Air Force Wins 5th Straight USAG Title

3/25/2014 12:00:00 AM

March 25, 2014

# 10 AIR FORCE bettered its closest competitor by nearly four points in winning the five-team varsity field in the USAG National Championship, held in Annapolis, MD this past Friday (Mar. 21). The Falcons accumulated 426.700, ahead of second-place William & Mary (422.750), as well as Army, Navy, and Springfield. Tim Wang was third all-around (84.600) during team finals, while Josh Ramos won parallel bars, as did Nick Guadlip on high bar (14.750). Denis Aurelius won the individual title on floor (Mar. 22), recording the third-best floor score in Academy history (career-best 15.225). He became the program's first USAG floor champion since 2007. Aurelius added a sixth-place 14.550 on rings to capture his second USAG All American award of the day.

# 1 OKLAHOMA hosts the 22nd edition of the MPSF Championship Saturday, March 29 at 4 pm (CT). The Sooners have won a record 12 MPSF titles, all in the last 15 years, and are going for their third straight. Freshman Colin Van Wicklen scored 15.000 or higher on all three of his events on Mar. 15 at No. 4 Ohio State. The Sooners accumulated 444.300, behind the Buckeyes and ahead of Temple. Van Wicklen crushed his career-high on high bar with a 15.200 routine, good for third overall. His 15.300 on vault tied a career-high, and finished second in the meet. Van Wicklen, who also posted a 15.000 on floor to seal his second MPSF Gymnast of the Week award, helped the Sooners become the only team in the country with three scores of at least 444.000.

# 9 CALIFORNIA scored 428.550 to easily get past Washington (380.400) at home in its regular season finale on Mar. 15. Donothan Bailey finished with an 87.950 all-around in his final meet at Haas Pavilion. He scored a 15.000 on floor, leading to the highest team total in school history in that event (74.850). He added a winning pommel horse (15.000), high bar (15.300), and parallel bars (14.300). The Bears have won three MPSF titles (2004, 1998, 1996).

# 3 STANFORD Akash Modi recorded four top-two finishes to lead the Cardinal post a season-best team score of 446.450 against Ohio State and California on Senior Day Mar. 8 in Palo Alto. The team total score ranks second in the country this year. Modi, a four-time MPSF Gymnast of the Week this year, finished first on parallel bars (15.650) and tied for second on pommel horse (15.350), vault (15.350) and high bar (15.100). His scores on pommel horse, vault and high bar are collegiate personal-bests. Dennis Zaremski recorded a pair of top finishes, scoring 15.75 on rings and 15.45 on p-bars, while Sean Senters won vault (15.550) in his final home meet. Stanford owns four MPSF Championships from the past (2011, 2009, 1995, 1993).