CGA 2026 Season Preview
By Isaac Erickson and Peter Hristozov
Each week we’ll release a “Power Rankings” that aims to provide a fluid picture of how each team across the NCAA is doing at the moment and where NCAA men’s gymnastics experts 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 with input from major gymnastics publications including the CGA Coaches Poll, Inside Gymnastics, Podnastics, and Gymnastics Now.
2026 Pre-Season Power Rankings
Michigan
Oklahoma
Stanford
Illinois
Nebraska
Ohio State
Penn State
Air Force
Cal
Army
Navy
Greenville
William & Mary
Springfield
Simpson
MPSF
Air Force
Coming off an All-Academy victory last season, the Falcons are confident, poised, and have the experience to shake up the standings in the NCAA for the 2026 season. The addition of assistant coach Michael Reid made a significant impact on the Falcons' last season, and their growth and progress will be evident during this one. Head coach Josh Loeser and assistant coach Sergey Resnick have been increasing the difficulty over the last few years, and as the Falcons are getting comfortable and cleaning up these big routines, it will be a threat for the rest of the NCAA. The Falcons lost a few key seniors last season, including World Bronze Medalist Patty Hoopes. The loss of these seniors means that the freshman class will play a crucial role in the team's success. The newcomers on the team include Will Kudlac, Isaac Koo, Carson Crooks, Devin Gopaul, John Hults, Reece Stanley, and Kelly North. Senior Captains Tai Gopaul and Sam Brown will be leading this team with their experience. Brown will be a reliable score for the Falcons on pommel horse, while Gopaul will be looking to bring in big scores on floor exercise, still rings, parallel bars, and high bar. Senior Denis Irimiea will also be looking to use his experience and put up strong scores on vault with his powerful and polished Yurchenko double full. Irimiea is also capable of showing off tremendous strength on the still rings, where the Falcons are looking for a big score from him. Lastly, another notable athlete on the Air Force roster is Jared Fry. Fry is an all-arounder who will be looking to contribute in all six events as he did for the Falcons throughout the 2025 season.
Cal
As interim head coach last season, Bryan Del Castillo led his team to a season-high performance at the NCAA Championships. Now, as head coach, Del Castillo and assistant coaches Karl Ziehn and Donathan Bailey are preparing this 2026 team for a strong season and success at the MPSF and NCAA Championships. The 2026 team will be led by senior captain Khalen Curry and junior captain Carter Kim. Curry has posted big scores for the Golden Bears on the power events like floor and vault. Carter has been a reliable member of the floor exercise, vault, and high bar lineups, where he delivers consistent and dependable scores throughout the season. Graduate senior Kaien Orion is a transfer from Stanford and is a huge pick-up for the Cal Bears this season. He has great difficulty with events like the floor, pommel horse, and parallel bars. He also competes many dynamic and unique skills that will be exciting to watch. Senior Theodor Roald Gadderud is a national team gymnast from Team Norway and is a veteran competitor for the Cal Bears, recently competing in the World Championships in October. Gadderud has been a familiar face in multiple lineups, as he is a strong competitor in all six events. Jasper Smith Gordon is a talented event specialist from the UK and thrives on events like the floor and vault. He is capable of a powerful triple full vault and very difficult and explosive passes on the floor exercise. There are also some new faces on the team, like freshman Nathan Underhill. Underhill is coming into this program with impressive strength on the still rings. His difficult strength will be a great addition to Del Castillo’s still rings lineup.
