Oklahoma Wins 15th Straight RMO to Kick-Off 2014
Jan. 14, 2014
MPSF Men's Gym Release 1
# 1 OKLAHOMA posted a national-high team total of 443.150 to extend its Rocky Mountain Open title streak to 15 straight years, placing in front of Nebraska and the host Air Force this past weekend. The Sooners claimed five of the six individual event titles, as well as the all-around. Alec Robin (floor exercise, 15.600), Sergey Resnick (pommel horse, 15.600), Michael Squires (still rings, 15.850), Raymond White (vault, 14.750) and Danny Berardini (all-around, 86.950) all claimed titles for second-ranked Oklahoma. Berardini competed in the all-around for the first time in his career, and set career-highs on four events. OU, the nation's new top-ranked team, competes in its home opener Saturday (Jan. 18) against Air Force.
# 3 STANFORD won its season opener at No. 7 California, 431.100-425.650. Freshman Akash Modi had an outstanding collegiate debut, earning individual titles in the all-around (88.150), floor (15.350) and parallel bars (15.250). Other Cardinal titles went to Paul Hichwa on high bar (15.000), Dennis Zaremski on rings (15.100), and Chris Turner on horse (15.050), who also tied or broke career-highs on four events. Stanford faces Cal in its home opener Saturday.
# 4 CALIFORNIA claimed the team vault win over Stanford in the season opener with a 73.750 rotation, led by Jeffery Langenstein's top finish (15.200). The Bears also won the team floor with a 72.300. Donothan Bailey placed second all-around (87.800), led by runner-up finishes on horse (14.550) and parallel bars (15.000), in his first competition since 2012. Up three spots this week's national poll, Cal gets a quick rematch at Stanford this weekend.
# 6 AIR FORCE accumulated 423.100 as it hosted the annual Rocky Mountain Open. Freshman Tim Wang was the Academy's first all-around athlete since 2011, finishing third with a six-event total of 84.500. Gared Chapman had the highest individual Falcon finish, taking fourth on rings (15.05). Air Force, who jumped five spots in the latest national rankings, heads to Oklahoma for a Saturday meet.