AIR FORCE MEN’S GYMNASTICS
Mac Ritchie, 2012 high bar
Josh Ramos, 2012 parallel bars
2013 MEDIA GUIDE
Ben Zaiser, 2012 vault
DENIS AURELIUS
SKYLER AWISUS
TORY BROWN
GARED CHAPMAN
GREG CHAPUT
PATRICK DUFFY
NICK GAUDLIP
TYLER HUEBNER
ALEX JESSOP
JAMES OKAMOTO
THOMAS OWEIDA
NICK OWEN
ZACH OWEN
CORBIN PALMER
JOSH PYNE
JOSH RAMOS
MAC RITCHIE
JON SPIRO
BEN ZAISER
KIP SIMONS
JOSH LOESER
JEFF ROBINSON
HEAD COACH
ASST COACH
ASST COACH
2013 AIR FORCE MEN’S GYMNASTICS TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK FACTS
COACHING STAFF
BASIC INFORMATION .................................................. Quick Facts | Meet Schedule.........................................1 Media Information ........................................................2 2013 Roster | Roster Breakdown ..................................3 Opponent Information ..................................................4
Loca on .........................................USAF Academy, Colo. Founded ..................................................................1954 Enrollment ..............................................................4,000 Nickname ............................................................Falcons Colors ...................................................... Blue and Silver Affilia on ................................................ NCAA Division I Conference ............. Mountain Pacific Sports Federa on Superintendent......................... Lt Gen Michael C. Gould Director of Athle cs ................................ Dr. Hans Mueh
Head Coach ................................................... Kip Simons Season at Air Force ............................................Eighth Email ....................................... kip.simons@usafa.edu Office Phone ..........................................719.333.7667 Assistant Coach ............................................ Josh Loeser Season at Air Force ...............................................First Email .............................. joshua.loeser.ctr@usafa.edu Office Phone ..........................................719.333.6422 Assistant Coach ......................................... Jeff Robinson Season at Air Force ............................................. Third Email ............................... jeffrey.robinson@usafa.edu Office Phone ..........................................719.333.4609
AIR FORCE COACHING STAFF ....................................... Head Coach Kip Simons ............................................. 6-7 Assistant Coach Josh Loeser ..........................................8 Assistant Coach Jeff Robinson .......................................9 Support Staff ...............................................................10 MEET THE FALCONS ..................................................... Senior Tory Brown | Team Captain .............................12 Senior Alex Jessop .......................................................13 Senior James Okamoto | Team Captain ......................14 Junior Patrick Duffy .....................................................15 Junior Tyler Huebner ...................................................16 Junior Nick Owen.........................................................17 Junior Mac Ritchie .......................................................18 Junior Ben Zaiser .........................................................19 Sophomore Skyler Awisus ...........................................20 Sophomore Gared Chapman .......................................21 Sophomore Greg Chaput .............................................22 Sophomore Nick Gaudlip.............................................23 Sophomore Corbin Palmer ..........................................24 Sophomore Josh Ramos ..............................................25 Sophomore Jon Spiro ..................................................26 Freshmen Denis Aurelius | Thomas Oweida ...............27 Freshmen Zach Owen | Josh Pyne ..............................28
TEAM INFORMATION 2012 MPSF Finish .................................Fourth (335.950) 2012 USAG Finish .................................... First (341.950) 2012 NCAA Final Ranking ........................................ 12th Le erwinners R-L .................................................... 14-3 USAG All-Americans R-L ............................................ 8-2 Home Venue .........................................Cadet West Gym Team Captain ..................... Tory Brown, James Okamoto
ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS Men’s Gymnas cs Contact ........................Valerie Perkin Email .................................. valerie.perkin@usafa.edu Office Phone ..........................................719.333.8286 Website .....................................GoAirForceFalcons.com
SEASON IN REVIEW ..................................................... 2012 Season-In-Review ......................................... 30-32 2012 Meet-By-Meet Scores................................... 33-38 PROGRAM HISTORY .................................................... USAG Team National Champions ................................40 USAG Individual National Champions .........................41 USAG All-Americans ....................................................42 Program Honors | Coaching Awards ...........................43 Academic Awards | Conference Awards .....................44 All-Time Letterwinners .......................................... 45-46 Academy Records ........................................................47 Top-10 Performances ..................................................48 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY ........................................... The Academy Experience ............................................50 Senior Leadership ........................................................51 Air Force Athletics ................................................. 52-53 Gymnastics Training Facility ........................................54 Special Feature | Falcons in the Air.............................55 Falcons in the Community ...........................................56 Capt Torkelson Tribute ................................................57 Overview of Gymnastics Scoring .................................58
CREDITS The 2013 Air Force Men’s Gymnastics Media Guide was written and designed by assistant media relations director Valerie Perkin. Additional editing provided by the Air Force media relations office and the gymnastics coaching staff. Photographs were taken by members of the Academy’s DenMar Photo Services and Jeff Mills. Individual photos on the front and back covers represent the Falcons’ five returning USAG national champions.
