Week 3 Power Rankings & Schedule
Each week we’ll be releasing a “Power Rankings” that aims to provide a fluid picture of how each team across the NCAA is doing on a week-to-week basis and where we see them heading. The (+) or (-) next to each team relates to how far they rose or fell from the week before.
This year’s Power Rankings are developed utilizing the NCAA coaches’ poll as well as input from major gymnastics publications including, Inside Gymnastics, Gymnastics Now, and Neutral Deductions.
1. Stanford (-)
2. Oklahoma (-)
3. Michigan (-)
4. Nebraska (+1)
5. Illinois (-1)
6. Ohio State (+1)
7. Penn State (-1)
8. Navy (-)
9. Cal(-)
10. Air Force (-)
11. Greenville (+2)
12. Army (-1)
13. Springfield (-1)
14. William & Mary (-)
15. Simpson (-)
Week 3 was another big week packed with perennial multi-team open competitions. The Rocky Mountain Open and the Navy Open both featured dramatic performances and surprise outcomes.
In Annapolis, the Buckeyes (397.3) continued their 2024 winning streak by taking the team title at the Navy Open. The big upset from this competition was Navy (391.25) finishing ahead of the traditionally dominant Nittany Lions (385.2). Springfield College (372.55) and William & Mary (366.1) rounded out the field. Navy’s Isaiah Drake topped the all-around leaderboard (80.65) and added a parallel bars (13.95) title to his haul this weekend. Ohio State’s Justin Ciccone put up a huge vault (14.95) for the highest score of the day.
On the other side of the country in Colorado Springs, Air Force hosted the Rocky Mountain Open in which Oklahoma put on a show. The Sooners made a statement early in the season with a (420.35), the highest team total achieved thus far. Nebraska opened their season on a high note, posting a (409.6) and were followed by the Falcons who finished with a (392.75).
The star of the day was Oklahoma’s Fuzzy Benas, who claimed the all-around title with a massive, NCAA leading (85.2) in his first meet back after a year off due to injury. Benas also took the crown on parallel bars (14.8) and vault (14.55). This meet was the beneficiary of many high-level performances including those from Oklahoma’s Igancio Yockers, Emre Dodanli, Jack Freeman, Tas Hajdu, Nebraska’s Cole Partridge, Sam Phillips, Taylor Christopulous, and Air Force’s Patty Hoopes and Garrett Braunton.
A pair of overshadowed dual meets also took place this weekend, Illinois traveled to Greenville for the first ever home meet at Greenville University. The Illini managed a (400.95) to defeat the Panthers (388.85). Illinois Freshman Brandon Dang and Garrett Schooley impressed. On pommel horse Dang come through with a (14.45) and Schooley executed a Kazamatsu double full (14.75) to win the vault title.
Army made its way to Ann Arbor to take on the Wolverines and saw the return of Paul Juda and Fred Richard. Michigan coasted to an easy win (412.5) over Army (382.95) with notable performances from Richard on pommel horse (15.0) and high bar (14.4) and Juda on vault (15.0). The pommel horse, vault, and high bar scores from Richard on Juda currently stand as national high scores for the season.
WEEK 4 SCHEDULE:
SATURDAY JANUARY 27th
*ALL ET TIMES
1:00PM: Springfield College @ Army
How to watch: Facebook Live
2:00PM: William & Mary @ Navy
How to watch:
10:00PM: Stanford Open – California @ Stanford (with Team USA)
How to watch: Pac 12
Sunday JANUARY 28th
5:00PM: Oklahoma @ Illinois
How to watch: Big Ten Network (TV)