is doing.
X-Factor event: Pommel Horse. Illinois is known for producing great pommel horse workers. This year’s pommel horse squad is ranked number one in the country. However, consistency on pommel horse is extremely challenging. Illinois and current reigning NCAA Champion, Ian Skirkey will need to continue hitting clean sets to create a separation between them and other teams who are stronger on other events.
3) Nebraska Cornhuskers
What’s going for them: Upperclassmen. The Huskers have a deep lineup full of upperclassmen who have years of experience on the big stage. B1G’s will bring an atmosphere of high pressure, but the juniors and seniors should be able to keep the team calm and help the Huskers stay on a consistent track for the competition.
What’s going against them: Season high. Nebraska has put up multiple 408s and one 410.50 this season, but their season high is several points short of that of Michigan and Illinois. They are going to need to push the team score hard if they want a chance to meet the potential of the other B1G contenders.
X-Factor gymnast: Sam Phillips. Phillips has been carrying a heavy load for the Huskers for several competitions now and they will be looking to use him once again across the board. He will need to put up big scores on floor, parallel bars, and high bar to keep Nebraska in the running for the championship.
X-Factor event: Pommel Horse. They are the second ranked pommel horse team in the nation, and they will be looking to capitalize on it against Michigan who is ranked sixth on the event. The Huskers have a great opportunity to pull ahead on horse, and maybe create the separation needed to walk home with a title.
4) Ohio State Buckeyes
What’s going for them: Jesse Tyndall. It was none other than Ohio State’s MVP who closed out high bar to help his team capture a share of the Big Ten Regular Season Title. Tyndall will likely be the top scorer for his team on floor, p bars, and high bar as he paces the Buckeyes in the team competition Friday.
What’s going against them: Emotional peak? Their title to finish the regular season was a remarkable feat, already making this season a success no matter what happens from here. As we saw with Iowa a few seasons back, some teams can struggle to stay on top of their game and convert regular season success into postseason performance.
X-Factor gymnast: Justin Ah Chow. After competing in the all-around a couple of times, Justin Ah Chow’s workload dropped to just one event in their final meet. The one score he posted was a vital 14.10 on pommel horse. For Ohio State to have a chance, they will need performances like this from Ah Chow, hopefully on multiple events.
X-Factor event: P bars. The Buckeyes gave up a huge lead on p bars in week 11, almost letting a title slip out of their hands against Nebraska. They are ranked eighth on this event, last in the Big Ten outside of Penn State.
5) Penn State Nittany Lions
What’s going for them: Home venue advantage. The Nittany Lions last hosted Big Tens in Rec Hall seven years ago and took home the team and all-around titles that night.
What’s going against them: Regular season woes. No matter how you look at it, Penn State had the worst regular season of all of the Big Ten teams. Despite having a talented roster, their team high score of 2022 is 401.80. They will have to put up a far larger number to crack the top three on Friday.
X-Factor gymnast: Ethan Dick. Michael Jaroh has proven himself as a reliable number one for Head Coach Randy Jepson while Matthew Cormier is coming off of a great regular season finish. Their third star, Ethan Dick, will have to put up great performances to glue these lineups together. A solid three event night from him could be the catalyst Penn State needs.
X-Factor event: Pommel horse. This team has not lived up to their potential this year as they have struggled to hit routines on this event. The trio of Chase Clingman, Nick Mock, and Michael Jaroh cannot be discounted, however, and a five for five rotation here could put Penn State in the competition.
ECAC Championships (Williamsburg, VA)
Saturday, April 2 @ 2pm
Where to Watch: Virtius
Tickets
1) Navy Midshipmen
What’s going for them: Consistency. Sure, at points throughout the season we have seen Navy’s team score dip, but when you look closer, you’ll see that those were outings without some of their higher scoring power players. When Navy has a full lineup, they push the 400 mark consistently, as they did at USAG Championships. Scoring in the 400s will put Navy in contention for a team berth into the super six at NCAA’s and will easily put them at the top of the ECAC.
