2025 NCAA Season Wrap Up
The 2025 NCAA men’s gymnastics season has come to a close. This season provided a sense of character somewhat different than previous years. Coming off an historic Olympic cycle in which Team USA won its first team Olympic medal in 16 years, and a Stanford team on the hunt for its 6th straight NCAA title, there was a shift in the gravity and meaning of this season. Three of the 2024 Paris Olympic Team USA members were on NCAA rosters, along with a slew of Olympic alternates and Olympic athletes representing their home countries.
Before the season started, a new set of rules were implemented. This season the NCAA shifted from a 5 up 5 count format to a 4 up 4 count format and the code of points was updated with a multitude of substantial changes. We saw new routine constructions and new skills throughout the season. One of the most exciting moments of the season occurred at the first meet, West Point Open, when Ohio State’s Kameron Nelson unveiled a new floor routine that consisted of two Triple backs - a feat unmatched by anyone else in the world.
Needless to say, this year will not be lost to the annals of gymnastics history, it will be remembered for years to come. The culmination of the season at NCAA championships in which Michigan dethroned Stanford will not soon be forgotten. For the first time in history the NCAA Championships final boasted three Nissen Emery Award winners competing. Many talented gymnasts competed their final NCAA routines, which opens the door for an exciting season to come where a new group of talented athletes will get their shot at NCAA glory.
1. Michigan (+1)
2. Stanford (+1)
3. Oklahoma (-2)
4. Nebraska (-)
5. Penn State (-)
6. Illinois (-)
7. Ohio State (-)
8. Cal (+1)
9. Air Force (-1)
10. Army (+1)
11. Navy(-1)
12. William & Mary (-)
13. Greenville (-)
14. Springfield (-)
15. Simpson (-)
The 2025 NCAA Championship title came down to inches. Michigan’s Paul Juda needed to complete a vault that would score above a 13.803 to dethrone Stanford and end the Cardinal’s streak of 5 straight NCAA team titles. Juda scored a 13.966 in his final routine as a Michigan gymnast, just enough to claim the title for his university for the first time in 11 years.
The team contest was the highlight of the competition, but there were also 7 other NCAA titles up from grabs. Asher Hong continues to impress as he has now won an NCAA title on 4 events throughout his career. This year, Hong won floor and rings to win his 5th and 6th individual NCAA titles. Fred Richard won his fourth NCAA title and his second all-around title while claiming All-American status on every single event.
Patrick Hoopes won his second straight NCAA title on pommel horse. Kameron Nelson capped off his dominant 2025 vault campaign with the NCAA title, and Juda ended his NCAA career as the NCAA parallel bars champion, his fourth career NCAA title. Emre Dodanli rounded out this year’s NCAA titles with a victory on high bar.
The Nissen Emery Award went to Nebraska’s Taylor Christopulos who ended his career as a 10 time All-American with at least one All-American honor on every event but rings.
The 2025 CGA MVP was awarded to Stanford’s Taylor Burkhart
The 2025 CGA Specialist of the year is Illinois’ Brandon Dang
The 2025 CGA Rookie of the year is Illinois’ Ian Snadoval
This year was thrilling, especially with the roll out of the new code of points for the quadrennium (2025-2028). We saw history made, big skills, and a lot of stuck landings. We’ll look for more of that in the coming season.
For now, the NCAA season is over, but many NCAA gymnasts are still in action! There are world cups, national championships, and world championships slated for later this year, all of which will include current, future, and/or former NCAA gymnasts.
Stay tuned for season 4 of the CGA all-star competition and join us next year when we kick off the 2026 NCAA season!