Falcons Travel to Southwest Cup
2/26/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Gymnastics
Feb. 26, 2009
The Air Force men's gymnastics team travels to Tempe, Ariz., for the annual Southwest Cup on Friday, Feb. 27. The men's meet, which will feature Air Force, Arizona State and Washington, will run in conjunction with the ASU women's meet versus Washington. The event is slated to begin at 7:30 p.m., at Wells Fargo Arena.
Meet Notes 06: at Southwest Cup 
YOU LOOK FAMILIAR
The Falcons faced both Arizona State and Washington in the season-opening Rocky Mountain Open. With a score of 317.900, Air Force finished third in the five-team event, defeating both Arizona State (312.950) and Washington (303.200).
LAST YEAR AT THE SOUTHWEST CUP
Last year, Air Force dominated the Southwest Cup, taking first-place finishes in all six events. Then-senior Greg Stine won five individual events, as well as the all-around, while then-junior Garrett Canter won the pommel horse. Air Force posted its highest team score of the season (334.900) at that meet.
SCHONIG PLACES FIFTH ON RINGS AT PACIFIC COAST CLASSIC
Senior Jake Schonig earned an impressive fifth-place finish on the still rings at the Pacific Coast Classic on Feb. 21. Competing against gymnasts from five of the nation's top six teams, Schonig posted a season-best 15.200 to place fifth.
MIGHTY MENEFEE
Devin Menefee had a strong night at the Pacific Coast Classic, tallying career-best scores in three of the four events he competed in. The freshman improved his personal-high marks on the floor exercise (13.250) and still rings (14.000), while debuting on the vault with a score of 14.600. In his first collegiate vault, Menefee moved into 20th on the program's all-time list.
GOING BY RANK
Air Force's roster boasts two national leaders, as senior Jake Schonig and freshman Jacob Houder lead the USAG national rankings on the still rings and parallel bars, respectively. Schonig holds a three-score average 14.900 on the rings, while Houder averages 13.817 on the parallel bars. Schonig's score on the rings is also ranked seventh in the NCAA national rankings.
GETTING OUT ON TOP
The Falcons have accounted for 18 top-10 placements in the Feb. 23 national USAG rankings. Freshman Jacob Houder, senior Josiah Loeser and sophomore Nash Mills are each listed in three categories. Houder's best finish is a division-leading spot on the parallel bars, while the top rankings for Loeser (third) and Mills (fifth) came on the still rings.
WHAT'S AHEAD FOR THE FALCONS
The Falcons are off from competition until March 20, when they travel to Chicago, Ill., for a pair of meets. Air Force will compete against Illinois-Chicago and Nebraska on Friday, March 20, before facing UIC for a rematch on Sunday, March 22.
Players Mentioned
