Air Force Men Head To NCAA Qualifiers
4/10/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Gymnastics
April 10, 2003
U.S.A.F.A., Colo.- The Air Force men's gymnastics team qualified eight gymnasts for the NCAA Qualifiers in Philadelphia, April 11, hosted by Temple University. Junior Jeff Andersen and senior team captain Aaron Jackson qualified in the all-around in the third and fourth spots respectively. Junior Bill Hermann qualified 12th on floor exercise, ninth on vault and on parallel bars, and is the first alternate in the all-around and on high bar. Junior Mike Berry qualified 10th on floor exercise, ninth on high bar and is the first alternate on parallel bars. Sophomore Patrick McAndrew qualified in the 12th spot on rings and eighth on vault. Sophomore Kent Reichle qualified seventh on floor exercise, junior Julian Benton qualified eighth on rings and freshman Brian Moore qualified in the ninth spot on floor exercise.
The Air Force men took fifth at the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championships in Lincoln, Nebraska. The Falcons finished the evening with a team score of 197.600 behind Oklahoma (223.500), California (216.025), Stanford (215.250), and meet hosts Nebraska (214.125). Top-ranked Oklahoma recorded its fifth consecutive MPSF win and broke the NCAA record with its score of 223.500.
Air Force's Jackson was also named as one of eight finalists for the Nissen-Emery Award, which is given to the outstanding NCAA senior gymnast. The winner of the award will be announced prior to the 2003 NCAA Championships in Philadelphia, April 12-13.
