Conference Championships Recap
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. Ohio State (+1)
7. Cal (+1)
8. Penn State (-2)
9. Navy (+1)
10. Air Force (-1)
11. Greenville (-)
12. Springfield (-)
13. Army (-)
14. William & Mary (-)
15. Simpson (-)
A thrilling conference championships weekend set the stage for an electric NCAA championship hosted at Ohio State’s Covelli center on April 19th and 20th. This past weekend gave us all a taste of what’s to come, who the contenders are, and reminded us that no team or individual athlete can be counted out.
CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP REVIEW
ECAC Rewatch
1. Navy (401.45)
2. Greenville (393.00)
3. Springfield (392.05)
4. Army (390.90)
5. William & Mary (387.80)
6. Simpson (360.95)
Navy’s domination in this championship has remained constant over the past half decade and based on performances this season, the midshipmen’s control of this conference has gone relatively untested. Greenville also made a statement by finishing second in their second year of existence and qualifying as a team to the NCAA championships. Springfield also qualified to NCAA championships for the third time in a row and did so with Greenville making this the first time two Division III programs will be full teams at NCAA Championships.
In the individual competition Navy’s Isaiah Drake (80.3) claimed the all-around crown over Army’s Jaden Blank (77.6) and Springfield’s Dominic Ramalho (76.2). Drake’s teammate Riley Rose won two ECAC titles, one on rings (13.55) and the other on high bar (13.35) while a third midshipman, Matthew Petros topped the podium on parallel bars.
Greenville gymnasts took home top honors on floor and vault. Zach Connelly continued his floor (14.35) winning streak and Logan Watterson shined on his signature event (14.85).
Springfield’s Peyton Cramer claimed ECAC rookie of the year and specialist of the year and added to his accolades by winning pommel horse with a gorgeous pommel horse routine (14.8), which topped the field. His teammate Sam Kaplan was awarded ECAC gymnast of the year and the Springfield coaching staff led my Matt Davis swept the conference coach of the year awards.
MPSF
1. Stanford (422.7)
2. Oklahoma (418.4)
3. California (405.6)
4. Air Force (396.45)
The big story line from the MPSF championships hosted by Oklahoma is that the Sooners had not lost at home in over 17 years. Defending MPSF champions, Stanford, the top ranked team coming in, has lost in Oklahoma in recent seasons so it was not a given that the Cardinal would overtake the Sooner’s in Norman. However, OUs home winning streak did come to an end as Thom Glielmi’s team put up a season high score and topped the podium.
Cal also had a big day, scoring a season high. An equivalent performance at NCAAs could land Cal in contention for a spot in the super a six, a place the Bears haven’t been in nearly a decade. Air Force did not have the day they were hoping for but still easily qualified a team to NCAAs and will look to improve upon their conference performance during qualifying.
On the individual side of things, Stanford dominated. Khoi Young was the star of the show winning the all-around (86.35), vault (14.85), and parallel bars (14.75) titles. In the all around, Young was followed up by his teammate Colt Walker (83.85) and Oklahoma’s Fuzzy Benas (83.7). The Cardinal’s Asher Hong was the strong man on the day. He won the rings (15.0) title.
On floor, OUs Emre Dodanli (14.95) won by a six tenth margin and on pommel horse his teammate Ignacio Yockers (15.15) edged out Young (15.1) for the title on his best event. The other Sooner to be crowned an MPSF champion was Kelton Christiansen on high bar (14.1) in which he beat his teammate Jack Freeman by just a tenth.
BIG TEN
1. Michigan (418.1)
2. Illinois (413.75)
3. Nebraska (407.35)
4. Ohio State (406.55)
5. Penn State (404.05)
Coming into the competition it was truly any teams to take. Nebraska had the highest national qualifying score prior to the conference championship, Michigan was the favorite as they have two of the nation’s top gymnasts on their roster. Illinois had a season better than any in recent memory and were a real threat. Ohio State and Penn State also had moments of brightness throughout the year that suggested an intense Big Ten team contest.
The buildup did not disappoint Michigan started the meet off slowly and Illinois took advantage building a lead going into the back half of the contest. Nebraska, Ohio State and Penn State were in a battle for third early on and were never able to catch up to Michigan or Illinois.
In the all-around Fred Richard held on for his second straight Big Ten all-around title (83.9) even with three missed routines. Following him in second was Nebraska’s’ Taylor Christopulos (83.1) and Penn State’s Josh Karnes (83.0).
In the individual event contest, Illinois impressed its home crowd fans winning four of six events. On floor Connor McCool won his second straight title (14.5) and was joined on the podium by Michigan’s Landen Blixt.
The Illini’s entire pommel horse lineup made the event final and after a series of rough routines, Freshman, Brandon Dang hit a massive routine (14.8) and won his first Big Ten title. Ashton Anaya (14.2) completed his Big Ten career undefeated on rings in Big Ten finals but only by the skin of his teeth as Michigan’s Rithik Puri (14.125) was close behind. Amari Sewell closed out the winning ways for the Illini as the only vaulter of the day to stick (14.825). Ohio State’s Kameron Nelson and Michigan’s Paul Juda were on his tail tying for second (14.7).
On parallel bars Michigan’s Crew Bold (14.55) hit a spectacular set to edge out his teammate and reigning Big Ten parallel bars champion Evgeny Siminiuc (14.50). To close out the competition Penn State’s Michael Jaroh topped the field on high bar (14.325) to claim his first Big Ten title.