Oklahoma
If there's anyone who knows how to win championships, it's Sooner Head Coach Mark Williams. Year after year, Williams has prepared his teams to be in contention for the national title, no matter the circumstances. Assistant Coaches Genki Suzuki, Josh Yee, and Valery Goncharov also bring a special level of experience to the Sooner program, and it continues to show year after year. With a 2025 MPSF championship and a 3rd place team finish under their belt, the Sooners are hungry for their 10th national title under Mark Williams. Williams signed arguably one of the most talented freshmen classes in the NCAA, headlined by national team members Sasha Bogonosiuk and Nathan Roman. These freshmen will be reliable scorers on all six events throughout the 2026 season. Kelton Christian and Brigham Frenthaway will be the 2026 captains for the Sooners. Christiansen will be putting up scores on pommel horse and high bar, while Frenthaway is known for his scores on floor, rings, vault, and high bar. Fuzzy Benas has decided to take a 5th year for the Sooners, and his experience and consistency will be used on all six events as the Sooners look towards that national championship. As a multiple-time all-American, national team member, and with a 6th-place all-around finish at the 2024 Olympic Trials, Benas is as experienced as they come. In addition to their all-arounders, this team also has some powerful event specialists such as Tas Hadju and Ignacio Yockers. Coming off a third-place finish on the still rings at the NCAA Championships, Hadju is excited to put his strength on display for his Junior year. Yockers is also an all-American and has been a reliable pommel horse anchor for the Sooners over the years. Now a senior, Yockers is looking forward to performing his world-class routine for one last season. Coach Mark Williams says his goals for this season “would be to compete at a championship level, compete in every dual meet to find a way to win, and peak at the NCAA team championship finals.” In addition, when asked what he believes his team's greatest strength was, Williams said, “Oklahoma's greatest strength going into the 2026 season includes being relatively healthy, having some senior leadership that is doing a good job during our training and our practice schedule, and having a couple of new faces who we feel will contribute to the team's success.”
Stanford
Barely missing out on that 2025 national title definitely left a chip on the Cardinals' shoulders. The Cardinal will surely be competing with vengeance to bring that 2026 team title back to Palo Alto. Head Coach Thom Glielmi knows how to peak his team for championships, and with the help of Assistant Coaches Carlos Ojeda, Reuben Lopez Martinez, and Mitchel Soukup, this team is going to be ready to compete for that MPSF and NCAA team title at the end of the year. The Cardinal will be led by 2024 Olympic Bronze medalist Asher Hong. The senior has been a superstar for Glielmi and his team and is capable of putting up gigantic scores on all six events that will allow Stanford to battle it out with Michigan and Oklahoma at the NCAA Championships. Redshirt Senior Nick Kuebler will be returning to compete for the Cardinal after missing the 2025 season. Kuebler is capable of putting up high scores on floor exercise, rings, and high bar. Hong and Kuebler’s experience will be crucial when leading the large group of underclassmen. Coach Glielmi signed a talented freshman class. One of these standout freshmen is Junnosuke Iwai. Iwai is a member of the US national team and has experience competing internationally for Team USA. He can put up great scores on six events, but is exceptional on events like high bar and floor, where he has received some hardware internationally at World Cups. A gymnast like David Shamah should also be on people’s radars this season. Shamah has not competed a lot throughout his years at Stanford, but he has a lot of international experience and shines greatly in his execution on all six apparatus. Regarding Coach Thom Gliemi’s goals for the 2026 season, he believes the goal is to “always be able to look back at the season and be happy with what we have done. I view our preparation as the most important factor in a complete season. When we are happy with our performance, it is due to our preparation and how we executed more than how we finish. We have learned that there are factors outside our control that contribute to failure or success. So I try to focus on doing our best -- not if judges are prepared.” Coach Gliemi also discussed a bit about what he believes are this team’s greatest strengths. Gliemi states, “Our team culture is returning to the level it was five years ago. I have seen how success can sometimes lead to complacency, which is why our expectations must remain realistic and grounded in a true team effort. When every team member understands they play an essential role in our success—and that each individual is expected to contribute—we position ourselves to achieve great things together.”
