Having finished in the top-five at the NCAA Championships in every year since 2006, Stanford men's gymnastics is an early favorite to contend for its sixth National Championship in program history, tabbed as the No. 2 team in the College Gymnastics Association Preseason Coaches Poll.
The Cardinal, second only to four-time defending National Champion Oklahoma, received 390 points and one first-place vote. The Sooners claimed 419 points and the remaining 19 first-place votes. This marks the third consecutive year that Oklahoma and Stanford have opened the year as the top-two teams in the poll.
Stanford finished fourth at the NCAA Championships last year, and returns a handful of key contributors, including senior Grant Breckenrdige. Breckenridge, a 2018 All-American along with sophomore Blake Sun, was the national runner-up to former Cardinal Robert Neff last year in the high bar.
Accompanying the returners is a strong freshman class that the CGA contends could be the difference in separating the Cardinal from the rest of the pack. Among those newcomers are Ian Gunther, who was the 2018 Junior Olympic National Champion on pommel horse and parallel bars, and Brody Malone who is considered one of the top all-around gymnasts in his class.
Stanford, guided by 17th-year head coach Thom Glielmi, went 22-6 overall last year and held strong in the top-six of the rankings throughout the season.
The 2019 campaign is set to begin on January 12 when the Cardinal visits Cal for the annual Cal Benefit Cup at 7 p.m.
College Gymnastics Association Preseason Coaches Poll:
1. Oklahoma (419 points) (19 first-place votes)
2. Stanford (390 points) (1 first-place vote)
3. Illinois (366 points)
4. Minnesota (353 points)
5. Michigan (324 points)
6. Ohio State (323 points)
7. Nebraska (313 points)
8. Penn State (301 points)
9. Iowa (267 points)
10. Navy (225 points)
11. California (217 points)
12. Air Force (208 points)
13. William & Mary (171 points)
14. Arizona State (158 points)
15. Army (153 points)
16. Springfield College (117 points)
17. Washington (100 points)
18. UIC (91 points)
19. Temple (57 points)
20. SC United (47 points)
