Feb. 27, 2009
Complete Results in PDF Format
STANFORD, Calif. - The No. 3 Stanford men's gymnastics team fell to the Japanese Collegiate All-Stars this evening at Burnham Pavilion, but scored its best cumulative total of the season (358.8), also the best total thus far in the NCAA, and remains at 6-3 against NCAA teams.
In the first rotation, Stanford jumped out to a 4.6-point lead after posting its best totals of the season on both floor exercise (61.35) and pommel horse (59.0). Sophomore Josh Dixon, the nation's top performer on floor exercise, took first place with a 15.6. Redshirt senior Sho Nakamori tied for second with sophomore Tim Gentry with 15.35, and the mark was the collegiate career best for both gymnasts. Sophomore Alex Buscaglia also showed well, notching his season-best 15.05.
On pommel horse, Stanford swept the top-three spots in undoubtedly its best showing of the year on the apparatus, as all three placing gymnasts hit collegiate personal bests. Five of six Cardinal gymnasts hit, and Nakamori nailed a 14.95 and ran away with the event title. Sophomore Kyle Oi, an All-American last year in the event, took second with 14.9, and redshirt junior Greg Ter-Zakhariants placed third with 14.6. Junior Eric Hergenrader also performed well, and scored his season personal-best of 14.55.
After completion of four events, Stanford led 241.9 - 240.5. Senior Bryant Hadden, the nation's top ringman, won still rings with a 15.55, and Gentry came in second with his highest tally of the season, 15.35. Ryan Lieberman posted a 14.6, his best of the season. The Cardinal struggled to hit on vault as a whole, a rarity for the program, and Buscaglia was the top performer with Stanford with a 15.85, finishing third to tie his collegiate career-best.
On parallel bars, redshirt sophomore Nick Noone showed well, turning in his best mark on the event of the season (14.25) and redshirt senior Jason Shen did as well with a 14.5. Nakamori, the nation's leader on parallel bars, tied for second after scoring a 15.45.
Heading into the final event, Stanford was still in the lead by just four-tenths of a point but couldn't hold on to the win. Buscaglia was the only Cardinal gymnast to place, notching a third-place finish in the event with a 15.050 to finish out the night.
Stanford will next compete on March 7 in Minnesota against the Golden Gophers and defending national champion Oklahoma. The Cardinal's next home meet will take place on March 28 against Illinois-Chicago.