Big Ten
Illinois
Daniel Ribeiro has done great things with the Illinois Program since being named head coach in 2022. With the help of assistant coach Don Osborn, this talented team is on track for great results this season. 7th-year senior Sam Phillips was a great addition to the Illini as a transfer from Nebraska, but an injury last season prevented him from showing his full potential. This season, he will be looking to put up big scores on events like high bar, where he performs a dynamic and high-flying routine, and floor exercise, where he shows off powerful tumbling and his artistic flair. Joining Phillips as a leader of this Illini team is senior captain Tate Costa. Costa has a lot of experience under his belt, with titles such as 2024 NCAA high bar champion and being an Olympic Trials qualifier that same year. He can also put up massive scores on multiple events, such as high bar, parallel bars, and floor. These veterans will lead the younger guys, including freshman Alex Karadzhov. Karadzhov comes from Evo Gymnastics, where he has gained extensive experience competing and training with some of the world's top gymnasts. He has a lot of high difficulty skills and routines on events like high bar, parallel bars, and pommel horse. His long lines and refined execution also show well in these events. Illinois is filled with world-class specialists, like 2025 World Team Member Brandon Dang. Dang’s precision and difficulty on pommel horse are unmatched, and his international experience makes for a perfect pommel horse anchor for the Fighting Illini. Preston Ngai is also a notable name and a huge contributor to the Illini in the all-around. He is a Senior Developmental Team Member and has a lot of good difficulty and clean execution across all six events. Coach Daniel Ribeiro was really clear when asked about the goals for his team this season. Ribeiro states, “Our goals for the 2026 season are to win NCAAs. We've been building up for this year. We have a great group of upperclassmen who were recruited a few years back, who have been developing really well over the years. We want to push into that 360 start value range by the end of the season. Early on, we have some top guys who are a little banged up and will be held out a little bit. Hopefully, once those guys are back in, we can start pushing those high 360 team start values so we can be in contention to win it all at NCAAs.” Ribeiro also discussed what he believes his team's strengths are. He believes events like high bar and pommel horse will be a strength for them this year, and they are also getting stronger on the still rings, which has been a weakness in the past for the Illini.
Michigan
The Michigan Wolverines were your 2025 National Champions, so the confidence of this team going into the 2026 season is at an all-time high. Head Coach Yuan Xiao knows how to prepare and peak his team for greatness. Assistant coaches for the 2026 season include Jordan Gaarenstrom, Juha Tanskanen, and Crew Bold. The team will be headlined by Olympic Bronze Medalist Fredrick Richard, who is capable of posting gigantic scores in all six events and is one of the three team captains this year. His experience and confidence will be crucial this year as the Wolverines seek another national team title. The other two team captains include senior Zach Granados and senior Landon Blixt. Granados has been a stable member of Michigan’s pommel lineup for many years now, while Blixt is coming back from an injury last season and looking to make contributions to his events like parallel bars and high bar for the Wolverines. Floor exercise and vault are Blixt’s best events, so we will see if he will be able to debut those again this season, post-injury. Losing a gymnast like Paul Juda on your roster is difficult, no matter the circumstances, but Michigan signed a group of talented freshmen who will look to make their impact on the program. Freshman Adam Lakomy was a huge pick-up for the Wolverines and will be competing in the all-around. Lakomy will use his international experience and national team experience throughout his freshman year as he puts on that Maize and Blue for the first time. In addition, Michigan has a lot of talented event specialists who contribute big scores to their team. Aaronson Mansberger is a talented pommel horse specialist who put up monster scores for the Wolverines throughout the 2025 season. In addition to Mansberger, Charlie Larson will be a key player with big and consistent scores on the floor and vault. Not a lot of people fly higher on the floor and vault than Charlie Larson. Lastly, another standout name for the Wolverines would be sophomore Solen Chiodi. Chioid has been a national team member in the past and has put up reliable scores on floor, vault, and parallel bars throughout the 2025 season.
