| Floor | Pommel | Rings | Vault | P. Bars | H. Bar | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma | 69.150 | 67.550 | 72.100 | 73.900 | 68.250 | 69.550 | 420.500 |
| STANFORD | 71.300 | 65.350 | 71.100 | 70.800 | 70.000 | 70.000 | 418.550 |
| California | 68.600 | 60.100 | 66.350 | 69.500 | 65.200 | 64.950 | 394.700 |
| Air Force | 63.700 | 60.000 | 68.500 | 69.550 | 60.650 | 59.800 | 382.200 |
NORMAN, Okla. – In a battle of the top-two teams in the nation on Saturday at the MPSF Championships, No. 2 Stanford (418.550) was edged by No. 1 Oklahoma (420.500) as the Sooners collected their 18th MPSF crown overall, including the eighth straight.
Stanford's 418.550 is the second-highest score this year for the Cardinal, and was followed by California (394.700) and Air Force (382.200) in third and fourth place, respectively.
Though it came up just short of dethroning Oklahoma, Stanford did manage 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.
@StanfordMGym is the ONLY team this season to hit for 70 on FIVE events. #NCAAMGym pic.twitter.com/l6DXVbbGP9
— StickItMedia (@StickItMedia) April 6, 2019
Following the meet, Cardinal freshman Brody Malone was named MPSF Gymnast of the Year and head coach Thom Glielmi was named MPSF Coach of the Year.
Malone is the first Stanford men's gymnast to be selected MPSF Gymnast of the Year since Akash Modi took the honor in 2017 to become the first four-time MPSF Gymnast of the Year, and just the third four-time MPSF Athlete of the Year in any sport, joining Tony Azevedo (Stanford Men's Water Polo; 2001-04) and Aimee Harrison (Hawaii Women's Diving; 2013-16). Malone is also the first freshman to capture MPSF Gymnast of the Year since Modi began his four-year run in 2014. The native of Summerville, Ga. is Stanford's eighth MPSF Gymnast of the Year in the last 16 years, joining Modi, Tim Gentry (2011), Sho Nakamori (2009) and Dan Gill (2004).
Freshman @brody1700 has been named @MPSFMensGym Gymnast of the Year! Malone is the first freshman to earn the award since Akash Modi in 2014 - the first of four straight selections for Modi.#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/Mam1a4E2V3
— Stanford Gymnastics (@StanfordMGym) April 6, 2019
"Brody's scope of work over the course of the season definitely got noticed," Glielmi said after the meet. "He's done the work for our team, and I couldn't be happier that he has been honored with the Gymnast of the Year award."
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. Malone entered the MPSF Championships ranked first in the nation in the all-around, averaging 84.283. 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. Entering the MPSF Championships this week, Malone ranked third nationally in high bar (14.300), ninth in parallel bars (14.167) and top-25 in vault (15th, 14.517), rings (18th, 13.917), pommel horse (20th, 13.683) and floor (25th, 14.117). A two-time CGA National Gymnast of the Week, Malone is a four-time CGA National Rookie of the Week, and a three-time MPSF Gymnast of the Week.
For Glielmi, 2019 marks his third MPSF Coach of the Year honor, first earning it in the NCAA and conference championship season of 2009, and then again in 2014 as a Co-Coach of the Year with Kip Simons of Air Force. Under Glielmi's tutelage, the Cardinal entered the MPSF Championships ranked first in the nation on parallel bars (70.967), and second on floor (70.867), high bar (68.483), pommel horse (68.000) and rings (69.900). One of the most balanced squads in the nation, Stanford's only event outside of the top-two was vault – where it checked in sixth with an average score of 71.333. Individually, Stanford is one of only two teams in the country which has at least one gymnast ranked in the nation's top-10 in every event, including the all-around. Glielmi, who guided Stanford to NCAA championships in 2009 and 2011, has established the Cardinal as a perennial national contender. Stanford has placed among the top-five at the national championships for 13 consecutive seasons, including fourth-place in 2018.
The Cardinal began the day on parallel bars, with Blake Sun registering a 14.300 to lead the way and eventually finish second overall in the event. The Cardinal scored a 70.000 on the parallel bars, as Curran Phillips (14.050) and Jacob Barrus (14.050) shared a third-place overall finish.
Moving to high bar in rotation two, Stanford managed a 70.000 behind a season-best 14.450 from David Jessen. That mark is the third-best on the year for the Cardinal, and was good enough for second at the MPSF Championships. Ryan Sheppard followed in third place with a score of 14.400.
Rotation three saw the Cardinal on floor, where Connor Lewis and Bailey Perez each scored a 14.500 to guide Stanford to a 71.300 team score. Grant Breckenridge also showed well in the event, notching a career-best 14.350 to finish fourth overall.
Leading after three rotations, the Cardinal moved to pommel horse, where it managed a 65.350. Sheppard turned in the top score for Stanford at 13.600 to register a new season-best and finish fourth overall. David Jessen was right behind Sheppard in fifth at 13.500.
Senior Josiah Eng helped the Cardinal match its season-high on rings (71.100) after scoring a 14.750 to take second overall in the event. Freshman Ian Gunther went for 14.300, followed by Andrew Bitner (14.150), Malone (14.050) and Trevor DiGerolamo (13.850).
The Cardinal finished the meet on vault, and received two career-best efforts from freshmen Malone and Phillips. Malone tallied a 14.800 to take third, while Phillips posted a 14.400 to match the output from anchor Bryan Perla. The Cardinal as a team registered a 70.800, falling just short of the Sooners.
Malone earned a share of second place in the all-around scoring on Saturday, notching an 84.050 to match Oklahoma's Levi Anderson. Nissen-Emery Finalist Yul Moldauer won the all-around title for Oklahoma after finishing with an 87.700. Stanford's Nissen-Emery Award Finalist, Grant Breckenridge, was fourth in the all-around with a score of 83.050.
"This was a typical first round in a postseason competition," Glielmi said. "We were a little jittery here and there, and didn't really settle in throughout the meet. We didn't quite get the prep that we would normally want based on travel, so that may have accounted for a few missed routines from a couple of guys that are normally very consistent. We did manage to stay in it throughout the meet for the most part, and we realize that we are within striking distance of Oklahoma and are motivated and excited moving forward into the NCAA Championships."
Stanford will now prepare for a rematch with Oklahoma from April 19-20 at the NCAA National Championships held in Champaign, Ill.