Saturday, January 15
USAFA
6:00 pm MT
Air Force Academy
vs
Rocky Mountain Open
Photo by: Trevor Cokley
Falcons Host Nation's Elite to Open 2022 Season
1/13/2022 10:22:00 AM | Men's Gymnastics
The 42nd-annual Rocky Mountain Open will be held Saturday, Jan. 15, at 6:00 p.m. (MT).
The Air Force men's gymnastics team kicks off the 2022 season this weekend, when it hosts some of the nation's top teams during the 42nd-annual Rocky Mountain Open on Saturday, Jan. 15.
MEET INFORMATION
The 42nd-annual Rocky Mountain Open will include Air Force, Arizona State, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Stanford, as well as gymnasts from Rocky Mountain Pride and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Center. Action is slated to begin at 6:00 p.m. (MT), inside Cadet West Gym – with doors scheduled to open one hour prior. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for youth, while cadets and participants of the Junior RMO will receive free admission (Junior RMO athletes must be wearing their club's jacket or uniform). The meet will be streamed live on the Falcons' YouTube page and results will be provided via StatBroadcast (direct links are available on the team's schedule page).
WELCOME BACK
Fans are invited back to Air Force Gymnastics meets this winter, but current Department of Defense and Air Force Academy rules require all individuals to wear a mask inside Academy facilities, regardless of vaccination status. All individuals who have not been fully vaccinated must also wear masks outside on the military installation.
LET'S MEET THE FIELD
It is the first competition of the year for all six collegiate teams. Stanford, the reigning national champion, was the overwhelming favorite in the NCAA Preseason Coaches' Poll, tallying 12 of the 13 first-place votes and 194 total points. Oklahoma was third with 167 points, while Nebraska was just 11 points behind the Sooners in fourth (156 points) and Air Force tallied 78 points to place 10th. On the club (GymACT) side of the sport, Arizona State tallied four of the five first-place votes and 54 total points to earn the top spot in that preseason poll, while Rocky Mountain Pride earned 29 points to tie with Illinois-Chicago for seventh.
'ROUND AND 'ROUND WE GO
Air Force will open the competition on the floor exercise and rotate through the meet in Olympic order. Arizona State will begin on the pommel horse, while Oklahoma, Stanford, and Nebraska will start on the still rings, vault and parallel bars, respectively. Gymnasts from the Rocky Mountain Pride and U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Center will open on the high bar and rotate together during the competition.
NEW RULES
In August 2021, the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel announced that men's gymnastics meets will be conducted using the five-up, five-count format for the entire regular season.
YOU LOOK FAMILIAR
Jacob Becchetti spent more than 12 years competing for the Aspire Junior Sun Devils team in Tempe and was coached by Arizona State's current assistant coach Rob Survick.
FALCONS RANKED 10TH IN PRESEASON POLL
Air Force earned a program-best No. 10 ranking in the annual Preseason Coaches' Poll.
ON THE SIDELINES
Josh Loeser is in his third season as the head coach of the Air Force men's gymnastics team – and his eighth overall year with the program. Loeser, who spent two years as an assistant for the men's resident program at the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Center, served as an assistant coach for the Falcons from 2013-17 and captured USAG Assistant Coach of the Year honors four times during that five-year stint. Third-year assistant Sergey Resnick, who was a member of two NCAA championship teams at Oklahoma, and military assistant Maj Josiah Loeser, who is in his second coaching stint at Air Force (2016-17, 2020-present), join him on the sidelines.
LEADING THE WAY
Collin Hickey will serve as the team captain for the 2022 men's gymnastics team.
HOME SWEET HOME
Air Force will compete at the Academy three times in 2022. In addition to kicking off the season with the Rocky Mountain Open on Jan. 15, the Falcons will host five teams over two weekends in March. Air Force will welcome Army West Point and Nebraska to Cadet West Gym on March 12, before closing out the home campaign with Illinois, Navy, and Rocky Mountain Pride on March 19.
REPORTING FOR DUTY
Air Force welcomed four impressive freshmen and one talented sophomore to its roster for the 2022 season with the addition of Patrick Hoopes, Cole Landes, Charlie Miles, Erich Upton and Bryan Woffinden.
WHAT'S AHEAD FOR THE FALCONS
Air Force is back in action next Saturday (Jan. 22), when it travels to Norman, Okla., for a rematch with the Sooners.
