2020 Season in Review2020 Season in Review
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Men's Gymnastics

2020 Season in Review

2020 MGYM Final Stats Opens in a new window

STANFORD, Calif. – Stanford was ranked No. 1 in the nation and was preparing to defend its national championship before the season was shortened by the COVID-19 global pandemic. The Cardinal entered the year as the top team in the country and held the same distinction with only a senior meet vs. California, the MPSF Championships and NCAA Championships left on the schedule.

PRIMED TO REPEAT
Though it did not have the opportunity to defend its national title in 2020, Stanford finished the season ranked first in the nation on parallel bars (69.333), still rings (69.017) and vault (73.117), second on floor (70.067) and high bar (67.167), and fourth on pommel horse (66.417). Stanford's average team score of 414.783 was more than four points better than Oklahoma's second-place average of 410.133 over the course of the year. Having already defeated end-of-year ranked No. 2 Oklahoma and No. 4 Ohio State during the regular season, the Cardinal was the odds-on favorite to hoist the trophy in Ann Arbor, Mich.

MALONE REPEATS AS MPSF GYMNAST OF THE YEAR
Brody Malone repeated as Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) Gymnast of the Year following a stellar sophomore season. Malone is the first Stanford men's gymnast to repeat as Gymnast of the Year since Akash Modi took the honor in four consecutive seasons from 2014 through 2017. With Malone capturing the award in his first two seasons on The Farm, Stanford has now earned nine MPSF Gymnast of the Year selections in the last 17 years. Joining Malone on the list are Modi, Tim Gentry (2011), Sho Nakamori (2009) and Dan Gill (2004). At the conclusion of the season, Malone was awarded three All-America selections, finishing top eight in the all-around, and on vault and parallel bars. The nation's top gymnast on parallel bars, Malone averaged a 14.500 in the event, placed second in the all-around (82.650), and ranked sixth on vault (14.617). The native of Summerville, Ga. managed the third-highest vault score (14.900), third-best all-around score (84.200) and fourth-highest parallel bars score (14.800) in the nation this year. A two-time MPSF Gymnast of the Week, Malone won seven event titles, including four on parallel bars, and one each on still rings, vault and the all-around.

BRIONES NAMED ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Stanford captured College Gymnastics Association (CGA) Rookie of the Year honors for the second consecutive season, as freshman Brandon Briones was lauded by the organization. Following a standout freshman campaign, Briones garnered two All-America selections, earning a spot in the all-around and on vault. The native of Gilbert, Ariz. finished the year ranked first nationally among freshmen in the all-around (82.633), second on vault (14.617), still rings (13.883), parallel bars (13.883) and high bar (13.600), and fourth on floor exercise (14.000). Overall, Briones placed third in the all-around, sixth on vault, ninth on still rings and 10th on parallel bars. Briones, who captured 10 event titles during his inaugural season, registered the highest all-around (85.300) and still rings score (14.900) in the nation this year. He also managed the second-best high bar score and third-highest floor score. A four-time CGA Rookie of the Week, Briones nabbed three MPSF Gymnast of the Week honors and a pair of CGA Gymnast of the Week selections. Briones joins sophomore Brody Malone as Cardinal who have garnered the award. With consecutive selections, Stanford has now won the award in two of the three years it has been presented.

NISSEN-EMERY FINALISTS
Two of the six finalists for the 2020 Nissen-Emery Award were Stanford gymnasts, as seniors David Jessen and Bailey Perez earned spots. The duo joined Jake Bonnay (Nebraska), Stephen Nedoroscik (Penn State), Michael Paradise (Illinois) and Sam Zakutney (Penn State) as finalists for the prestigious award, which is given annually to the top senior gymnast in the nation. Recognized as the highest honor in the sport, the Nissen-Emery Award was presented to Penn State's Nedoroscik in April.

COACHES OF THE YEAR
Head coach Thom Glielmi and his coaching staff were honored as CGA Regional and National Coaches of the Year at the conclusion of the season, while Glielmi also nabbed MPSF Coach of the Year for the second straight season. Glielmi, who completed his 18th season at the helm of the program, earned West Region and National Head Coach of the Year while assistant coaches Syque Caesar and Mark Freeman garnered West Region and National Assistant Coaches of the Year. The 2020 season marks the fourth MPSF Coach of the Year, CGA West Region Coach of the Year and National Coach of the Year selection for Glielmi. Caesar has now taken Regional and National Assistant Coach of the Year in back-to-back seasons. The selections are Freeman's first after serving his inaugural season with the Cardinal in 2019-20.

POSTGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP
David Jessen was awarded an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship in May for his academic and athletic achievements.?????? Jessen was one of two Cardinal student-athletes to garner the award, with men's swimmer Matt Anderson also earning a scholarship. NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship winners receive a one-time grant of $10,000. To qualify, they must be in their final year of eligibility and plan to pursue graduate studies within the next year. In addition to maintaining at least a 3.2 grade-point average, candidates must perform with distinction in their sport and be nominated by their institutions faculty athletics representative. A four-time CGA First Team All-America Scholar-Athlete, Jessen carries a 3.72 GPA and will graduate with a degree in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology this spring. After graduation, Jessen will train to once again represent the Czech Republic at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. He also plans to go to medical school and become a doctor after the completion of his competitive gymnastics career.

ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICA
David Jessen became the sixth men's gymnast to be named an Academic All-American, running the program's award count up to seven. A first-team selection, Jessen is a four-time CGA First Team All-America Scholar-Athlete and graduated with a degree in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology while carrying a 3.72 GPA. A recipient of an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship, he was a finalist for the 2020 Nissen-Emery Award – presented annually to the top senior gymnast in the nation. A 2019 All-American on the high bar at the NCAA Championships, he helped guide the Cardinal to the NCAA team title.

RECORD ALL-AMERICA HAUL
Eight different gymnasts combined for a program-record 16 All-America honors from the CGA this season. The 16 selections, led by four from sophomore Ian Gunther, eclipsed the previous record of 15 from 2008 and 2019. Included in the haul were five vault honors, four all-around selections, three apiece on parallel bars and still rings, and one on pommel horse. The 16 selections were also the most in the nation this year, with Michigan taking second with eight. All-American awards are usually given to the top eight finishers on each event and in the all-around at the NCAA Championships, but without a Championship in 2020, the CGA chose All-Americans for the first time ever based on top eight standings on each event and in the all-around as of March 9.

Brandon Briones (VT, AA)
Trevor DiGerolamo (SR)
Ian Gunther (PH, SR, PB, AA)
Connor Lewis (VT)
Riley Loos (SR, AA)
Brody Malone (VT, PB, AA)
Zach Martin (VT)
Curran Phillips (VT, PB)

EXCELLENCE IN THE CLASSROOM
Thirteen Stanford gymnasts earned MPSF All-Academic honors after carrying a 3.00 GPA or better through the winter quarter.2020 MPSF All-Academic Scholar-Athletes

NameYearGPAMajor
Christopher OsgoodSO3.97Undeclared
David JessenSR3.71Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology
Trevor DiGerolamoRS SO3.65Biomechanical Engineering
Ian GuntherSO3.48Undeclared
Curran PhillipsSO3.47Undeclared
Bailey PerezSR3.44Product Design
Joey RingerSR3.41Management Science & Engineering
Blake WilsonSO3.41Undeclared
Connor LewisSR3.37Civil Engineering (Structures & Construction)
Blake SunJR3.28Biology
Thomas LeeJR3.18Mechanical Engineering
Brody MaloneSO3.11Undeclared
Andrew BitnerJR3.04Management Science and Engineering


STANFORD ON THE INTERNATIONAL STAGE
Sophomore Brody Malone and Stanford alums Grant Breckenridge and Akash Modi each earned a spot on the US Senior National Team following the completion of competition from the 2020 Winter Cup Challenge in Las Vegas. The top six all-around gymnasts following the preliminary round earned automatic spots on the national team, with Malone capturing third behind Sam Mikulak (86.800) and Shane Wiskus (84.550) with a score of 83.950. Breckenridge followed in fourth at 83.900 to earn his spot. Malone turned in the second-best vault of day one (14.400) and tied with Breckenridge for the second-best parallel bars routine in the prelims (14.600). Breckenridge also hit his high bar set, nailing down a 14.100 to trail only the all-around Champion Sam Mikulak at 14.350. The Men's Program Committee was charged with selecting six more athletes to the Senior National Team based off final results. Modi was named in that final group after a strong showing at the Winter Cup that saw him finish fourth in the combined all-around with a 163.250 – including an 82.100 on day two. While Malone, Breckenridge and Modi were aiming to represent the USA at the Tokyo Games, senior David Jessen was also preparing to participate in his second Olympic Games as a member of the Czech Republic after competing in the all-around at the 2016 Rio Olympics and placing 35th on the high bar.