STANFORD, Calif. - No. 2 Stanford men's gymnastics closed out the regular season with a victory, knocking off tenth-ranked California 324.250-313.200 on Saturday afternoon.
The meet also served as the program's Senior Day, during which the Cardinal honored its five seniors: Taylor Burkhart, Mark Berlaga, Ian Lasic-Ellis, Luke McFarland, and Khoi Young.
Burkhart celebrated his final meet at Burnham Pavilion with a strong showing, winning each of the first two events of the night on floor exercise (14.200) and pommel horse (13.750). The Arvada, Colo. native also stuck his vault to finish second with a 14.200, along with a 13.550 still rings routine to finish fifth.
Lasic-Ellis also notched an event title in his final home meet, tying his season-best routine on high bar with a 13.700 to pace the field. The senior added a second podium finish on parallel bars, notching a 13.750.
Mark Berlaga collected a silver medal on still rings (13.900) to leave his mark on Senior Day, while Khoi Young notched a 13.300 on pommel horse to finish fourth in just his second meet of the season.
Asher Hong earned the all-around crown with a 77.750, adding an event title on still rings with a 14.200 effort. Hong also tallied a 14-plus score on vault, finishing fourth with a 14.050 routine.
Brandon Nguyen continues to impress as one of the nation's top parallel bars' gymnasts, securing yet another event title with a 14.200, while freshman Cooper Kim rounded out Stanford's event winners with a career-best 14.400 to lead the Cardinal's best vault rotation of the season.
Colt Walker finished on the podium in each of his four events on the afternoon, earning silver on parallel bars with a 14.050, and high bar after a career-best 13.600. Walker added bronze medal finishes on vault (14.150) and still rings (13.750).
Jeremy Bischoff tallied a pair of bronze medals of his own on floor exercise (13.600) and high bar (13.200) in what was also the last career home meet for the three fifth-year seniors.
Stanford now turns its attention to the postseason in pursuit of a record-breaking sixth consecutive NCAA championship, beginning with the MPSF Championships in Colorado Springs, Colo. on April 5.