STANFORD, Calif. – Brody Malone, the greatest gymnast in Stanford history, was among 10 seniors honored in the Cardinal's tri-meet victory over Cal and Air Force at Burnham Pavilion on Saturday.
Cal and Air Force had finished their sixth and final rotations and Malone was the last gymnast to compete, on the high bar. With fans, teammates, and competitors transfixed, Malone closed with a 14.400 to help Stanford to its highest team score of the season, 419.000 points. Cal scored 390.500 and Air Force 380.600.
In addition to the high bar, Malone earned night's highest scores in two other events, the pommel horse (14.100) and parallel bars (14.400), among his four events.
Two Stanford freshmen had top scores. Khoi Young had a 14.850 in the vault, with a 9.450 level of execution, and Nick Kuebler scored 14.600 on floor. Thomas Lee, a senior, had the best score on still rings, with 14.650.
The top-ranked Cardinal continued its quest for a third consecutive national title by taking the lead immediately. Kuebler led off the first rotation with his big score on the floor and Stanford built a 69.550-64.250 lead over Cal and added to the difference the rest of the way.
Stanford closes the regular season at Cal in their annual duel on Saturday, before the MPSF Championships at Stanford on April 2. That will be Malone's final home meet in a career that already has led to five NCAA individual titles, including two all-around championships, and eight All-America honors. And that doesn't even include U.S. national team accomplishments for the 2020 Olympian.
Photo by John P. Lozano/ISIphotos.com.