April 18, 2008
Complete Results in PDF Format
Rotation Schedule for Individual Event Finals
STANFORD, Calif. -- Top-ranked Stanford fell just short of winning their fourth national title this evening in front of a loud and supportive crowd of 1,646 at Maples Pavilion. The Cardinal, who scored 362.750, were edged out by No. 2 Oklahoma, who took the team title with a final score of 363.200. No. 5 Illinois took third with 359.75.
Just like the previous night, Stanford began on the parallel bars. The Cardinal struggled early on the parallel bars, but got better as the event went on. Freshman Ryan Lieberman and junior Bryant Hadden contributed to the Cardinal score with 13.85 and 14.7 respectively. Senior David Sender went fifth in the lineup for the Cardinal, scoring a 14.85. Sho Nakamori, the last to compete on the event for Stanford, earned the highest score for the Cardinal. He nearly lost his grasp, but held on and notched a 15.15, good enough for a third-place tie.
Next on high-bar, Stanford put in solid routines in the high 14's, with redshirt senior Dylan Carney once again leading the way with a 14.95. Carney's score topped everyone in the event on the evening. Sender and Buscaglia put in solid efforts, recording a 14.7. Nakamori also finished high with a 14.65.
On floor exercise, freshman Josh Dixon, with 15.7, and sophomore Greg Ter-Zakhariants, with 15.65, were the top gymnasts for the Cardinal. Dixon took third place. Buscaglia and Sender contributed the third and fourth scores to the team's total of 61.85, with 15.3 and 15.2, respectively.
Stanford took their bye during the fourth rotation, and began the fifth rotation on pommel horse. Nakamori proved to be the most dominant Cardinal gymnast on the horse, with a 14.6. Freshman Kyle Oi also provided a great score in his only event of the night, with a 14.45.
Heading into rings, the Cardinal were behind the Sooners by nearly nine points. Both teams had already completed their bye rotation, as Oklahoma headed to the pommel horse. Stanford knew they had some points to make up, and did not disappoint. Four Cardinal athletes broke 15.0, and Hadden recorded a 15.85, as Oklahoma struggled on pommel horse, closing the gap between the two teams by 2.5 points heading into the last rotation.
It looked as if the Cardinal may pull out the come-from behind victory as they prepared to take to the vault as Oklahoma began to post rings scores lower than Stanford's. The Cardinal suffered a few missed landings in the event though, and was unable to overtake the Sooners, narrowly falling by .45 points.
"I think we just never got comfortable tonight," commented Head Coach Thom Glielmi. "I think we were trying to be perfect, when all we needed was to post solid scores that we were capable of. It just goes to show that five-tenths of a point is so miniscule. It could have gone either way. Some of our guys may be saying I could have done five-tenths better on this or that, but that's the difference. That's what makes this such a great sport."
"Hats off to Oklahoma, they did well tonight and they deserved it. It doesn't take away from us though. I'm proud of our guys. We competed well and had a great year."
In the All-Around Finals, Nakamori finished third with a total score of 90.15. Sender finished fourth with 89.1. Both gymnasts were awarded All-American status for finishing in the top-eight.
Stanford will be back in action for the last time this season tomorrow evening at 7 p.m., as eight gymnasts will compete in the Individual Event Finals in the last session of the 2008 National Collegiate Men's Gymnastics Championships.