Week 10 of NCAA males’s gymnastics options six matchups, together with No. 2 Illinois vs. No. 5 Nebraska and No. 4 Michigan vs. No. 7 Ohio State.
Preserve studying for fast hits on every matchup.
Wish to compensate for what occurred in Week 9? Learn our convention recaps:
Saturday, March 9
#13 Springfield, #14 William & Mary @ #12 Military
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This is among the most compelling matchups of the weekend due to how shut within the rankings (and scoring) these groups are. Actually, any of those groups may come out on high, though Springfield has the very best peak this season with a 397.850 and Military is averaging the very best at 382.350.
William & Mary is coming off a two meet weekend the place the group competed twice in 24 hours and put up constant scores within the mid 375s. They’ve peaked at a 385.050 and can have to be pushing that mark to problem Springfield and Military. Huge shoutout to their all-arounder, Aidan Cuy, for competing all six in each meets final weekend.
Springfield returned from the Winter Cup break with a 381.650 towards Penn State. Key contributors embrace Peyton Cramer on pommel horse, who gained the one occasion title for the Pleasure final week, Sam Kaplan within the all-around, Felix Kriedemann on horse and excessive bar, and Dominic Ramalho on flooring, vault, and parallel bars.
Military posted a season-high 393.550 in its final meet towards Greenville and Nebraska on February 17. The Black Knights have been off for almost a month, so it will likely be fascinating to see how they appear. It was definitely a much-needed break after seven straight weeks of competitors. Jaden Clean and Nick Lester have competed all-around for the Black Knights this season, so watch to see which occasions they get put up on. Vault is Military’s finest occasion, so that can possible be a robust indicator of how this meet will go for them.
#15 Simpson @ #10 Greenville
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That is Simpson and Greenville’s third time dealing with one another this season; Simpson has been on the dropping finish each instances.
These two packages had their inaugural seasons final 12 months, in order that they’re usually talked about collectively since they’re nonetheless the brand new youngsters on the block. However they’ve each developed their very own stars, and in Greenville’s case, began rising the ranks.
Whereas Simpson is final within the NCAA, Greenville is presently in the midst of the pack and setting new program data each week it appears. That file presently sits at 395.700, however the Panthers may obtain a brand new file right here, probably even pushing the 400 mark in the event that they put all of it collectively.
Ones to look at for Simpson embrace Sterling Pariza (all-around), Brian Rollison (rings), and Milo Staley (all-around). Ones to look at for Greenville are Logan Watterson (vault), Zach Connelly (flooring), and Jaxon Clapper (parallel bars).
#4 Michigan @ #7 Ohio State
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That is an thrilling rivalry matchup, particularly for Michigan, since they’ll get an opportunity to check run the Covelli Heart earlier than the NCAA Championships are held there subsequent month.
So far as the precise matchup goes, this shouldn’t be notably shut (it’s a rivalry matchup, so that you by no means know). Michigan is the fourth-ranked group within the nation, has peaked at a 416.300 and is averaging a 409.236; Ohio State final competed as a group on February 10, however the Buckeyes’ peak of a 400.600 got here on February 3 – that’s the one time they’ve hit the 400 mark this season. So whereas the Wolverines are within the combine for a nationwide title, the Buckeyes are actually making an attempt to get to that subsequent stage score-wise.
Of their return from Winter Cup, the Wolverines set that season excessive in an upset of No. 1 Oklahoma whereas not even utilizing their two star all-arounders, Paul Juda and Fred Richard, on all six occasions. Look ahead to what occasions they’re put up on this week; because the postseason nears, these two specifically will possible be gearing as much as contribute when it issues most. Richard has been coping with minor accidents just lately, so he hasn’t put up an all-around rating simply but. Along with any of Juda and Richard’s units, different can’t miss routines embrace Javier Alfonso on rings, Crew Daring on parallel bars, Landen Blixt on flooring, Evgeny Siminiuc on parallel bars and excessive bar, David Wolma on vault, and Kyle Walchuk on pommel horse.