Nebraska
Nebraska has had a great recruiting season. Head Coach Chuck Chmelka and Assistant Coaches Jim Hartung and John Robinson have brought in many talented and experienced freshmen into their program for the 2026 season. Coach Chmelka has said that this is the largest freshman class that Nebraska Men’s Gymnastics has seen, with 8 freshmen. He believes each freshman has standout events and that they will all help the Cornhuskers reach their goals this season. Some of these freshmen include Ty Rodriques, Tristan Nye, and Sam Rakita. Rodriques has been a national team member for Team USA and excels greatly on floor and vault with massive difficulty and clean execution on these power events. He can also put up solid scores on events like high bar and parallel bars for the Cornhuskers. Nye has a lot of experience competing on the big stages, placing high in US National Championships and Winter Cup competitions. Nye is a strong all-arounder and can put up consistent and strong scores throughout the season. Rakita is a Junior National team member for Team Canada and has impressive strength on the still rings, where he will contribute greatly to that lineup. These freshmen are in great hands with seniors like Nathan York and Asher Cohen. York has been a Big Ten Medalist on the floor exercise twice and has a lot of dynamic tumbling and great experience on this apparatus. He is also known for his consistent and clean performances on the pommel horse, which will be huge for the Cornhuskers this year. Cohen is a 2x All-American on the still rings and has consistently been one of the most reliable still rings workers in the NCAA. Some additional specialists for Nebraska this season include Chase Mondi, Luke James, and Max Odden. Mondi and James both shine on the floor exercise and with their massive vaults. Odden is one of the cleanest gymnasts in the NCAA on events like highbar where he can put up polished routines and consistent scores meet after meet. This will be Chuck Chmelka’s 16th year as head coach for this program. He has a lot of experience in preparing his team for success, and when asked about his goals for this team, Chmelka states, “Our goals for the 2026 season are to win the Big 10 Championships. Place as a team in the top 3 in the NCAA Championship. Earn at least 5 All Americans on events.”
Ohio Sate
With the amount of talent the Bukeyes have and the phenomenal experience from head coach Rustam Sharipov, associate head coach Casimiro Suarez, and assistant coach Drew Moling, they are also looking poised and looking strong for the 2026 season. There are strong upperclassmen who will contribute greatly to the Buckeyes' team score this season. Jesse Pakaele is a talented all-around gymnast who shines greatly on events like floor and pommel horse, where he has had great success in the past. He will be one of the gymnasts to watch on multiple events for the Buckeyes this season. Kristian Grahovski is also a great all-arounder for this team, and his long lines really stand out on events such as pommel horse and high bar. These two all-around seniors will be crucial for the Buckeyes contention for the Big Ten Title and for that NCAA finals placement. David Ramirez is a talented sophomore and a notable part of the Buckeye team. Rameriz is consistent in all six events and had an outstanding freshman debut season last year, also competing in the USA Gymnastics Championships. He will most likely be in many lineup spots throughout all six events for the Buckeyes. The Buckeyes' roster is also filled with a lot of talented specialists, with massive difficulty. These specialists include Seniors Parker Thackston, Caden Spencer, and Justin Ciccone. Thackston thrives on the pommel horse with his experience and high level of difficulty. Spencer is best known for his clean and difficult release connections on the high bar, which is always a great score for the Buckeyes. Lastly, Ciccone’s consistency in sticking his handspring double front vault is unmatched by anyone else in the NCAA, and it will be exciting to watch throughout the season.
Penn State
This will be a young team for head coach Randy Jepson and the Nittany Lions, with seven underclassmen making up the 2025-2026 roster. With some key players from the 2025 season graduating, this was a big recruiting year for Jepson and assistant coaches Tony Beck and Carlos Vasquez. With the guidance and experience of the upperclassmen, this team will be in contention for that Big Ten team title and a strong finish at NCAAs. As seniors, Kasper Garncezarik and Kellen Ryan will be the leaders of this young team as strong all-arounders and will be in many lineup spots throughout the season. These are two dependable guys who are ready to lead by example and with their gymnastics. Fresh from the World Championships, Akseli Karsikas is a talent for Penn State in the all-around with big scores and great difficulty throughout all six events. Pairing with these solid all-arounders are specialists on the team, such as Luke Esparo. Esparo is a strong ring worker who has consistently put up massive scores for the Nittany Lions over the years in this event. Some of the younger talent joining the program include Ritam Malik and Ricky Perez. Malik brings a lot of international experience to the team after recently attending the Junior World Championships, representing Australia. Perez has a solid pommel horse foundation with high difficulty, clean execution, and a varied repertoire of skills.
