STANFORD, Calif. – Stanford continued its upward trend on Friday, turning in a season-best team score to defeat Springfield 404.400-368.150 in a virtual meet from the Ford Center.
The Cardinal had nearly a full complement of gymnasts on Friday, with Riley Loos still waiting to clear quarantine after earning a US National Team spot by way of a second-place finish at the Winter Cup.
Ian Gunther, Brody Malone, Brandon Briones, Jeremy Bischoff and Colt Walker all made their season debuts in the Friday victory after withdrawing from Winter Cup competition due to inability to adequately train for the competition.
All five gymnasts made immediate impacts with Briones capturing an event title on high bar with a mark of 13.750. The native of Gilbert, Ariz. also competed on pommel horse and vault – nabbing second on vault with a 14.750 to finish just behind freshman Brandon Nguyen at 14.800.
Including his vault victory, Nguyen competed across five events on Friday. The freshman finished second on high bar, sticking for a career-best 13.600.
Gunther, who also competed in three events, took top honors on still rings with a score of 13.850. The native of Houston, Texas also earned a share of second place on pommel horse with a mark of 13.400.
Malone, the two-time defending MPSF Gymnast of the Year, managed a career-best 14.150 on pommel horse to capture the event crown – his only event of the day.
Freshmen Walker and Bischoff each made collegiate debuts, with Walker finishing second on parallel bars with a score of 14.100. Blake Sun captured the event title for the fourth time in as many events by way of a 14.300.
Bischoff entered only the floor exercise, taking second with a score of 12.650. Continuing his outstanding season on floor, Blake Wilson won the event with a 14.450. The event title was Wilson's third of the season.
Stanford will now prepare to host California inside Burnham Pavilion on Sunday. The meet is set to begin at 1 p.m.
