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Men's Gymnastics

Card Chases Sixth Title

#2 Stanford at NCAA Championships
Friday, April 19 // 11 a.m. PT // State Farm Center // Champaign, Ill.
Men's Gymnastics NCAA Championships Central
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STANFORD, Calif. - No. 2 Stanford will chase its sixth national title in school history when competition gets underway from the State Farm Center on Friday at the NCAA Championships in Champaign, Ill.

Stanford has captured five NCAA titles, most recently taking home the hardware in 2011. The Cardinal also won it all in 1992, 1993, 1995 and 2009, with head coach Thom Glielmi at the helm of the two most recent championships. Meanwhile, Stanford Athletics has already claimed two NCAA championships in 2018-19, increasing its nation-leading all-time total to 119 thanks to victories in women's volleyball and women's swimming and diving.

The Cardinal has earned the No. 2 seed overall at the NCAA Championships, entering the meet with a 418.025 qualifying score. Stanford will be grouped with No. 3 Michigan (410.863), No. 6 Minnesota (406.525), No. 7 Nebraska (404.638), No. 10 Navy (400.738) and No. 11 California (398.788). Session I is set to begin at 11 a.m. PT.

Friday's other session, set for 5 p.m. PT, will feature four-time defending NCAA champion and No. 1 Oklahoma (421.163), No. 4 Illinois (410.125), No. 5 Penn State (409.138), No. 8 Iowa (403.350), No. 9 Ohio State (402.550) and No. 12 Army (395.100).

The top three teams from each preliminary session will advance to the finals session on Saturday, April 20. Action on Saturday is set to commence at 4 p.m. PT.

Stanford has already competed in Champaign, Ill. this year, facing Illinois and Minnesota on March 2. The host won that three-team event, with the Cardinal finishing second.

The Card enters the meet ranked among the nation's top-10 in every event, including first on floor (70.975) and parallel bars (70.725). The Cardinal is second in still rings (70.200) and high bar (68.863), fourth in pommel horse (67.338) and sixth on vault (71.200).

Stanford produced a runner-up finish at the MPSF Championships in its most recent competition, totaling a 418.550. Oklahoma recorded a 420.500 to capture its eighth consecutive MPSF crown. Following the Championships, Stanford freshman Brody Malone was named MPSF Gymnast of the Year, while head coach Thom Glielmi captured MPSF Coach of the Year.

Malone is one of two gymnasts this year to record an all-around score of 85.000 or better, finishing with a mark of 85.250 on March 30. He enters the Championships ranked first in the nation in the all-around, averaging 84.225. The freshman phenom has won 13 event titles, including four all-arounds, four on high bar, two apiece on parallel bars and vault, and one on floor. In addition to the all-around, Malone ranks sixth nationally in high bar (14.100), seventh in parallel bars (14.188), eighth in vault (14.588), and top-25 in floor (18th, 14.150), rings (20th, 13.950) and pommel horse (20th, 13.563). A two-time CGA National Gymnast of the Week, Malone is a five-time CGA National Rookie of the Week, and a three-time MPSF Gymnast of the Week.

While competing at the MPSF Championships, Stanford managed to become the only team this season to hit for 70-or-better on five events in a single competition, reaching the plateau in every event except pommel horse.

In addition to the National Championship chase, senior Grant Breckenridge is also in the running for the prestigious Nissen-Emery Award, given annually to the top senior gymnast in the nation. Recognized as the highest honor in the sport, the Nissen-Emery Award will be presented Thursday night at the NCAA Championship Banquet before competition gets underway the following afternoon.

Breckenridge was a 2018 All-American in high bar after placing second at the NCAA Championships. The native of Libertyville, Ill. was also named to the U.S. Senior National Team in 2017 after finishing seventh in the all-around at Winter Cup. A 2018 Winter Cup high bar silver medalist, he also claimed bronze in the parallel bars in 2019. A 2018 CGA Second Team All-America Scholar Athlete, Breckenridge is also a three-time MPSF All-Academic selection.

Stanford boasts five previous Nissen-Emery Award recipients, including Akash Modi (2017), Eddie Penev (2013), Dan Gill (2004), Josh Stein (1995) and Steve Hug (1974). Breckenridge is looking to become the fourth honoree mentored by head coach Thom Glielmi, joining Modi, Penev and Gill.

Stanford in the Team Rankings (Four-Score Average)
Floor: 1st, 70.975
Parallel Bars: 1st, 70.725
High Bar: 2nd, 68.863
Rings: 2nd, 70.200
Pommel Horse: 4th, 67.338
Vault: 6th, 71.200

Stanford in the Individual Rankings (National Qualifying Average)
All-Around
Brody Malone – 1st, 84.225
Grant Breckenridge – 4th, 81.538

Floor
Connor Lewis – 3rd, 14.425
Bailey Perez – 4th, 14.413
Ryan Sheppard – 14th, 14.213
Brody Malone – 18th, 14.150
Grant Breckenridge – 21st, 14.075

Pommel Horse
Joey Ringer – 12th, 13.813
David Jessen – 14th, 13.763
Brody Malone – 20th, 13.563

Still Rings
Josiah Eng – 3rd, 14.513
Ian Gunther – 9th, 14.188
Trevor DiGerolamo – 14th, 14.050
Brody Malone – 20th, 13.950
Grant Breckenridge – 25th, 13.788

Vault
Brody Malone – 8th, 14.588
Bryan Perla – 19th, 14.363
Connor Lewis – 22nd, 14.325

Parallel Bars
Blake Sun – 3rd, 14.475
Brody Malone – 7th, 14.188
Grant Breckenridge – 8th, 14.163
Ryan Sheppard – 9th, 14.113
Jacob Barrus – 14th, 13.975
Curran Phillips – 15th, 13.900

High Bar
David Jessen – T-5th, 14.100
Brody Malone – T-5th, 14.100
Ryan Sheppard – 8th, 13.975
Jacob Barrus – 14th, 13.675
Grant Breckenridge – 18th, 13.613