Falcons Finish Third at USAG Collegiate Nationals

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Air Force senior Erich Upton claimed a silver medal in the all-around this afternoon (March 28), as the 11th-ranked Air Force men's gymnastics team wrapped up the opening day of action at the USAG Collegiate Nationals in Annapolis. In addition to Upton's runner-up finish in the all-around and the Falcons' third-place finish in the team standings, several gymnasts advanced to the event finals.

Backed by a meet-leading score of 14.100 on the vault, Upton registered a total of 78.550 in the all-around. The senior added a third-place score of 13.400 on the still rings, while earning top-10 marks on the pommel horse (13.100, eighth), parallel bars (12.850, ninth tie), and floor exercise (13.300, 10th).

Upton was one of two Falcons to post meet-leading marks on Friday, as classmate Patrick Hoopes matched his NCAA-leading score of 15.150 to finish first on the pommel horse by nearly one point.

Junior Tai Gopaul and senior Charlie Miles accounted for two of the top four scores on the high bar, as Gopaul finished second in the 25-gymnast field with a career-high 13.600 and Miles posted a fourth-place score of 13.400. The pair also tied with Upton for ninth on the parallel bars, as all three garnered matching scores of 12.850, and Miles finished fifth on the still rings with a score of 13.200.

Junior Jack Matlock tied for sixth on the pommel horse with a score of 13.300, while freshman Jared Fry was the Falcons' top finisher on the floor exercise after recording a ninth-place score of 13.400.

As a team, the 11th-ranked Falcons finished third with a score of 313.050. Eighth-ranked Navy won the meet with a 320.700, while No. 13 Army West Point finished second with a 315.050. Air Force maintained a three-point lead over the field, as No. 10 William & Mary (310.100), No. 14 Springfield (308.450) and No. 15 Simpson (300.800) rounded out the field.

The top gymnasts in each event return to Halsey Field House tomorrow (March 28) for the Individual Event finals of the USAG Collegiate Nationals.

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