ECAC
Army West Point:
West Point enters its third season under head coach JD Reive, the seventh head coach in program history, with assistants Carmine Giglio and Jake Bonnay, who is in his second year after previously assisting at DIII Greenville University. Coming off an ECAC Championship title and an 11th-place team finish at the NCAA Championships, the Black Knights aim to build on their program’s recent momentum while continuing to develop a strong team culture. The team will be led by senior captain Maddox Pabellon and junior captain Noah Duran. Duran has been a standout on pommel horse, still rings, and horizontal bar, earning All-ECAC Pommel Horse honors, USAG All-American recognition, and career highlights including two second-place finishes at the West Point Open and a career-high 13.400 on horizontal bar. Pabellon has been a consistent contributor on pommel horse and vault, appearing in every competition on the pommel horse. He earned routine of the year at the ECAC Championships, was a member of the All-ECAC Pommel Horse team, and qualified as an individual for the NCAA Championship final on pommel horse. Athletes to watch include senior Nick Lester, a 2025 USA Gymnastics All-American on vault, and Cash Johnson, the team’s 2025 MVP. Freshmen Henry Stevens and Thomas Morrow are expected to make an impact as they gain experience, helping reinforce the culture and competitiveness of the Black Knights. With experienced leaders, a mix of seasoned all-arounders, and a promising freshman class, Army West Point looks to defend its ECAC title and push for strong performances at the NCAA Championships in 2026.
Greenville:
Greenville University enters its fourth season under head coach Zach Peters, alongside assistant coach Dane Cramer, who begins his second year on staff after graduating in 2024. In a preseason, team-focused interview with FanWord, Peters outlined both competitive and cultural goals for the 2026 season, highlighting the team’s aspirations to win the ECAC Championship, qualify to the NCAA Championships, and push toward a historic top-10 national finish. While competitive success remains a priority, Peters emphasized that the program’s foundation is rooted in personal development, stating that the ultimate goal is to “continue to pursue excellence in all that we do and become the best people possible for the rest of our lives.” Greenville finished third at the 2025 ECAC Championships and qualified individuals in every event to the NCAA Championships. Now entering its fourth year as a program, the Panthers boast a roster of seasoned competitors and a coaching staff that has been together since the beginning, with Peters leading the program from its inception and Cramer transitioning from athlete to coach. When discussing the freshman class, Peters emphasized that they are helping solidify the culture the program has been building toward, noting that they are “doing everything right,” from work ethic and attention to detail in the gym to their performance in the classroom. While not yet major lineup contributors, Peters added that the foundation they are laying now positions the team to make increasingly “scary pushes” as the season approaches and in the years ahead. The Panthers will be led by three senior captains: Donovan Diviney, Jacob Foster, and Ethan Poole. All three seniors have made a lasting impact on the program both on and off the floor, helping establish Greenville’s culture from the beginning while providing consistency and high-scoring potential in the lineup. One athlete to watch is senior Ryan Barela, an all-arounder returning for a full season after recovering from knee surgery. Barela, the first athlete to ever commit to the program, enters his final year hungry to finish strong. Junior Jaxon Clapper is coming off a season of consistent lineup appearances, contributing on floor exercise, parallel bars, and vault. Sophomore Kyler Hinson will also be a key contributor, competing on floor, pommel horse, vault, parallel bars, and high bar, where his clean lines and increasing difficulty continue to stand out. Freshmen Alban Baker and Daniel Jekal are also names to watch as they begin their collegiate careers.
