2024 CGA Season Preview
The 2023-2024 NCAA men’s gymnastics season is underway. The competing 15 teams are bound to give us insight into the 2024 Paris Olympics right around the corner. Get ready for an exciting show!
This season Stanford aims for a five-peat, a feat unheard of in collegiate athletics. Three-time NCAA champion, Fred Richard, will seek to defend his titles while leading Michigan in their quest to dethrone the Cardinal.
The season preview ranking is based on the pre-season coach’s poll.
Stanford #1
The 2023-2024 Stanford squad will be without some big hitters from the past four seasons including the likes of Ian Gunther, Brandon Briones, and Riley Loos. This is also the first season that Brody Malone is not a feature of the Cardinal squad. While that firepower and experience has moved on, this year’s Stanford team is a force to be reckoned with. Sophomore sensation, Asher Hong, a two-time world team member and reigning NCAA vault champion will lead the way alongside Cardinal standouts Khoi Young, Colt Walker, Taylor Burkhardt, and Nick Kuebler. Freshmen David Shamah and Toma Murakawa are sure to make waves for Thom Glielmi’s Stanford team as well. This 2023-2024 Stanford squad will need to be at its best to maintain their spot at the top of the roost for the fifth year in a row. Michigan is right behind and eager to stand atop the podium for the first time since the Sam Mikulak era ending in 2014.
Michigan #2
In 2023 Michigan nearly pulled off the unimaginable by challenging Stanford for the NCAA team title only to finish second by just over 2.5 points. Returning this year after a year off due to injury is 2022 NCAA All-Around champion, Paul Juda. Joining Juda is Sophomore Fred Richard the reigning NCAA All-Around champion. This one-two punch might be all that Michigan needs to take down the defending champion Cardinal. With two world class all-arounders surrounded by exceptional event specialists, the Wolverines are in a good spot to take on the Cardinal in what is shaping up to be a very competitive upper echelon of elite teams this season.
Illinois #3
Illinois has momentum coming off a big bronze medal winning NCAA championships team performance in 2023 and boasts an exciting class of talented freshman who could pull off an upset over the top ranked teams. With leadership from the likes of Connor McCool and a Freshman class highlighted by junior standouts, Vahe Petrosyan, Preston Ngai, and Brandon Deng, the Illini has the potential to shake things up. Reigning NCAA rings champion, Ashton Anaya will help lead the charge for Illinois as they seek to take down Michigan to claim their first BigTen title since 2018 and their first NCAA title since 2012.
Oklahoma #4
Oklahoma has proven to be in contention for every championship over the last two decades and this year is no different. While the team will no longer boast the likes of Nissen Emery candidates Spencer Goodell and Vitali Guimaraes, Turkish national team member Emre Dodanli will lead the charge alongside Fuzzy Benas who was out due to injury last season. A slew of young talent is also on the side of the Sooners who are in perennial contention for the NCAA team title.
Nebraska #5
Chuck Chmelka’s Huskers are ready to shine this year with a mixture of young talent and veteran leadership. A huge Freshman class made up of former junior national team members and experienced tricksters will have an immediate impact. Leadership from the likes of Sam Phillips and Taylor Christopulos will help this team drive toward their lofty goals. Nebraska has the ability to take on the best of the best and will challenge for BigTen and NCAA honors this season.
Penn State #6
The 2024 Nittany Lions are not a squad to rule out. This team boasts high performing leadership and tested international talent. Matt Cormier will take the reins of this team with the help of standout Junior, Joshua Karnes. Swiss national team member Ian Raubal is one to watch out for on this Penn State team as well. The freshman class is made up of athletes who flew under the radar as juniors but who have sky high potential and the ability to contend with the top athletes in the NCAA.
Ohio State #7
Ohio State comes into this season with the loss just two athletes to graduation while bringing in a strong class of Freshman including former junior national team member Chase Davenport-Mills. The continued leadership of Kameron Nelson will keep this Buckeye squad on track as they look to challenge for their first BigTen title since the Sean Melton and Alec Yoder era in 2017/2018. Additional motivation for Ohio States is that this year the Buckeyes will host the NCAA championships.
Navy #8
Last season Navy took a tough loss to Air Force at the All-Academy championships and again at NCAA Championships after a few years of dominance over the other academies. This year, Navy looks to show that they are undeniably the top academy. With the support of methodical and consistent teammates, All-American’s Isaiah Drake and Syam Buradagunta will lead this team of Midshipmen as they seek to make their way into the super six and keep their spot at the top of the ECAC.
Air Force #9
After a big finish to the 2023 season with an 8th place finish at NCAA Championships and a win at the All-Academy championships, the Falcons look to repeat and improve upon this performance. Standouts Oliver Zavel, Erich Upton, and Patrick Hoopes will lead this team yet again which bodes well for Head Coach Josh Loeser as this team has already shown that they are capable of impressive results.
California #10
After a rather disappointing end to the regular season with a 9th place result at NCAA championships, the 2024 Cal Bears will look to assert themselves back in the upper echelon of NCAA gymnastics. JT Okada and his team have a lot on their side as captain Darren Wong will return after two years out due to injury and Noah Newfeld will be back for his senior campaign. This team had very few losses to graduation while an exciting group of Freshman were welcomed to campus this fall. With old talent back and new talent on their way in, the Bears, who are known to be savvy with their routine construction, could shake up the standings this year.
Army #11
The biggest addition to this 2024 West Point squad is that of new head coach, JD Reive who replaces Doug Van Everen after his 33 years at the helm. Captained by Connor Cavanagh and Steve Manolakis, the Army will push for a spot at the top of the ECAC this season. A seasoned senior class paired with a group of strong underclassmen will keep this Army team a stone’s throw away from their academy rivals in the rankings this year.
Springfield College #12
Springfield showed that they are capable of competing with top of the ECAC last season and with star all-arounder Dominic Ramalho returning, the Pride is set up well to continue their hunt for another spot on the ECAC podium and a team berth to the 2024 NCAA Championships.
William & Mary #13
Last season, the Tribe finished just behind Springfield at ECACs which kept them out of the mix at NCAAs as a team. This year head coach Mike Powell and his squad will do everything they can to reclaim their spot as a team at NCAAs. With a strong cast of returning graduate students including star all-arounder, Aiden Cuy, the Tribe will be dangerous in the ECAC and a team to watch for as national qualifying averages are calculated at the end of the season.
Greenville #14
An extremely successful first season for Greenville concluded in 2023 with Ricky Mays securing a spot in the Vault final at NCAAs. Mays is back this season as a sophomore and ready to lead his team to even more success in his team’s second year.
Simpson #15
Also coming off their inaugural season, Simpson is ready to make big improvements in year two. A large incoming class will help push the returning team members to a level that is competitive with DIII rivals, Greenville and Springfield.