2013 COMPETITION SCHEDULE DATE Jan. 12 Jan. 19 Jan. 26 Feb. 1 Feb. 7 Feb. 16 Feb. 23 Mar. 1 Mar. 3 Mar. 8 Mar. 14 Mar. 16 Mar. 29-30 Apr. 6 Apr. 19 Apr. 19-21
EVENT Rocky Mountain Open Army at Minnesota at Washington at Winter Cup Challenge at All-Academy Championships at Oklahoma at Illinois-Chicago at Illinois-Chicago at Arizona State, with Washington Temple Washington* at USAG Na onal Championships MPSF Championships at NCAA Na onal Qualifier at NCAA Na onal Championships
LOCATION USAF Academy, Colo. USAF Academy, Colo. Minneapolis, Minn. Sea le, Wash. Las Vegas, Nev. Atlanta, Ga. Norman, Okla. Chicago, Ill. Chicago, Ill. Tucson, Ariz. USAF Academy, Colo. USAF Academy, Colo. Williamsburg, Va. USAF Academy, Colo. State College, Pa. State College, Pa.
ARENA Cadet West Gym Cadet West Gym The Sports Pavilion Alaska Airlines Arena LV Sports Center GSU Sports Arena Lloyd Noble Center Physical Educa on Bldg Physical Educa on Bldg Sabino High School Cadet West Gym Cadet West Gym Kaplan Arena Cadet West Gym Rec Hall Rec Hall
All home meets will be held in Cadet West Gymnasium | *Senior Night Celebra on
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TIME 6:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 2:00 p.m. 2:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m.
MEDIA INFORMATION AIR FORCE ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS
DIRECTIONS TO CADET WEST GYM
Associate Athletic Director | Communications ........................................Troy Garnhart Assistant Athletic Director | Media Relations .............................................. Dave Toller Assistant Media Relations Director .......................................................... Nick Arseniak Assistant Media Relations Director ...............................................................Jerry Cross Assistant Media Relations Director ................................................... Melissa McKeown Assistant Media Relations Director (MGYM Contact) ..............................Valerie Perkin Graphics Coordinator ....................................................................... Madeline McGuire Broadcast Executive Producer................................................................... Brian Jerman Television Production Assistant ................................................................ Adam Parker
Take I-25 to the Air Force Academy North Gate entrance (exit 156-B) and continue west. Visitors will be required to have a current government-issued ID (such as a drivers license) and proof of insurance upon entering the Academy. Turn left onto Parade Loop (second left after the guard post). Follow the road to the right - it turns into Field House Drive. Park in the lots to the east or south of the Cadet Field House. Walk past the Cadet Field House and Falcon Athletic Center to enter the Cadet Gym (doors are north of the outdoor tennis courts).
Mailing Address ..............................2169 Field House Drive; USAF Academy, CO 80840 Office Phone ............................................................................................. 719.333.2313 Office Fax.................................................................................................. 719.333.3798
INTERVIEW & CREDENTIAL POLICIES INTERVIEWS: Interviews with Air Force coaches and gymnasts must be arraigned through Valerie Perkin in the Air Force Athletic Media Relations Office. All requests must be made at least 24 hours in advance of the desired interview time. CONTACTING ATHLETES: The private phone numbers and email addresses of Air Force cadet-athletes will not be issued to the media. The cadet-athletes have been instructed not to accept calls from any members of the media without prior notification from the athletic media relations office.
