Week 12 Power Rankings
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. Michigan (-)
3. Oklahoma (-)
4. Illinois (-)
5. Nebraska (-)
6. Penn State (-)
7. Ohio State (-)
8. Cal (-)
9. Air Force (-)
10. Navy (-)
11. Greenville (+)
12. Springfield (-1)
13. Army (-)
14. William & Mary (-)
15. Simpson (-)
Week 12 was post-season lite. The USAG Championships were hosted by the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs and the Big Ten regular season contest wraps up. All of this comes with conference championships around the corner.
At the USAG Championships Air Force (401.65) defended its home gym, winning every team and individual title except for one. Navy was a close second (398.25) followed by Greenville (390.75). This contest set the stage for next week’s ECAC championship in which every team present will compete except for Air Force.
USAG Championships holds a team contest that acts as a qualifier for the event finals. In individual competition, the Falcon’s Erich Upton won the all-around (79.2) over Springfield’s Sam Kaplan (77.55) and William & Mary’s Gavin Zborowski (76.15). The winner of the Outstanding Senior Gymnast award, Aidan Cuy (74.1) held on for fourth place.
In individual event action Garrett Braunton dominated. Braunton claimed the title on rings (13.5), parallel bars (13.85), and high bar (13.8). His teammates, Oliver Zavel and Patrick Hoopes were also crowned champions on floor (14.15) and pommel horse (14.95) respectively. Greenville’s Michael Avery was the only non-Falcon to top the podium over the weekend, winning vault (14.45). Navy’s Mathew Petros had a strong showing over the weekend as well, placing second on three events, vault (14.4), parallel bars (13.3), and high bar (13.55).
In Big Ten action, Illinois was the first Big Ten team to win an away meet in the big ten regular season contest on route to their first regular season Big Ten team title. The Illini (406.5) took down Penn State (405.95) in a close matchup. Connor McCool and Michael Fletcher led the way for the Illini on floor (14.3) tying for the title. Brandon Dang continued the title winning streak with his strong performance on the pommel horse (14.75). The Nittany Lions took control on the rings led by freshman, Luke Esparo (14.15). Amari Sewell the nation’s top vaulter won the title on his signature event (14.75) while the nation’s top parallel bars worker, Josh Karnes claimed the title on his (14.65). Ryan Vanichtheeranont impressed (14.0) as he added another high bar title to his collection.
To compete the Big Ten regular season, Nebraska put up a season high score (418.2) to beat Ohio State (414.15) and take a share of the Big Ten regular season title with Illinois. Team captain, Sam Phillips had a big night with personal bests on floor (14.75), rings (13.85), and high bar (14.3) the latter of which he was the event winner. Luke James had a career high on vault (14.75) to claim the title on that event. The Buckeyes had a great day too also scoring a season high. Individually, the Ohio State athletes won four event titles. Kameron Nelson on floor (14.8), Parker Thackston on pommel horse (14.75), Donovan Hewitt on rings (14.05), and Jakob Murray on parallel bars (14.25).