What’s going against them: Not Much. Navy is in a great place. This is one of, if not, the best Naval Academy team that we’ve ever seen and they look to be getting better.
X-Factor gymnast: Isaiah Drake. Reliance on a freshman for six scores is a lot to ask, but nothing that he can’t handle. Navy is so strong that even if Drake falters at ECAC Championships, the Academy should still be able to take home the title. However, If Drake has a good day during day one at NCAA’s, Navy could find themselves in the super six.
X-Factor event: High Bar. Over the last few years Navy has stepped up its high bar game. Cash Buske throws down some huge releases, and Giovanni Gambatese puts on a big display of start value. This high bar lineup is big and capable of scoring really well. A good high bar run for Navy will result in a separation between them and their competition.
2) Springfield Pride
What’s going for them: Springfield had a big win over Army a few weeks ago which proved that they are capable of breaking the 380 mark. Bringing this energy and confidence into the ECAC Championships will be crucial in helping them put on a strong performance against the challenging Army and W&M lineups who will be looking to overtake them.
What’s going against them: Their last meet. This past weekend, they only put up a 375.95 at USAG Championships. This score is on par with many of their other competitions from earlier in the season but it was not the team score that they were looking for heading into Conference Championship weekend.
X-Factor gymnast: Dominic Romalho. Romalho has been taking the all-around load for Springfield this season and a strong performance will be crucial in helping the team score. He has struggled a bit on pommel horse and high bar, but a strong performance on these events could be game changing for the team.
X-Factor event: Pommel Horse. They have the chance to separate themselves from Army on pommel horse. This is how the Pride overtook the Black Knights a few weeks ago and it is how they can do it again with a strong performance on the event.
3) Army Black Knights
What’s going for them: Season high. At the West Point Open back in January, Army put their full potential on display, scoring a 388.65. If they can replicate this performance, that will be more than enough to guarantee them at least second.
What’s going against them: The Black Knights had a rough end to the regular season. After posting a couple of scores in the 380s, Army fell to Springfield and posted just a 375.75. If this team has an off day, the rest of the conference can take advantage.
X-Factor gymnast: Mathew Davis. Their MVP and far and away biggest contributor. The better the day for Davis, the better the outcome will be for Army.
X-Factor event: Rings. Currently ranked tenth in the country on rings, the Black Knights can make up significant ground during this rotation. While it may not be enough to close the gap between them and Navy, Army could gain a big lead over the other two teams.
4) William & Mary Tribe
What’s going for them: End of season surge. The Tribe struggled early in the season, but seem to have turned the tide and are putting up more solid performances. Earlier on this season, William & Mary was losing to Springfield College, but over their last three outings against the Pride, the Tribe has come out on top.
What’s going against them: A single shot. William & Mary and Springfield College are currently sitting in 12th and 13th in the NCAA standings, separated by 0.05. This means that whoever comes out on top at ECACs, will move on to NCAA championships as a team.
X-Factor gymnast: Aidan Cuy and Cristian Marsh. This duo of all-arounders counts for at least a third of the Tribes counting scores. Both are strong and experienced and have a great shot at propelling their team to an NCAA Championships berth, but they will both need to have strong days to ensure that Springfield does not top them at ECACs.
X-Factor event: Parallel bars. The Tribe has a strong parallel bars team, but they have not always been consistent this year. William & Mary will need to put it all together on this event at ECACs to give them a shot at qualifying to NCAAs.
MPSF Championships (Stanford, CA)
Saturday, April 2 @ 7pm
Where to Watch: Live Stream
Tickets
1) Stanford Cardinal
What’s going for them: Talent. Stanford’s 2022 team is arguably one of the most talented collegiate teams of all time. The obvious big performer for the Cardinal is Olympian and 2x all-around NCAA Champion. Along with Brody Malone are five other Senior National Team members who will be making heavy contributions. On top of their all-around juggernauts, they have several top ranked event specialists including Blake Sun, Thomas Lee, and Bryan Perla.