MOUNTAIN PACIFIC SPORTS FEDERATION WORKING PRESS CREDENTIALS: Press and photo credentials for media can be obtained by contacting Valerie Perkin, assistant athletic media relations director, at (719) 333-8286. Requests should be made at least one day prior to the meet.
GOAIRFORCEFALCONS.COM
Executive Director ............................................................................................Al Beaird Office Phone ...........................................................................................(530) 669-7600 Media Relations Coordinator .................................................................Darren Preston Email ............................................................................................ dp725@sbcglobal.net Mailing Address ..............................................PO Box 850; Woodland, CA 95776-0850 Website ........................................................................................... www.mpsports.org
Visit the official Air Force athletic website - GoAirForceFalcons.com - for the most up-to-date information regarding the Falcons’ men’s gymnastics team and all 27 Air Force sports. Results, statistics, rosters, cadet-athlete bios, previews, features, interviews and meet recaps can be found on the team page.
LOCAL MEDIA OUTLETS Academy Spirit HQ USAFA/PAI USAFA, CO 80840 Phone: (719) 333-2044
The Gazette 30 S. Prospect Colo. Springs, CO 80903 Phone: (719) 636-0250
Denver Post 101 W. Colfax Ave., 600 Denver, CO 80202 Phone: (303) 954-1296
KRDO-TV (13) - ABC P.O. Box 1457 Colo. Springs, CO 80901 Phone: (719) 575-6360
KKTV (11) - CBS 3100 N. Nevada Ave. Colo. Springs, CO 80907 Phone: (719) 578-0000
KOAA-TV (5/30) - NBC 2200 7th Ave. Pueblo, CO 81003 Phone: (719) 630-3930
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2013 AIR FORCE GYMNASTICS MEDIA GUIDE
2013 TEAM ROSTER 2013 AIR FORCE MEN’S GYMNASTICS ROSTER NAME Denis Aurelius Skyler Awisus Tory Brown Gared Chapman Greg Chaput Patrick Duffy Nick Gaudlip Tyler Huebner Alex Jessop James Okamoto Thomas Oweida Nick Owen Zach Owen Corbin Palmer Josh Pyne Josh Ramos Mac Ritchie Jon Spiro Ben Zaiser
YR. Fr. So. Sr. So. So. Jr. So. Jr. Sr. Sr. Fr. Jr. Fr. So. Fr. So. Jr. So. Jr.
HT. 5-6 5-6 5-7 5-5 5-7 5-7 5-7 5-4 5-9 5-6 6-1 5-6 5-8 5-9 5-3 5-3 5-5 5-4 5-3
EVENTS FX-PH-SR-V-PB-HB PB-HB FX-PH-SR-V-PB-HB FX-SR-V-PB-HB FX-PH-SR-V-PB-HB FX-PH FX-PH-PB-HB PH-SR-PB PH-PB-HB FX-PH-V-HB PB-HB FX-PH-SR-V FX-PH-SR-V-PB-HB FX-PH-SR-V-PB-HB FX-V FX-PB-HB FX-PH-SR-V-PB-HB FX-PH-SR-V-PB-HB FX-SR-V-PB
HOMETOWN | HIGH SCHOOL Plain City, Ohio | Jonathan Alder Reno, Nev. | Reno Portland, Ore. | Tigard Americus, Ga. | Winter Park (Fla) Worcester, Mass. | St. John’s Albuquerque, N.M. | La Cueva Colorado Springs, Colo. | Rampart San Antonio, Texas | Claudia Taylor Johnson Sylvania, Ohio | St. Francis de Sales Yorba Linda, Calif. | Esperanza Charlo e, N.C. | Myers Park Grayson, Ga. | home school Grayson, Ga. | Grayson Frisco, Texas | Centennial Las Vegas, Nev. | Cimarron Memorial Broken Arrow, Okla. | Bishop Kelley Concord, N.C. | Concord Laguna Niguel, Calif. | Capistrano Connec ons Pi sburgh, Pa. | home school
CLUB TEAM OSU Boys Team High Sierra Gymnas cs Multnomah Athle c Club Orlando Metro Legends Gymnas cs Gold Cup Gymnas cs Colorado Training Center Alamo Sunrise Gymnas cs South Coast Gymnas cs Zenith Gymnas cs Atlanta School of Gymnas cs Roswell Men’s Gymnas cs World Olympic Gymnas cs Go For It Gymnas cs Jenks Gymnas cs G&J Speedway Gymnas cs New Hope Pi sburgh Northstars
PRONUNCIATION ah-real-us uh-wee-suss -gare-ud chap-u -gawd-lip heeb-ner jess-up oak-ah-moh-toe oh-weed-uh ---pine rah-mose -spy-roh zz-eye-sir
Head Coach: Kip Simons | Eighth Season | Ohio State University, 1994 Assistant Coach: Josh Loeser | First Season | University of Houston, 2012 Assistant Coach: Jeff Robinson | Third Season | Auburn University, 1982 Volunteer Coach: Dave Mickelson | 12th Season | Iowa State University, 1982
BY CLASS SENIOR: Tory Brown | Alex Jessop | James Okamoto JUNIOR: Patrick Duffy | Tyler Huebner | Mac Ritchie | Ben Zaiser SOPHOMORE: Skyler Awisus | Gared Chapman | Greg Chaput | Nick Gaudlip | Corbin Palmer | Josh Ramos | Jon Spiro FRESHMAN: Denis Aurelius | Zach Owen | Thomas Oweida | Josh Pyne
BY STATE CALIFORNIA: James Okamoto | Jon Spiro COLORADO: Nick Gaudlip GEORGIA: Gared Chapman | Nick Owen | Zach Owen MASSACHUSETTS: Greg Chaput NEVADA: Skyler Awisus | Josh Pyne NEW MEXICO: Patrick Duffy NORTH CAROLINA: Mac RItchie OHIO: Denis Aurelius | Alex Jessop OKLAHOMA: Josh Ramos OREGON: Tory Brown PENNSYLVANIA: Ben Zaiser TEXAS: Tyler Huebner | Corbin Palmer
BY HEIGHT 5-3 TO 5-4: Tyler Huebner | Josh Pyne | Josh Ramos | Jon Spiro | Ben Zaiser 5-5 TO 5-6: Denis Aurelius | Skyler Awisus | Gared Chapman | James Okamoto | Nick Owen | Mac Ritchie 5-7 TO 5-8: Tory Brown | Greg Chaput | Patrick Duffy | Nick Gaudlip | Zach Owen 5-9 TO 6-1: Alex Jessop | Thomas Oweida | Corbin Palmer
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2013 OPPONENT INFORMATION
