Falcons Travel to Texas for All-Academy Championships

The 16th-ranked Air Force men's gymnastics team heads to San Antonio, Texas, this Saturday (Feb. 8) to face its service academy counterparts from sixth-ranked Navy and 14th-ranked Army West Point at the All-Academy Championships.

MEET INFORMATION
The neutral-site All-Academy Championships will be held during the San Antonio Invitational – Levi Torkelson Memorial, which runs all weekend at the Mission Concepcion Sports Complex (714 E Theo Ave) in San Antonio. March-in for the Saturday, Feb. 8, triangular is slated to begin at 1:00 p.m. (CT). Single day admission is $15 for adults, $8 for children and $10 for seniors and military members, while parking is $5 per day.

SCOUTING THE MIDSHIPMEN
Backed by a season-high score of 407.800 in their victory at the Navy Open, the Midshipmen are currently ranked sixth in the NCAA with a total season average of 402.413. Navy, which is coming off of a 404.400-380.900 Star Meet victory over Army West Point last weekend, are ranked among the nation's top five in four events, including No. 3 listings on the pommel horse and still rings. Individually, Cash Buske is ranked 10th on the high bar (13.550), while Jake Carlson and Josh Williams are listed 13th on the pommel horse (13.438) and still rings (13.625), respectively.

SCOUTING THE BLACK KNIGHTS
Army West Point, which dropped a 380-900-404.400 decision to Navy in its last outing, is currently ranked 14th in the national standings with an average tally of 381.175. Highlighted by a No. 12 ranking on the pommel horse (61.788 average), the Black Knights are listed among the nation's top 15 in five of the six events. Matthew Martin holds the squad's highest national ranking (30th) with a 13.050 average on the pommel horse, while Matthew Davis is ranked among the top 40 on the parallel bars (33rd, 13.220), floor exercise (36th, 13.200) and still rings (36th, 13.540).

AIR FORCE IN THE RANKINGS
The Falcons are currently ranked 16th in the NCAA, with a season average of 375.717. Like its academy counterparts, Air Force's season-high score (381.900) came at its home invitational. Backed by a No. 12 ranking on the still rings (63.767 average), the Falcons are listed among the nation's top 15 in three events. Individually, Noah Everett is ranked 25th on the pommel horse with a National Qualifying Average of 13.111, while Ethan Esval is ranked among the nation's top 50 with a 13.150 average on the still rings (43rd).

WHAT'S AHEAD FOR THE FALCONS
Frankie Valentin is slated to represent Air Force at the Winter Cup Challenge on Feb. 13-15 in Las Vegas, Nev., while the remainder of the team will remain at the Academy to train. The second-half of the season officially begins for the Falcons on Saturday, Feb. 29, when the squad travels to West Point, N.Y., for a rematch with Army West Point.

Falcons Travel to Texas for All-Academy Championships

Players Mentioned

Ethan Esval

Noah Everett

Frankie Valentin

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