STANFORD, Calif. - No. 1 Stanford men's gymnastics posted the highest team score in the nation so far this season and collected six individual event titles en route to a 318.450-303.950 victory over No. 8 California on Monday evening.
The Cardinal also won the team title in five of the six events, winning in each apparatus besides the pommel horse. Monday's meet win marks Stanford's third consecutive season-opening victory, with all three victories coming at the Cal Benefit Cup.
Fifth-year Colt Walker highlighted the field with three event titles on the night, already surpassing his total of two from a season ago. The reigning Nissen-Emery winner registered an 80.400 to share the all-around crown, earning apparatus titles on floor exercise (14.100) and vault (13.950). Walker's vault title was the first of his career in that event. The Austin, Texas native also impressed with a second-place showing on parallel bars (13.550) and a 13.050 high bar routine to finish third.
Taylor Burkhart also scored an 80.400 in the all-around, finishing on the podium in four of the six events. The senior finished second on vault with a 13.750, as well as still rings with a 13.550. The Arvada, Colo., native also posted bronze-medal efforts on floor (13.800) and pommel horse (13.200).
Brandon Nguyen won each of the two events he competed in on Monday night, earning event titles in the final two apparatus' of the night - high bar and parallel bars. Nguyen turned in a 13.700 routine on the high bar and closed out the meet with a 13.850 on parallel bars to secure multiple event titles in the same meet for the first time since Feb. 2, 2024 against the Golden Bears.
Asher Hong was Stanford's third different gymnast to win an event on the night, as the reigning national champion on still rings picked up right where he left off last season with a 13.800 to take the event crown. The junior also posted a 14.000 routine on floor exercise, as well as a 13.750 score on vault to finish second in both events.
Other notable performances include third-place finishes from Mark Berlaga (still rings) and Arun Chettri (parallel bars), scoring 12.900 and 13.250, respectively. Freshman Cooper Kim also made his collegiate debut on vault, posting a 13.650 to finish fourth in his first career appearance.
Stanford returns to action on Saturday, Jan. 18 as it hits the road for the Rocky Mountain Open at 5 p.m. PT against host Air Force, Oklahoma, Nebraska, and Simpson.