ARIZONA STATE (CLUB) Location .......................................................Tempe, Ariz. Founded ..................................................................1885 Enrollment ............................................................72,750 Conference ................................................................ n/a Nickname ....................................................... Sun Devils Colors ................................................. Maroon and Gold Facility ................................. Aspire Kids Training Center President .............................................Dr. Michael Crow Athletics Director .................................. Steve Patterson Head Coach ................................................Scott Barclay 2012 Conf Finish ........................................................ n/a 2012 Final Ranking .................................................. 18th Gymnastics SID .......................................................... n/a Phone ........................................................................ n/a Email .......................................................................... n/a Website .......................... www.sundevilgymnastics.com
MINNESOTA Location ........................................... Minneapolis, Minn. Founded ..................................................................1851 Enrollment ............................................................51,000 Conference ..........................................................Big Ten Nickname ..............................................Golden Gophers Colors ................................................. Maroon and Gold Facility .....................................................Sports Pavilion President ..........................................................Eric Kaler Athletics Director ................................ Norwood Teague Head Coach .................................................. Mike Burns 2012 Conf Finish .....................................................4th/7 2012 Final Ranking .................................................... 5th Gymnastics SID ............................................ Paul Rovnak Phone ..................................................... (612) 625-9379 Email ............................................... psrovnak@umn.edu Website ...................................www.GopherSports.com
OKLAHOMA Location ................................................... Norman, Okla. Founded ..................................................................1890 Enrollment ............................................................30,303 Conference ............. Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Nickname ...........................................................Sooners Colors .............................................. Crimson and Cream Facility ..........................Howard McCasland Field House President ..................................................... David Boren Athletics Director ....................................Joe Castiglione Head Coach ..............................................Mark Williams 2012 Conf Finish ..................................................... 1st/4 2012 Final Ranking .....................................................1st Gymnastics SID .......................................... Charlie Healy Phone .....................................................chealy@ou.edu Email ....................................................... (405) 325-8234 Website ....................................www.SoonerSports.com
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ILLINOIS-CHICAGO
ARMY Location .................................................West Point, N.Y. Founded ..................................................................1802 Enrollment ..............................................................4,000 Conference ........................... Eastern Collegiate Athletic Nickname .................................................. Black Knights Colors ............................................ Black, Gold and Gray Facility ........................................................Gross Center Superintendent ........................... Lt Gen David Huntoon Athletics Director .......................................Boo Corrigan Head Coach ......................................... Doug Van Everen 2012 Conf Finish .....................................................6th/6 2012 Final Ranking .................................................. 15th Gymnastics SID .......................................... Mady Salvani Phone ..................................................... (845) 938-3303 Email ................................. madeline.salvani@usma.edu Website ..................................www.GoArmySports.com