Ohio State has a superb mixture of rising stars and skilled veterans on its squad. Donovan Hewitt (rings), Kameron Nelson (flooring), Justin Ciccone (vault), and Caden Spencer (excessive bar) are should watches on their specialities. Key freshman contributors embrace Chase Davenport-Mills, Drake Andrews, and Zach Snyder.
#3 Stanford @ #11 Air Pressure
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Stanford is a little bit over a month from an opportunity at historical past. At nationals, the Cardinal will try and develop into simply the second group to win 5 NCAA males’s gymnastics titles in a row. The expertise is there, however so is the competitors – this season seemingly greater than the previous 4 go-rounds. With worldwide assignments for his or her stars out of the way in which, now’s the time for the Cardinal to settle in and begin growing that weekly common to finally be aggressive (i.e. scoring across the 420 mark) in April. This week, that journey ought to begin with rivaling their season excessive – a 415.250 from January 27.
Air Pressure is ranked as soon as once more and is now on the hunt for an additional rating within the 390s (or 400, if it’s a superb day). Sadly, that purpose takes a success once you account for the lack of pommel horse star Patrick Hoopes, who’s averaging a 14.730 (excessive of 15.200) however is on the Baku World Cup this weekend on project for Group USA (on the brilliant facet, he did make the ultimate!). Whereas that cuts into the group’s scoring potential, this group has loads of expertise, together with 4 succesful all-arounders: Garrett Braunton, Oliver Zavel, Erich Upton, and Tai Gopaul.
#9 Navy @ #1 Oklahoma
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Navy and Oklahoma can be dealing with off on ESPN+ on Saturday; Oklahoma is seeking to rebound from a disappointing loss to Michigan whereas Navy returns to the ground for the primary time for the reason that All-Academy Championships on February 10.
Oklahoma Head Coach summed up the Sooners’ loss to Michigan final weekend completely, saying on X, “Tons to be pleased with… and I’m, notably with how these guys by no means stopped combating. However the backside line is: We can not hit 70% and count on to return out on high. Lot of season left. Work to do. Have to do not forget that strain is a privilege.”
The Sooners went 409.550 towards the Wolverines final weekend. It wasn’t a season low, however for a group that prides itself on glorious execution and excessive hit percentages, it’s a wake-up name you can’t take your eye off the prize. Nonetheless, the Sooners retain their No. 1 rating and ought to be anticipated to rebound this weekend in an enormous means, particularly on senior night time.
Final outing, Navy completed second on the All-Academy Championships with a 390.100. The Midshipmen have topped out at a 396.500 (January 27) and have total been constant, staying within the 390s in any respect 5 of their meets this season. A key query mark for Navy is all-arounder Isaiah Drake, who was injured in early February and hasn’t competed since. Will he return to any lineups in Norman?
Sunday, March 10
#2 Illinois @ #5 Nebraska
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The weekend involves a detailed with one other compelling matchup Sunday, when Illinois faces Nebraska in a high 5 showdown.
Illinois has undoubtedly been the breakout group this season, pulling off upsets over Oklahoma and Michigan and looking out like a title contender.
The Illini have peaked at a 416.150 and are averaging a 408.925 whereas Nebraska peaked at a 412.900 and is averaging a 407.260. So if each groups are firing on all cylinders, this might come all the way down to the ultimate rotation (shoutout to the head-to-head format for making this much more thrilling).
Individually, each of those groups boast NCAA legends within the making. For Illinois, that features flooring maven Connor McCool, rings king Ashton Anaya, and freshman pommel horse phenom Brandon Dang. For Nebraska, there’s all-around standouts Taylor Christopulos and Sam Phillips, excessive flyer Zac Tiderman, and historical past maker Chase Mondi (first triple full on vault for Nebraska).
