Air Force Travels to Oklahoma for Tri-Meet
1/18/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Gymnastics
Jan. 18, 2007
For the second time in as many weeks, the Air Force men's gymnastics team will face its counterparts from
Weekly Release 02 - at Oklahoma
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AROUND WE GO: Air Force will begin the meet on the pommel horse and continue through the normal progression of still rings, vault, parallel bars and high bar, before concluding the afternoon on the floor exercise.
LAST TIME OUT: Air Force scored 175.300 to finish third at the annual Rocky Mountain Open on Jan. 12-13.
LEADING THE WAY: During the team finals of the Rocky Mountain Open, Tyler Sickles posted the best finish of the night for Air Force, collecting an 8.500 on the high bar to finish third. That score was just .300 shy of the event's winning mark.
ADD `EM UP: The seven Falcons that advanced to the RMO event finals are the most during this decade. Prior to this season, the last time Air Force advanced more than two athletes was at the 2002 meet.
THREE-THIRDS: Air Force picked up three third-place finishes at the Rocky Mountain Open event finals. Brennan Wolford posted a career-best 8.200 on the floor exercise to tie for third. Garrett Canter matched his personal-best 7.600 on the pommel horse to take third in that event, while Jacob Schonig tied for third on the still rings with an 8.400.
GETTING OFF ON THE RIGHT FOOT: The Falcons' score of 175.300 from the team finals of the Rocky Mountain Open was a five-point improvement over last season's opening meet tally.
NATIONAL NOTICE: Junior Greg Stine was invited to participate in the prestigious Winter Cup Challenge this February, USA Gymnastics announced on Jan. 10. Stine is just the third Academy gymnast in the history of the program to participate at the nationally-recognized meet, which will help determine the U.S. Senior National Team.
COMING UP: Although it will be just their third meet of the season, Air Force will host its final competition on Saturday, Feb. 3, when the Falcons will welcome service academy rival Army to the Cadet West Gym.
HOME SWEET HOME?: The Falcons will be predominantly a road team this season, competing at the Academy only twice. In fact, Air Force will wrap up its home schedule just three meets into the season.
BRING IT: As a member of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, Air Force will match up against several of the nation's top teams. Three of the league's programs are ranked amongst the top four in the nation*, including top-ranked
OH CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN(S): Senior Kurt Antonio and junior Brian Boardman were selected as captains for the 2007 squad. It is just the ninth time in the program's 51-year history that two gymnasts have shared the captaincy duties.
NEW FACES IN THE CROWD: Air Force adds a quartet of newcomers to the roster. Sophomore Liam Taylor will join freshmen Garrett Canter, Robert Durbin and Brennan Wolford on the Air Force squad.
WELCOME BACK: Greg Stine joins the Class of 2008, following a two-year LDS mission in
THE STAFF: The Falcons coaching staff will have a new look this season, as head coach Kip Simons added a pair of assistants to his staff. Olympian Brett McClure and former Air Force gymnast Lt. Col. Chuck Schweiss join the program as first-year assistant coaches. McClure was a member of the 2004 Olympic Team that won a silver medal in Athens, while Schweiss was a 1982 Academy grad and four-year letterwinner on the men's gymnastics team. Air Force will also receive assistance from Dave Mickelson, who is in his sixth season as a volunteer coach.
