Air Force Set to Host Service Academy Rival Army
1/20/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Gymnastics
Jan. 20, 2011
The 12th-ranked Air Force men's gymnastics team remains at the Academy this Saturday (Jan. 22) to host service academy rival and 14th-ranked Army at the Cadet West Gymnasium. Action between the Falcons and Black Knights will begin at 1 p.m., and run in conjunction with the Air Force women's home opener. The Falcons have won their last five matchups against the Black Knights.
WE'VE GOT BONUS GYMNASTICS!
Air Force will host its first double dual on Saturday, Jan. 22. In addition to the men's dual with Army, the women will be hosting Mountain Pacific Sports Federation foe Seattle-Pacific. Both meets will run simultaneously at the Cadet West Gym, beginning at 1 p.m.
SCOUTING THE BLACK KNIGHTS
Army is coming off of a 320.000 performance at the West Point Open last weekend, finishing third overall. Jonathan Hoey won the pommel horse with a score of 13.500. The Black Knights, who opened the season with a dual meet loss to Penn State, is ranked 14th with a two-meet average of 319.500.
PARALLEL POMMEL HORSE STORIES
Air Force's James Okamoto won the pommel horse at the Rocky Mountain Open, while Army's Jonathan Hoey won the pommel horse at the West Point Open. Okamoto was the first Falcon to win an individual title at the RMO since 2008 and Hoey was the first Black Knight to win an individual title at the WPO since 2006.
TRIO INVITED TO WINTER CUP CHALLENGE
Tory Brown, Nash Mills and James Okamoto were selected to compete at the prestigious Winter Cup Challenge. Brown and Mills are making their second straight appearance at the meet that helps determine the U.S. Men's Senior National Team, while Okamoto will be making his first appearance. Air Force is the only service academy to have gymnasts invited to the Winter Cup.
OKAMOTO WINS POMMEL HORSE TITLE
James Okamoto scored a 14.300 to win the pommel horse title at the Rocky Mountain Open on Jan. 15. Posting the squad's top finish on his signature event for the second straight year, Okamoto became just the third Air Force gymnast to claim an event title at the RMO since 2001. He joined Jake Schonig (still rings, 2008) and Aaron Jackson (floor exercise, 2003) as Falcons who have taken home the top finish at the squad's season-opening meet. Okamoto was named the Academy's Athlete of the Week following his stellar performance.
BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE
Nash Mills and Tory Brown tied for second on the vault at the Rocky Mountain Open, with matching scores of 15.900. That score, career-best tallies for both gymnasts, is just .050 shy of the Academy record.
RECAPPING THE RMO TEAM STANDINGS
Members of the Olympic Training Center collected a team score of 350.750, while third-ranked Oklahoma captured its 12th collegiate title with a score of 346.500. Ninth-ranked Nebraska finished second among collegiate team with a total of 334.500, while Air Force (327.300) and Arizona State (312.20) rounded out the field.
DID YOU KNOW?
The Falcons' Rocky Mountain Open score of 327.300 is a two-point improvement over last year's season-opening score. It is also the best season-opening total since the new scoring system was implemented at the start of the 2008 season.
CONFERENCE ROUNDUP
After the opening weekend of action, Tory Brown, Nash Mills and James Okamoto have some of the highest scores in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation in their respective events. Brown and Mills, who tallied matching scores of 15.900 on the vault, are tied for second in the conference, while Okamoto's 14.300 on the pommel horse is third.
WE'LL BE SEEING YOU
Following Saturday's showdown with Army, Air Force will be on the road for the next eight competitions. The Falcons won't return to the Academy until March 20, when it hosts Washington during Senior Day.
WHAT'S AHEAD FOR THE FALCONS
Air Force will head out on the road next week, as it travels to Lincoln, Neb., for a rematch with Nebraska on Sunday, Jan. 30. The two programs faced off in the season opening Rocky Mountain Open, with the Huskers getting the 334.500-327.300 advantage over the Falcons.