MEET INFORMATION
The 42nd-annual Rocky Mountain Open will include Air Force, Arizona State, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Stanford, as well as gymnasts from Rocky Mountain Pride and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Center. Action is slated to begin at 6:00 p.m. (MT), inside Cadet West Gym – with doors scheduled to open one hour prior. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for youth, while cadets and participants of the Junior RMO will receive free admission (Junior RMO athletes must be wearing their club's jacket or uniform). The meet will be streamed live on the Falcons' YouTube page and results will be provided via StatBroadcast (direct links are available on the team's schedule page).
WELCOME BACK
Fans are invited back to Air Force Gymnastics meets this winter, but current Department of Defense and Air Force Academy rules require all individuals to wear a mask inside Academy facilities, regardless of vaccination status. All individuals who have not been fully vaccinated must also wear masks outside on the military installation.
LET'S MEET THE FIELD
It is the first competition of the year for all six collegiate teams. Stanford, the reigning national champion, was the overwhelming favorite in the NCAA Preseason Coaches' Poll, tallying 12 of the 13 first-place votes and 194 total points. Oklahoma was third with 167 points, while Nebraska was just 11 points behind the Sooners in fourth (156 points) and Air Force tallied 78 points to place 10th. On the club (GymACT) side of the sport, Arizona State tallied four of the five first-place votes and 54 total points to earn the top spot in that preseason poll, while Rocky Mountain Pride earned 29 points to tie with Illinois-Chicago for seventh.
'ROUND AND 'ROUND WE GO
Air Force will open the competition on the floor exercise and rotate through the meet in Olympic order. Arizona State will begin on the pommel horse, while Oklahoma, Stanford, and Nebraska will start on the still rings, vault and parallel bars, respectively. Gymnasts from the Rocky Mountain Pride and U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Center will open on the high bar and rotate together during the competition.
NEW RULES
In August 2021, the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel announced that men's gymnastics meets will be conducted using the five-up, five-count format for the entire regular season.
YOU LOOK FAMILIAR
Jacob Becchetti spent more than 12 years competing for the Aspire Junior Sun Devils team in Tempe and was coached by Arizona State's current assistant coach Rob Survick.
FALCONS RANKED 10TH IN PRESEASON POLL
Air Force earned a program-best No. 10 ranking in the annual Preseason Coaches' Poll.
ON THE SIDELINES
Josh Loeser is in his third season as the head coach of the Air Force men's gymnastics team – and his eighth overall year with the program. Loeser, who spent two years as an assistant for the men's resident program at the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Center, served as an assistant coach for the Falcons from 2013-17 and captured USAG Assistant Coach of the Year honors four times during that five-year stint. Third-year assistant Sergey Resnick, who was a member of two NCAA championship teams at Oklahoma, and military assistant Maj Josiah Loeser, who is in his second coaching stint at Air Force (2016-17, 2020-present), join him on the sidelines.
LEADING THE WAY
Collin Hickey will serve as the team captain for the 2022 men's gymnastics team.
HOME SWEET HOME
Air Force will compete at the Academy three times in 2022. In addition to kicking off the season with the Rocky Mountain Open on Jan. 15, the Falcons will host five teams over two weekends in March. Air Force will welcome Army West Point and Nebraska to Cadet West Gym on March 12, before closing out the home campaign with Illinois, Navy, and Rocky Mountain Pride on March 19.
REPORTING FOR DUTY
Air Force welcomed four impressive freshmen and one talented sophomore to its roster for the 2022 season with the addition of Patrick Hoopes, Cole Landes, Charlie Miles, Erich Upton and Bryan Woffinden.
WHAT'S AHEAD FOR THE FALCONS
Air Force is back in action next Saturday (Jan. 22), when it travels to Norman, Okla., for a rematch with the Sooners.
Players Mentioned
PH, SR
/ Men's Gymnastics
FX, V, HB
/ Men's Gymnastics
PH, V, PB
/ Men's Gymnastics
PH, SR, PB
/ Men's GymnasticsPH, PB, HB
/ Men's GymnasticsFX, PH, SR, V, PB, HB
/ Men's GymnasticsPH, V, PB
/ Men's GymnasticsPatrick Hoopes Bronze Medal World University Games 2025
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