TAIPEI, Taiwan – Cardinal assistant coach Karl Ziehn and stand-out senior Robert Neff played a key role for the U.S. team at the World University Games over the weekend with the American team claiming seventh overall and Neff placing 12th in the all-around.
The U.S. team, coached by Ziehn came out to a hot start on the first day of qualifiers as it dominated it's subdivision to finish first with a team score of 242.325 while Neff finished first in the all-around with an 82.100. The Cardinal also finished in second in the subdivision on parallel bars, high bar and floor as well as fifth on pommel horse.
In the finals, Neff posted a dominant 80.700 to lead the U.S. and claim 12th in the all-around as the U.S. was able to close out a seventh place finish overall after matching its score of 242.325 again.
As a team, the U.S. posted its best score on vault with a 42.150, though Neff came in clutch with a clean routine on pommel horse and solid routines on parallel bars and high bar.
On the event Neff stated, "We went out and gave it our best with our routines, it's the biggest competition I've ever been to, though luckily in my career I've had to learn to adapt to all types of different gyms and atmospheres."
The computer science major will return to Stanford this fall for his senior campaign after a 2017 season that saw him win the NCAA championship in high bar as well as claiming four event titles throughout the year.