Navy:
The Navy Midshipmen, led by 11th-year head coach Kip Simons and assistants Craig Holt and Ryan Terrill, enter the 2026 season following a runner-up finish at the ECAC Championships and an eighth-place NCAA finish. Navy aims to continue its upward trajectory, blending veteran leadership with a talented freshman class. In a preseason interview, Simons shared, “Our goals for the 2026 season are to beat Army, win the All-Academy Championships, the USAG Nationals, and the ECAC Conference. We want to be in the top 10 at the NCAA Championships.” On the team’s strengths, he added, “Our work ethic and buy-in has been noteworthy this preseason. Grit will also be a big part of our successes this season.” Junior Daniel Gurevich and senior Matthew Petros lead the Midshipmen’s veterans. Gurevich, a strong all-arounder, posted a 13.85 top finish on floor at William & Mary in 2025. Petros reached the NCAA finals in 2024 on parallel bars and high bar. Freshmen Sean Armstrong and Cody Philips are expected to contribute in the lineup, with potential for all six events, providing depth and helping the team execute a “next man up” mentality. With experienced leaders, promising newcomers, and a culture rooted in hard work, Navy is poised to challenge for ECAC honors and a top-10 NCAA finish in 2026
Simpson:
Simpson College enters the 2026 season under veteran coach Colin Payne, alongside newcomer assistant Christian Lunsford, formerly of GYMACT at Northern Illinois University. Coming off a year of growth, the team is poised to continue developing both its competitive performance and program culture, with a new gymnastics facility opening this spring providing an upgraded home for the athletes. The team’s leaders include junior Brian Rollison, a powerhouse on rings who reached NCAA finals last year, along with juniors Paul Tiedemann and freshman Garrett Alexander. Reflecting on the team’s approach to the upcoming season, Coach Payne said, “This team's greatest strength has to be its perseverance. Building this team from the ground up, these athletes have seen an immense amount of adversity. These guys have cultivated a mindset and team culture that allows them to roll with the punches. I cannot overstate how impressed I have been with this group of athletes' ability to not get discouraged and keep moving forward. It has been a tough road learning those lessons, but it will undoubtedly serve us well in the coming season.” With a mix of experienced competitors, talented newcomers, and a resilient team culture, Simpson will look to make its mark throughout the 2026 season, challenging in both ECAC and NCAA competition. The team’s perseverance, combined with growing depth and skill across the lineup, sets the stage for a season of competitive routines, personal growth, and opportunities to push the program to new heights.
Springfield:
Springfield enters the 2026 season under ninth-year head coach Matthew Davis, assisted by Kael Donley. Davis emphasized the team’s goals for the year: “We want to compete for the ECAC Cup by performing competitive, clean, and confident routines. Our team also aims to qualify for the NCAA Championships by finishing in the top 12 and to be in the top three academically for a second year.” The program also benefits from a newly renovated gym, which provides a strong foundation for athlete development. Experienced leaders Peyton Cramer, a top NCAA finalist on pommel horse, and Owen Carney, a high bar specialist known for his release skills, anchor the team. They are joined by talented underclassmen, including sophomore Kaleb Palacio, who competes on floor, still rings, vault, and high bar, and Michael Dalton, also a sophomore excelling on multiple events. Freshman Brian Delf will look to make an immediate impact as an all-around competitor. Davis noted, “We have a good mix of experienced gymnasts and talented newcomers breaking into the lineup. This has been one of the closest teams we’ve had in a while, with everyone focused on pushing themselves and the program higher.” With a blend of veteran leadership, young talent, and an upgraded facility, Springfield aims to contend for the ECAC title and qualify a strong squad to the NCAA Championships.
William & Mary:
Mike Powell enters his seventh season leading the William & Mary men’s and women’s gymnastics programs as the Director of Gymnastics. Prior to assuming his current position, Powell served as the men’s head coach for three seasons after a one-year stint as an assistant in 2016, giving him extensive experience guiding the program and developing athletes for success at both the ECAC and NCAA levels. He is joined by Associate Head Coach Bo Morris as the team prepares for the 2026 season. Standouts for the upcoming year include senior Ricky Pizem, last season’s ECAC high bar champion; junior Evan Wilkins, who competed in multiple NCAA finals and earned a CGA All-Star title on parallel bars; and sophomore Luke Tully, the ECAC Rookie of the Year. Freshman Brayden Bates is also expected to make an immediate impact, having concluded his junior career with top finishes at the JN Nationals on several events, including a 3rd place AA finish. With a mix of experienced leaders, talented underclassmen, and a program culture rooted in academic and athletic excellence—17 CGA Academic All-Americans last season—the Tribe is poised for a strong 2026 campaign. Powell and Morris are focused on building depth, consistency, and high-level performances across the lineup as William & Mary looks to compete at the ECAC Championships and make a meaningful impact at the NCAA Championships this season.
Upcoming Schedule for Week 1:
All Times EST.
Friday, January 9
9:00 pm Stanford @ California - Live Stats | Live Stream
Saturday, January 10
2:00 pm Springfield College @ Navy - Live Stats | Live Stream
2:00 pm Greenville, Simpson @ Michigan - Live Stats | Live Stream
Sunday, January 11
1:00 pm Army @ Penn State - Live Stats | Live Stream