Location ........................................................ Chicago, Ill. Founded ..................................................................1896 Enrollment ............................................................27,309 Conference ........................... Eastern Collegiate Athletic Nickname ............................................................ Flames Colors .............................Navy Blue and Fire Engine Red Facility ................................. Physical Education Building Chancellor ....................................... Paula Allen-Meares Athletics Director ........................................ Jim Schmidt Head Coach ............................................ Charley Nelson 2012 Conf Finish .....................................................3rd/6 2012 Final Ranking .................................................. 13th Gymnastics SID ............................................ Laura White Phone ...................................................... (312 996-5880 Email ...................................... lwhite0401@comcast.net Website ........................................ www.UICFlames.com
NEBRASKA
NAVY Location .................................................. Annapolis, Md. Founded ..................................................................1845 Enrollment ..............................................................4,000 Conference ........................... Eastern Collegiate Athletic Nickname ................................................... Midshipmen Colors .............................................. Navy Blue and Gold Facility ................................................ Macdonough Hall President ................................. Vice Adm Michael Miller Athletics Director .................................... Chet Gladchuk Head Coach .......................................Dr. Sho Fukushima 2012 Conf Finish .....................................................5th/6 2012 Final Ranking .................................................. 17th Gymnastics SID .............................................. Jeff Barnes Phone ..................................................... (410) 293-8771 Email .................................................. barnes@usna.edu Website ........................................www.navysports.com
Location ......................................................Lincoln, Neb. Founded ..................................................................1869 Enrollment ............................................................24,610 Conference ..........................................................Big Ten Nickname ....................................................Cornhuskers Colors ................................................ Scarlet and Cream Facility .................................Bon Devaney Sports Center Chancellor ............................................. Harvey Perlman Athletics Director ................................... Shawn Eichorst Head Coach ............................................ Chuck Chmelka 2012 Conf Finish .....................................................7th/7 2012 Final Ranking .................................................. 10th Gymnastics SID ................................. Haley Whisennand Phone ..................................................... (402) 472-2263 Email .................................. hwhisennand@huskers.com Website ............................................ www.Huskers.com
WASHINGTON (CLUB)
TEMPLE Location ................................................ Philadelphia, Pa. Founded ..................................................................1884 Enrollment ............................................................39,000 Conference ........................... Eastern Collegiate Athletic Nickname ................................................................Owls Colors ................................................. Cherry and White Facility .................................................... McGonigle Hall President .............................................. Neil D. Theobald Athletics Director ...................................... Bill Bradshaw Head Coach ...................................................Fred Turoff 2012 Conf Finish ..................................................... 1st/6 2012 Final Ranking .................................................... 9th Gymnastics SID ............................................. Steve Helm Phone ..................................................... (215) 204-7446 Email ........................................steve.helm@temple.edu Website .........................................www.OwlSports.com
Location ....................................................Seattle, Wash. Founded ..................................................................1861 Enrollment ............................................................42,000 Conference ................................................................ n/a Nickname ........................................................... Huskies Colors ....................................................Purple and Gold Facility .................................... Cascade Elite Gymnastics President .................................................Michael Young Athletics Director .................................Scott Woodward Head Coach ..................................................Mark Russo 2012 Conf Finish ........................................................ n/a 2012 Final Ranking .................................................... n/a Gymnastics SID .......................................................... n/a Phone ........................................................................ n/a Email .......................................................................... n/a Website ................................................... www.wmgf.us
