Winter Cup and Mid-Season Recap
March 2, 2023
Over the past two months a lot has happened in NCAA men’s gymnastics. This season has been characterized by unpredictability.
Early on Penn State looked like a favorite to vie for a team podium spot at NCAAs after being ranked 7th in the preseason coaches poll. Then in Week 4 Nebraska went to State College and defeated the Nittany Lions, which changed the conversation.
From there Nebraska took on Oklahoma in week 7 and were narrowly defeated in the highest scoring matchup of the season (barring the Stanford blowout at Rocky Mountain Open). Before this high-fire-power meet in Lincoln, the Sooners took down the undisputed best team in the country, Stanford, the week prior. Oklahoma has a ton of momentum heading into the second half to the season.
Stanford still has not put up their strongest team this year. 2022 World Championship team members Brody Malone and Colt Walker have yet to compete for the Cardinal. When those two return Oklahoma might have more to worry about.
The Academies have also had significant volatility in their rankings. Air Force came into the season with relatively little expected of them. In week 7 the Falcons went on to defeat Army and Navy to take home the All-Academy championship title.
We also welcomed two new teams into the fray this year. Greenville and Simpson have done a great job stepping up with young rosters to put on competitive performances against programs that have been in existence for decades.
To wrap up the first half of the season, our nation’s best all-arounders and specialists gathered in Louisville, KY for the Winter Cup Challenge. This competition was electric. Current NCAA freshmen Fred Richard and Asher Hong placed 2nd and 3rd respectively behind former Sooner Yul Moldauer. This all-around battle sets these two superstars up for a great dual come NCAAs.
Current NCAA gymnasts had a slew of success at Winter Cup. Athletes from every Big Ten program made the National Team and five current Stanford athletes joined them. All but one athlete on the newly minted national team came through the NCAA pipeline. The future looks bright for NCAA men’s gymnastics as well as the American team based on the performances at Winter Cup.
US Senior National Team:
Taylor Christopulos (Nebraska)
Asher Hong (Stanford)
Joshua Karnes (Penn State)
Ian Lasic-Ellis (Stanford)
Riley Loos (Stanford)
Brody Malone (Stanford)
Yul Molldauer (5280/Oklahoma)
Kameron Nelson (Ohio State)
Curran Phillips (Stanford)
Fred Richard (Michigan)
Ian Skirkey (Illinois)
Blake Sun (Stanford)
Donnell Whittenburg (Salto)
Shane Wiskus (EVO/Minnesota)
Khoi Young (Stanford)
Moving into the second half of the season we can expect more upsets, more fire power, and more exciting competition. The Big Ten regular season title is far from won by any team and will come down to the wire.
Conference championships are around the corner as well and each one looks to be up for grabs. In the ECAC, Navy seems to have a hold, but Springfield and Army could take that title from the Midshipmen.
The preseason rankings seemed to have Michigan leading the Big Ten but it is clear that every single team in the conference has a shot.
The MPSF will come down to a battle between Oklahoma and Stanford. Any time the Cardinal and the Sooners face off, a high quality competition ensues.
Here’s to a healthy, exciting, and successful second half of the season!