Air Force Hosts Washington on Senior Day
3/19/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Gymnastics
March 18, 2011
The Air Force men's gymnastics team, ranked among the nation's top-10 for the first time in program history, will conclude the 2011 regular season on Sunday, March 20, when it hosts Washington on Senior Day. The meet is scheduled to start at 1 p.m., at the Cadet West Gym. During the meet, the Falcons will honor their five seniors - Dan Klimkowski, Derek Kvedar, Nash Mills, Matt Thorne and Aaron Zaiser.
FALCONS TO DEBUT ONLINE
Air Force's meet with Washington will be streamed live on GoAirForceFalcons.com. To access the webcast, click the "watch" link on the calendar.
AIR FORCE CLAIMS FIRST TOP-10 RANKING
Air Force cracked the national ranking's top-10 for the first time in program history on March 14, with a three-score average of 343.300 (10th). The Falcons' ranking is the best by a service academy since 2009 and only the fifth time since 1996 that any academy has earned that distinction in March. Air Force is also ranked among the nation's top 10 on four events, including eighth on the still rings (57.633), vault (62.600) and high bar (57.033), as well as 10th on the floor exercise (57.233)
RANK YOU VERY MUCH
Three Falcons are listed among the top 20 in the national individual ranking. Nash Mills is tied for ninth in the all-around, with a three-score average of 85.867, while tying for 17th on the high bar (14.667) and 19th on the vault (15.833). In addition, Colton Wulf is ranked 16th in the all-around (83.067) and Tory Brown is ranked 18th on the vault (15.883).
FALCONS TAKE TWO AT SPRINGFIELD
With the third-highest team score in Academy history at 343.300, Air Force easily defeated William and Mary (338.000) and Springfield (330.000) at the Springfield Triangular on March 13. Air Force captured four event titles. Nash Mills won the parallel bars and high bar, while Tory Brown placed first on the vault and Nick Owen won the pommel horse.
IT WAS NICE WHILE IT LASTED
Backed by four of the top five spots on the high bar, the Falcons improved the Academy record on that event for the second straight meet on March 13. Air Force improved its overall team total by 0.400 from the record it first set on March 11. Mills won the event with a score of 14.800, while Colton Wulf placed second with a career-best 14.600. Mac Ritchie and James Okamoto posted career-best scores to place fourth (14.400) and fifth (14.000), respectively.
AIR FORCE CLAIMS MAJORITY OF FINISHES ON RINGS
In addition to taking four of the top five spots on the high bar, Air Force accounted for four of the top six scores on the still rings at the Springfield Triangular. Nash Mills was runner-up on the rings with a career-best 14.900, while Devin Menefee took third with a score of 14.700. Tyler Huebner tied for fourth, while Colton Wulf tied for sixth with a score of 14.200.
FALCONS BREAK HIGH BAR RECORD
Highlighted by the top four scores on the high bar, Air Force shattered the Academy record by nearly one point at the Brockport Triangular meet on March 11. All four scoring gymnasts scored above a 14.100, as Tory Brown and Colton Wulf tied for first with matching career-best scores of 14.500 - the fourth-highest individual scores in program history. Nash Mills was the runner-up with a 14.300, while Mac Ritchie tied for third at 14.100.
MORE WINNERS FROM BROCKPORT
Tory Brown and Colton Wulf were not the only Falcons to record first-place finishes at Brockport on March 11. Matt Thorne tied for first on the parallel bars with a career-best tally of 14.300 - the eighth-best score in program history - while Devin Menefee matched his season-best mark of 14.800 to win the still rings.
WHAT'S AHEAD FOR THE FALCONS
Air Force heads to Springfield, Mass., next weekend to begin the defense of its title at the 2011 USA Gymnastics Collegiate National Championships. The team finals will take place on Friday, March 25, while the individual event finals are slated for Saturday, March 26. Both days of competition are slated to begin at 7 p.m., at Springfield's Blake Arena.
Players Mentioned