2013 AIR FORCE GYMNASTICS MEDIA GUIDE
THE COACHING STAFF
HEAD COACH KIP SIMONS
KIP SIMONS HEAD COACH | 8TH YEAR Olympian and USAG Hall of Fame honoree Kip Simons enters his eighth season as the head coach of the Air Force Academy men’s gymnas cs team. Since taking over the Falcons’ program in 2005, Simons has coached one NCAA All-American (two cer ficates), one Nissen-Emery finalist, three USAG na onal championship teams, nine individual USAG champions (12 tles) and 28 USAG All-Americans (57 cer ficates), while earning seven coaching awards. “Coaching here is a dream job,” Simons said. “There is nothing more rewarding than to see my athletes maximize their poten al as gymnasts and then go on to become the best pilots in the na on. A er seven years, I truly believe when you look at academic, gymnas cs and career opportuni es, there is not a be er op on out there than the Air Force Academy.” It took less than two years for Simons’ presence at Air Force to be felt on the na onal stage. Under his coaching, Greg S ne became the program’s first gymnast to claim mul ple NCAA All-America honors at the same meet, as he placed within the top-eight of the all-around and s ll rings at the 2008 NCAA Championships. Air Force has also qualified numerous gymnasts to the pres gious Winter Cup Challenge, a er sending just three over a prior 20-year span. The team has also seen a significant bump in their na onal ranking, placing as high as eighth in recent years. Simons has taken the team to the NCAA Na onal Qualifier during each of the past two seasons, while advancing seven gymnasts to the NCAA semifinals. In addi on, the men have captured three consecu ve USAG Na onal Championship team tles and have won the All-Academy Championship team tle in back-to-back years. The Falcons have claimed at least half of the USAG individual event tles during each of the last three na onal meets, as well as the last three tles in the vault and parallel bars. In 2010, Nash Mills (parallel bars, all-around) and Devin Menefee (vault) combined for three individual tles, while Mills (s ll rings, parallel bars), Tory Brown (vault) and James Okamoto (pommel horse) set a program record with four USAG tles. Last season, Ben Zaiser (vault), Josh Ramos (parallel bars) and Mac Ritchie (high bar) swept the final three event tles at the USAG meet.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS 2010 USAG Hall of Fame Inductee 1988 Junior Pan-Am Champion 1991 Big Ten Freshman of the Year 1994 Goodwill Games Gold Medalist 1994 Nissen-Emery Award Winner 1995 Pan-American Gold Medalist 1996 Still Rings National Champion 1996 Olympian Two-time World Team Member Two-time NCAA All-American Four-time Big Ten Champion Five-time Junior Olympic Gold Medalist Four-time Ohio State Letterwinner
CAREER COACHING HONORS 2010, 2011, 2012 CGA Collegiate Head Coach of the Year 2008, 2010 West Region Coach of the Year 2008, 2010, 2012 USAG Coach of the Year 2006 MPSF Co-Coach of the Year
In seven years at the helm of the Air Force program, Simons has accumulated several coaching accolades. In 2006, he was voted as the Mountain Pacific Sports Federa on Coach of the Year. Following the 2008 season, he was selected as the USAG Coach of the Year and the NCAA West Region Coach of the Year. The 2010 season was a banner year for Simons, who was named the USAG Varsity Head Coach of the Year, the NCAA West Region Coach of the Year and the CGA/Collegiate Division Na onal Coach of the Year. Simons claimed his third USAG Coach of the Year and CGA Coach of the Year awards in 2012. “Here at the Air Force Academy, I apply the same work-ethic that took me to the Olympic Games to mold my cadets into future leaders of character,” he said. Prior to his appointment at the Academy, Simons spent five seasons with the Cal Bears. He was an assistant coach from 2001-05 and then held the tle of associate head coach for the final year of his stay in Berkeley. During his tenure at Cal, the Bears finished within the top-two at the MPSF Championships every year, winning the conference tle in 2004. Simons helped guide Cal to a pair of third-place finishes at the NCAA Championships and coached 19 top-10 finishers, including four na onal champions. Simons began his collegiate-level coaching career following a stellar career at both the collegiate and na onal levels. In 1988, Simons dominated the U.S. Junior Na onal Championships and the Junior Pan-American Games, collec ng 10 gold medals.
