Falcons Prepare for USAG Championships
3/24/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Gymnastics
March 24, 2011
The ninth-ranked Air Force men's gymnastics team will travel to Springfield, Mass., to compete at the 2011 USA Gymnastics Collegiate National Championships on March 25-26. The defending USAG champions will take on varsity programs from Army, Navy, Springfield and William & Mary for the team title on Friday, March 25, before competing in the individual event championships on Saturday, March 26.
Meet Notes 09: at USAG Championships 
MEET INFORMATION
The two-day USAG Championship meet will take place on March 25-26 at Springfield's Blake Arena. Joining the Falcons in the varsity team competition on March 25 will be Army, Navy, Springfield and William & Mary. In addition, Arizona State, Brockport, MIT and Washington will compete for the club title. The top gymnasts from both divisions return to the gym March 26 for the combined event finals. Single-session tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for students/seniors, while two-day passes are $12 and $7.
FALCONS KEEP CLIMBING
One week after cracking the nation's top-10 for the first time in program history, the Falcons moved up to ninth, holding a four-score average 342.825. That average also ranks the Falcons fourth in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation.
RANK YOU VERY MUCH
Using the new four-score average system, that went into effect for the March 21 rankings, Air Force is ranked among the top 10 on four events, as well as a ninth-place overall ranking (342.8250). As a team, the Falcons are ranked seventh on the vault (62.275), eighth on both the still rings (57.400) and high bar (56.100) and ninth on the floor exercise (57.025). Individually, four Falcons are ranked among the top-20 on eight events. Nash Mills is ranked fourth in the all-around (84.162), 15th on the high bar (14.300), 16th on the still rings (14.725) and 18th on the vault (15.700). Colton Wulf is ranked sixth in the all-around (82.612) and 14th in the floor exercise (14.613), while Tory Brown and James Okamoto are ranked on the vault (15.762, 13th) and pommel horse (14.075, 19th), respectively.
LAST YEAR AT THE USAG CHAMPIONSHIPS
Air Force claimed its first-ever national title at the USAG Championships in 2010. The Falcons tallied a team score of 342.350 - the fourth highest score in Academy history at the time - to better the field by over seven points. Nash Mills claimed USAG national titles in the all-around and on the parallel bars, while Devin Menefee used an Academy-record performance to win the national vault title.
MILLS EARNS ANOTHER WEEKLY HONOR
Nash Mills picked up his third CGA National Gymnast of the Week award on March 23. The senior collected three first-place finishes, as the Falcons set a program-best team total (347.500) against Washington on March 20. He won the still rings with a personal-best score of 15.300, while also winning the parallel bars (14.400) and high bar (14.000).
FOUR TEAM RECORDS FALL IN REGULAR SEASON FINALE
The Falcons posted its highest team total in Academy history on March 20, recording a combined score of 347.500 during their regular season finale. In addition to setting a new overall team score, Air Force also set program standards on the floor exercise (59.600), still rings (59.400) and parallel bars (57.100).
WULF SETS ACADEMY RECORD ON THE FLOOR EXERCISE
Colton Wulf scored a 15.400 to win the floor exercise and move into first on the program's all-time list during the Falcons' meet with Washington on March 20. Wulf's score - a personal improvement by 0.600 - broke Greg Stine's 2008 record of 15.200 and became just the second Air Force gymnast to better the 15-point mark on that event.
MORE TITLES
Air Force swept the event titles during its regular season finale with Washington on March 20. In addition to Nash Mills' three titles (still rings, parallel bars, high bar) and Colton Wulf's Academy-record win on the floor exercise, Nick Owen won his second consecutive pommel horse title (14.200), while Ben Zaiser scored a career-best matching 15.600 to win the vault.
WHAT'S AHEAD FOR THE FALCONS
Air Force returns to the Academy on Saturday, April 2, when it hosts the 2011 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championships. The meet, slated for a 5 p.m. start, will feature three of the top four squads in the nation, as well as five of the top 11.
Players Mentioned
