Photo by: Ray Bahner
Five Falcons Earn All-Conference Honors
4/7/2025 1:07:00 PM | Men's Gymnastics
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. -- Five Air Force gymnasts were named all-conference by the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation this morning (April 7). Overall, the group combined for eight all-MPSF honors, with senior Erich Upton leading the way with a conference-leading four.
The top gymnasts from each school in each event at last weekend's Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championships are an automatic selection, while one additional gymnast per event is chosen as an at-large selection based on the highest remaining score, regardless of team.
Upton, who captured the MPSF all-around title at last week's championship meet following a career-best 80.100 performance, was named all-conference on the floor exercise (13.800), vault (13.950), parallel bars (13.600) and all-around – a four-award haul that was one more than any other gymnast in the league. This marks the second year that Upton has garnered all-MPSF honors on the parallel bars and all-around, as he also received that distinction in 2023.
Backed by a conference championship from senior Patrick Hoopes, the Falcons accounted for two all-MPSF nods on the pommel horse. Hoopes, who was honored as the MPSF Specialist of the Year following the meet, scored a 14.900 to easily capture his first conference title and third-straight all-MPSF distinction. Junior Jack Matlock joined Hoopes on the all-MPSF list on the pommel horse, as he scored a 14.00 to finish fifth at the conference championships and collect his first all-MPSF award.
Juniors Denis Irimiea and Tai Gopaul rounded out the Falcons' list of all-conference selections after leading the Falcons on the still rings (13.050) and high bar (13.300), respectively. It is the first all-MPSF honor for Irimiea and the second for Gopaul, who earned all-conference accolades on the parallel bars last year.
Air Force will close out the 2025 season at the NCAA Championships in Ann Arbor, Mich., on April 18-19.
The top gymnasts from each school in each event at last weekend's Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championships are an automatic selection, while one additional gymnast per event is chosen as an at-large selection based on the highest remaining score, regardless of team.
Upton, who captured the MPSF all-around title at last week's championship meet following a career-best 80.100 performance, was named all-conference on the floor exercise (13.800), vault (13.950), parallel bars (13.600) and all-around – a four-award haul that was one more than any other gymnast in the league. This marks the second year that Upton has garnered all-MPSF honors on the parallel bars and all-around, as he also received that distinction in 2023.
Backed by a conference championship from senior Patrick Hoopes, the Falcons accounted for two all-MPSF nods on the pommel horse. Hoopes, who was honored as the MPSF Specialist of the Year following the meet, scored a 14.900 to easily capture his first conference title and third-straight all-MPSF distinction. Junior Jack Matlock joined Hoopes on the all-MPSF list on the pommel horse, as he scored a 14.00 to finish fifth at the conference championships and collect his first all-MPSF award.
Juniors Denis Irimiea and Tai Gopaul rounded out the Falcons' list of all-conference selections after leading the Falcons on the still rings (13.050) and high bar (13.300), respectively. It is the first all-MPSF honor for Irimiea and the second for Gopaul, who earned all-conference accolades on the parallel bars last year.
Air Force will close out the 2025 season at the NCAA Championships in Ann Arbor, Mich., on April 18-19.
Players Mentioned
FX, PH, SR, V, PB, HB
/ Men's Gymnastics
PH, PB
/ Men's Gymnastics
Sr, V, HB
/ Men's Gymnastics
PH
/ Men's Gymnastics
FX, PH, SR, V, PB, HB
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