Air Force Ranked 13th in Preseason Poll
10/15/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Gymnastics
Oct. 15, 2010
NEEDHAM, Mass. - For the third straight year, the Air Force men's gymnastics team was listed among the top teams in the nation in the annual preseason coaches' poll, which was released on Thursday, Oct. 14, by the College Gymnastics Association. The defending USAG champion Falcons were picked 13th, matching its best-ever preseason ranking.
The 13th-place ranking matches the highest ranking ever for the Air Force men's team in the preseason coaches' poll, equaling the same ranking as the 2009 team had prior to the start of that season
Air Force, which is led by sixth-year head coach Kip Simons, will feature an impressive lineup of talent, both returning and new. The Falcons' roster includes four USAG All-Americans, including 2010 USAG national champions Nash Mills (all-around, parallel bars) and Devin Menefee (vault).
For the third consecutive season, Air Force has the highest preseason ranking of the three service academy programs. The Falcons lead 15th-ranked Army and Navy, which was not ranked. The Falcons will face both programs at the annual All-Academy Championships in February, one month after hosting the Black Knights in a dual meet at the Academy.
Mountain Pacific Sports Federation foe Stanford is the early season favorite, while defending NCAA national champion Michigan is ranked second. The Cardinal and Wolverines each tallied seven first-place votes, while Oklahoma claimed two to finish third overall. The two remaining MPSF schools, Cal (fifth) and Nebraska (ninth), are ranked among the top 10.
Air Force officially opens the season on Saturday, Jan. 15, when its hosts the annual Rocky Mountain Open at the Academy's Cadet West Gym.
Players Mentioned
