Mountain Pacific Sports Federation

MPSF Men's Gymnastics Annual Awards Announced

3/30/2023 1:00:31 PM

Photo: MPSF Gymnast & Freshman of the Year, Stanford's Asher Hong
 
Stanford University freshman Asher Hong (Tomball, TX) ranks first in the nation on still rings (14.617) and parallel bars (14.633), seventh on floor (14.300), and eighth on vault (14.667). Among freshmen, Hong ranks first on rings, parallel bars, floor and vault. He owns the nation’s highest score on parallel bars (15.250), vault (15.150) and all-around (85.600) and turned in the second-highest score on still rings (14.800). Hong has won eight event titles this year, including three on parallel bars, two on still rings and one each on floor, vault and the all-around. Hong was named CGA Gymnast of the Week once, CGA Rookie of the Week six times, MPSF Gymnast of the Week once, and MPSF Freshman of the Week five times. Hong is a member of the U.S. Senior National Team, earning his spot after placing third overall in the all-around competition (81.948) on day one at the Winter Cup. He recorded the second-highest score on vault on day one (14.755), placed third overall on high bar (13.650), and fourth on still rings (14.133) and parallel bars (14.700). In addition to winning the MPSF’s inaugural freshman of the year award, Hong is Stanford’s 12th MPSF Gymnast of the Year recipient, all in the last 20 years (Brody Malone, 2019-22; Akash Modi, 2014-17; Tim Gentry, 2011; Sho Nakamori, 2009; Dan Gill, 2004).
University of Oklahoma freshman Ignacio Yockers (Tulsa, OK) is the top-ranked pommel horse gymnast in the nation this season in both ranking average (15.083) and overall average (14.665). He has also recorded the highest collegiate pommel score in the country with his 15.550 set on Feb. 17 at Nebraska. Yockers won six pommel horse event titles during the regular season and scored at least 14.600 in all of them, which included breaking 15 three times. His 15.550 represented the highest pommel horse score nationally since 2020 and OU’s highest since 2017. In addition to winning the inaugural specialist of the year award, Yockers is the first Sooner to win an MPSF major annual award in five years (Yul Moldauer-2018).
 
United States Air Force Academy Head Coach Josh Loeser has guided the Falcons to a No. 8 national ranking in the regular season. The Falcons finished second at the USA Gymnastics Collegiate Championships with five individual titles. Erich Upton took first-place on vault, parallel bars and all-around, Patrick Hoopes won the pommel horse, and Garrett Braunton recorded a winning high bar. Braunton owns the nation’s top high bar score in 2023 of 14.850 (Jan. 21), while Hoopes broke the Academy’s pommel horse record with 15.300 (Mar. 11) and was named MPSF Specialist of the Week. Both Braunton and Hoopes were Winter Cup participants. This is the Loeser’s first career MPSF Coach award, while AFA earns the honor for the third time (Kip Simmons-2014, 2006).