Strong First Showing

BERKELEY, Calif. – Beginning the 2023 season at the Cal Benefit Cup, No. 1 Stanford posted a 410.500 to defeat host California. The Golden Bears, also making their season debut, managed a score of 394.950.
 
The team score is the highest for the Cardinal in an opening meet since registering a 411.250 at the Cal Benefit Cup in 2019.
 
Senior Riley Loos captured the all-around title with an 82.550, while sophomore Taylor Burkhart finished second at 82.400.
 
Loos also won the still rings event title with a score of 14.850 – besting his previous career high of 14.600 to win the 2022 NCAA national title.
 
Burkhart's 14.300 on floor exercise was second overall in the meet and set a new personal best.
 
Making his collegiate debut, freshman Asher Hong won a pair of event titles, claiming the parallel bars crown with a 14.550 and finishing atop the podium on floor at 14.350. The native of Tomball, Texas hit for a 14.800 on rings to place second behind Loos, while his 14.450 on vault paced the Cardinal – edging Zach Martin (14.400) for that spot. Hong placed fourth overall in the all-around with a score of 79.250.
 
Hong's 14.800 on rings topped all scores for the Cardinal from a year ago – a season in which Stanford qualified five All-Americans and led the nation in scoring average on rings. With Loos and Hong leading the way, Stanford totaled 71.750 on rings to open the season.
 
Junior Jeremy Bischoff also competed in the all-around for Stanford, compiling a personal-best score of 80.800 while contributing career-bests in three individual events. Bischoff led all competitors on horizontal bar with a 14.000, hit for a 13.950 on rings and finished the meet with a 14.250 on vault.
 
Sophomore Ian Lasic-Ellis, who competed in four events, shined on horizontal bar, posting a career-high 13.800 to finish second.
 
Overall, Stanford won four individual event titles in addition to Loos finishing first in the all-around.
 
The Cardinal will return to action next Saturday when it competes at the Rocky Mountain Open hosted by Air Force. The meet is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. PT.