Patrick Hoopes Wins the Pommel at Winter Cup Challenge, Earns National Team Spot

LOUISVILLE -- Air Force junior Patrick Hoopes rose to the top at the 2024 USA Gymnastics Winter Cup Challenge, a prestigious invite-only competition with the nation's top gymnasts. Hoopes claimed the title on the pommel horse with 29.600 (14.850, 14.750), securing a spot on the U.S. National Team. Hoopes is the first Falcon to win an event title at the Winter Cup Challenge.

Teammate Garrett Braunton was invited to compete all around where he had posted his best score on the vault (14.150). Braunton finished Friday's action with 77.500 and Sunday with a 74.600.

"Garrett and Patty both did great this week," head coach Josh Loeser said. "It was really cool to see them go into the competition with so much confidence and focus. I know things didn't turn out as well for Garrett as he would have liked, but he still did an awesome job. I think he realized that with a little more work in the gym, he will still be one of the top high bar and all around gymnasts in the country."

"As for Patty Hoopes, it's about time," Loeser continued. "I've been telling him that if he hits both days at a championship meet, he'll win. Now he's the number one pommel horse guy in the country, and with a little more experience he'll be one of the best in the world. I look forward to seeing how he stacks up with the best in the world in Baku, Azerbaijan next week."

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