April 5, 2008
Complete Results in PDF Format
STANFORD, Calif - The top-ranked Stanford men's gymnastics squad took second place today at the 2008 MPSF Championship at the Bob Devaney Sports Center in Lincoln, Neb. The Cardinal were upset by No. 2 Oklahoma as the Sooners went on to win their fourth straight conference crown.
The Cardinal scored a total of 357.200, 1.95 points shy of the Sooners 359.150. Stanford beat out No. 4 California by 1.15 points, and No. 9 Nebraska and No. 15 Air Force rounded out the results by finishing fourth and fifth, respectively.
Stanford placed athletes in the top three in every event except pommel horse. The Cardinal performed well in floor, with three athletes scoring over 15.000. Vault was also strong, with everyone scoring over 15.000. Stanford was also the best team on the horizontal bar today, winning the event even without the services of All-American Dylan Carney, who sat out the day to continue rehabilitating a slight injury so that he will be ready for the NCAA Championships.
Senior David Sender once again led the way for the Cardinal placing first in vault with a 16.400 and sharing the floor title with Oklahoma's Steven Legendre, scoring a 15.800. In all-around, Sender took second with a 89.550, falling just short of Oklahoma's Johnathan Horton, who scored a 90.500. Sender also took third in horizontal bar with a 14.400.
Freshman Josh Dixon had an outstanding performance as well, grabbing the number two spot in horizontal bar and third in floor. Junior Bryant Hadden also chipped in, taking second in rings with 15.700 and posting the best Cardinal performance on p-bars with 15.400, tying him for third with Cal's Tyler Block and Nebraska's T.J. Schmidt.
Although the day didn't end the way the Cardinal had hoped, they will get a chance to redeem themselves at the 2008 National Collegiate Men's Gymnastics Championship beginning on April 17. The twelve teams attending will not be announced until April 8, but Stanford almost certainly will get to face the Sooners one more time this year. Tickets are on sale now for the event at gostanford.com or at the Stanford Ticket Office adjacent to Stanford Stadium. The event schedule has also been posted on the Tournament Central page.