MPSF Men's Gymnasts of the Week (Jan. 21)
Photo: Patrick Hoopes, Air Force (by: AFA Athletics)
TAYLOR BURKHART OF STANFORD
MPSF GYMNAST OF THE WEEK
Stanford senior
Taylor Burkhart (Arvada, CO) finished in the top-three in four events (floor, pommel horse, rings, vault) at California to earn a share of the NCAA’s top all-around score this year with an 80.400 (Jan. 13). At the Rocky Mountain Open (Jan. 18), Burkhart again finished top-three in both FX and VT, including an NCAA season-high 14.750 vault to win the event title. This is the second career MPSF weekly award for Burkhart.
Others Nominated: Brigham Frentheway (OU); Erich Upton (AFA)…
FRANCISCO VELEZ BELENDEZ OF OKLAHOMA
MPSF FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Oklahoma freshman
Francisco Velez Belendez (San Juan, Puerto Rico) scored a career-high 13.800 on still rings to tie for fifth-place on the event at the Air Force Rocky Mountain Open (Jan. 18). His start value of 5.2 was the second highest on rings in the meet and the highest among the four gymnasts who scored 13.800 (the next highest start value among those tied was 4.7). He improved his rings score by nearly a point from opening weekend. This is the first career MPSF award for Velez Belendez.
Others Nominated: Matteo Bardana (Cal); Cooper Kim (STAN)…
PATRICK HOOPES OF AIR FORCE
MPSF SPECIALIST OF THE WEEK
Air Force senior
Patrick Hoopes (Lehi, UT) posted an NCAA-leading score of 14.950 to win the pommel horse at the Rocky Mountain Open (Jan. 18). His score was the highest of the night on any event, and bettered the 31-gymnast field by 0.700 points. Hoopes recorded the Falcons’ first RMO title on pommel horse since 2011. This is the third career MPSF weekly award for Hoopes.
Others Nominated: Aidan Li (Cal); Tas Hajdu (OU); Ian Lasic-Ellis (STAN)…