What’s going against them: Consistency. Stanford’s season average is a 412.933, however, they are yet to put up a super consistent competition. Their high difficulty routines sometimes leave room for error which could prove to be an opportunity for the consistent hitting Sooners who will be fighting for the MPSF title.
X-Factor gymnast: Khoi Young. The freshman has been stepping up to the plate big for the Cardinal this season with Brody Malone slowly working his way back into the lineup. Young has the potential to put up huge scores across the board, but his world-class pommel horse and vault can help bring the Cardinal’s runs to the next level.
X-Factor event: Parallel Bars. If they hit a clean five of five, there is the possibility that the Cardinal could push a 73 on the event. Their current high is 71.850, which is impressive given that they are yet to put up a run where the whole lineup is clean and free of mistakes. This hypothesized situation seems to be a real possibility, but at the end of the day, it is only going to be as good as they perform.
2) Oklahoma Sooners
What’s going for them: Fuzzy Benas. The freshman phenom has been outright outstanding this year. Benas started the regular season out with an 83.80 and closed it with an 84.50. He has been the most valuable member of this Sooner team who ranks third in the country heading into the postseason.
What’s going against them: Stanford. While Oklahoma is a fantastic team, it just so happens they are competing against arguably the strongest NCAA roster ever. This makes for a tough challenge for Mark Williams’ team, but only five athletes can compete on any given event for a team and in the five up, five count format, anything can happen.
X-Factor gymnast: Vitaliy Guimaraes. Outside of his first place finish at Winter Cup, Vitaly Guimaraes has only competed fifteen routines for OU this year. A solid five event performance from the Winter Cup champ would pay dividends for the Sooners.
X-Factor event: High bar. Oklahoma has been far and away the best high bar team in the country in 2022. Their four score average is almost two points better than the second team and their season high is better than the next by a point. Led by Jack Freeman, OU will look to make headway during this rotation.
3) California Golden Bears
What’s going for them: The Code of Points. More than any other team this season, Cal has utilized the code of points and found areas in which they can maximize their scores when their abilities do not always match traditional paths to gaining start value. Through this utilization of the code and smart routine construction, Cal will give themselves a shot at taking down Air Force.
What’s going against them: Lower scoring potential. Cal relies on good routine construction and consistency in order to forge a strong team score. However, this means that their scoring cap is lower than some of the more powerful teams in the NCAA. Cal needs to have strong and consistent performances throughout the postseason but will also count on other teams faltering if they wish to move on to day two of NCAAs
X-Factor gymnast: Noah Newfeld. Last year’s CGA Freshman of the Year has come back even stronger this year and has led Cal in some very impressive performances. Without Darren Wong in action this year, Cal has put the workload on Newfeld, who has stepped up to the plate.
X-Factor event: Pommel Horse. Cal is capable of big routines on pommel horse and have had multiple athletes either come close to or break through the 14 mark on the event. It will be critical for Cal to have a good day on horse at MPSFs to ensure that they defeat a resurgent Air Force team.
4) Air Force Falcons
What’s going for them: On the up. The Falcons started the season off very slow, barely being able to break the 380 mark until the first week of March. However, a switch was flipped for them and they have been in the mid-to-high 390s for the past three weeks. They appear to be perfectly peaking and their momentum should help them have a successful postseason.
What’s going against them: Consistency. Hitting routines is what was holding Air Force back for the majority of the season. It seems like they have fixed this issue, but they will need to keep this composure during championships where the pressure and stakes are much higher.
X-Factor gymnast: Garrett Braunton. Braunton is coming off an all-around win at the USAG Collegiate Championships. Similar to the team, he finally seems to have hit his stride at the perfect time. He is capable of putting up big scores across the board and the Falcons will be counting on him to do so this weekend.
X-Factor event: Floor. Their four-score average is a 67.60, but have the potential to break the 70 mark which is proven by their season high. A strong performance on this event could give Air Force a large swing in their final team score which could give them the chance to overtake Cal.