The NCAA's recent decision to start the process to enhance name, image and likeness (NIL) opportunities was a response to overwhelming calls for change. Having been a big college sports fan my whole life, this news is both alarming and acceptable. This process will not be easy, and will require much thought and vetting to avoid unintended consequences. The amount of money generated over the past few decades has already dramatically changed [...more]
The Russians are coming! Wait, they've arrived... They delivered perhaps one of the most dominating performances in years, earning their first World Team title in convincing fashion, taking the top-2 prizes in the All Around and earning three more medals in Event Finals. Thanks to Nikita Nagornyy, a Russian has now won the All Around title [...more]
The weekend gave us twelve rotations and ninety-four routines. Eight gymnasts, vying for five coveted spots for next month's Men's World Gymnastics Championships in Stuttgart, Germany, gave it their all. Only four falls were recorded in the two-day World Team Selection Camp. It was an extremely clean display of gymnastics that made it a difficult decision for the committee. But after two hours of [...more]
After having 48 hours to fully digest a great two-day competition, a glaring term came to mind, which became the overarching theme -- Team Building. Sure, Sam Mikulak won by over 5 points. So what? It wasn't vintage Sam, it was neo vintage Sam. He's now performing at a higher level than he ever has, and that has a lot to do with his good health and highly palpable confidence level. The Team needs that. However, fans need to be reminded that the top 5 gymnasts [...more]
Sam Mikulak won his 6th U.S. Men's Gymnastics title in grand fashion. His 12-for-12 performance catapulted him to some of the highest all-around scores in the world this year. Mikulak (86.75/87.40) was dominant with 5 top-4 scores, including the top prizes on FX, PH, PB and HB). He is the U.S. program's undisputed leader, and is at the top of his game doing the best gymnastics of his [...more]
Sam Mikulak looked clean, crisp and confident in practically running away from a strong field in Day 1 of the U.S. Championships. Mikulak posted the top scores on FX (14.65), PB (15.35) and HB (14.20) en route to the day's highest AA score (86.75). He had five top-4 scores in all, including the 2nd highest tally on PH (14.75). Behind him is a virtual logjam for the next four spots. Yul Moldauer (84.00) put up three top-4 scores on FX, PB and HB for a [...more]
The 2019 Men's JO Nationals concluded with Sunday's Level 8 (JO) and Level 10 (JO) competition. Five new national all-around champions were crowned -- One from the single-day level 8 contest, and four from the two-day level 10 competition. It was a great four days of gymnastics, and it punctuated the outstanding state of our [...more]
JO Nationals Day 3 featured all of the JE Division finals (technical sequences). The level 10 competition featured several NCAA Men's Gymnastics signees, and was a qualifier for the U.S. Championships in August. Two Texans, Colt Walker and Asher Hong, ended the day with the top scores of all the age divisions. Hong, the 2018 Winter Cup Junior champ, earned the first of what will likely be many appearances he will be making at the U.S. Championships. It was his third JE national title. As for Walker, [...more]
Day 2 of JO Nationals was all about the Level 10s (JO Division). After three sessions, Levon Chalikyan (Age 15-75.50), Mark Berlaga (Age 16-77.20), Erik Engelke & Zackrey Lerwill (Age 17-Tied-76.10) and Aidan Cuy (Age 18-77.00) emerged as the leaders of the two-day competition. The field has now been whittled down to the top [...more]
The Men's JO Nationals are back on the west coast, with Reno, NV having the honor of playing host. Meet coordinators Tim Klempnauer and Roger/Debbie Baldwin always put on a great show. A major change to the format has the Level 8/9 (JO Division) reduced to a single-day competition. Otherwise, things will remain the same. A total of 14 gymnasts from the Level 8/9 JE division will earn Junior National Team honors based on their rank-order finish from [...more]
