MPSF Men's Gymnasts of the Week (Jan. 28)
Photo: Taylor Burkhart, Stanford (by: Stanford Athletics)
TAYLOR BURKHART OF STANFORD
MPSF GYMNAST OF THE WEEK
Stanford senior
Taylor Burkhart (Arvada, CO) posted an 83.900 all-around score against No. 5 Ohio State and No. 11 California (Jan. 25) to best his previous NCAA-leading mark of 80.400. Burkhart finished top-three in three events, turning in a career-high on pommel horse (14.300) and new season-bests on floor (14.350), high bar (13.800), still rings (13.650), and parallel bars (13.500). This is the third career MPSF weekly award for Burkhart, including a repeat from last week.
Others Nominated: Emre Dodanli (OU); Theodor Gadderud (Cal)…
ARTHUR BALLON OF OKLAHOMA
MPSF FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Oklahoma redshirt freshman
Arthur Ballon (Lyon, France) notched a career-high 13.900 on floor exercise and a 14.000 on vault to lead a 330.700 to 325.500 Sooner win over No. 3 Illinois (Jan. 25). He placed second on floor in the meet, and his score was 0.35 points higher than his previous high this season. This is the second career MPSF weekly award for Ballon.
Others Nominated: Matteo Bardana (Cal); Cooper Kim (STAN)…
BRANDON NGUYEN OF STANFORD
MPSF SPECIALIST OF THE WEEK
Stanford fifth year
Brandon Nguyen (Elk Grove, CA) registered his third event title of the season with a 14.000 routine on parallel bars against No. 5 Ohio State and No. 11 California (Jan. 25). Nguyen also turned in his season-best effort on vault with a 14.450 to finish tied for second, along with a 13.500 routine on high bar to round out his night. This is the second career MPSF weekly award for Nguyen.
Others Nominated: Aidan Li (Cal); Kelton Christiansen (OU) …