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2013 AIR FORCE GYMNASTICS MEDIA GUIDE
HEAD COACH KIP SIMONS During a successful college career at Ohio State, Simons earned numerous honors throughout his four years, including the Big Ten Freshman of the Year and the NissenEmery Award, which is given to the na on’s top senior gymnast. A na ve of Bloomsburg, Pa., he was a four-year member of the All-Big 10 team, while earning four Big 10 Conference tles on the parallel bars (1992, 1994), s ll rings (1992) and high bar (1993). In addi on, Simons picked up two NCAA All-America cer ficates, as the Buckeyes finished third at the na onal meet during each of his last three seasons. In September 2006, Simons was inducted into the OSU Athle cs Hall of Fame by the Varsity “O” Associa on. Following his collegiate career, Simons competed on two world championship teams, as well as the gold-medal winning teams at the 1994 Goodwill Games and the 1995 Pan-American Games. He also represented the United States as a member of the 1996 Olympic team that finished fi h at the Atlanta Games. “I am able to draw on my 10-year na onal and interna onal compe ve career as the founda on to building my program,” Simons con nued. “Having the Olympic Training Center in our backyard is a huge asset to this program. Our coaching staff con nues to stay up-to-date on the most current training and compe ve strategies.” During the summer of 2010, he was inducted into the USA Gymnas cs Hall of Fame. Joining Simons in the 2010 induc on class was 1996 Olympic team gold medalist Dominique Moceanu, 1992 Olympic team bronze medalist Wendy Bruce-Mar n, 2000 Olympian Jennifer Parilla, two- me U.S. Men’s Olympic team head coach Kevin Mazeika and 2000 U.S. Olympic trampoline coach Robert Null. Simons was married in May 2009 to the former Kim Rich of Columbus, Ohio.
A HALL OF FAME COACH Simons was inducted into the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame in August 2010. Joining Simons in the 2010 induction class was Wendy Bruce, Kevin Mazeika, Dominique Moceanu, Robert Null and Jennifer Parilla, as well as Lifetime Achievement award winner Ellen Garlicki Nyemcsi. “When I reflect on all facets of my life, I realize that the life lessons I have learned and continue to learn are a direct result of my love for the sport of gymnastics. We all know the sport of gymnastics is very infectious. Once you begin heading down the ‘road of gymnastics’, there is no turning back.” Photo by John Cheng
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ASSISTANT COACH JOSH LOESER
JOSH LOESER ASSISTANT COACH | 1ST YEAR Former Air Force gymnast Josh Loeser returned to the Academy in the fall of 2012, to begin his first season as an assistant coach for the Falcons’ gymnas cs program. Loeser joins the Academy staff following a two-year s nt at Reflex Gymnas cs and Cheer Academy in Pearland, Texas. He spent one year as an assistant coach for boys in Level 4-10, before being promoted to Boy’s Team Director in June 2011. During his tenure, three Level 10 gymnasts qualified to the Junior Olympic Na onals and the Level 4 team won the Texas South state championships. Prior to joining the staff at Reflex Gymnasts and Cheer Academy, Loeser served as an assistant coach for Level 4-10 gymnasts at Gulf Coast Gymnas cs in his hometown of Alvin, Texas, where he coached the boy’s team to the Texas Muscle Man Championship tle in 2009. He has also coached at several gymnas cs camps over the summer, including two summers with Simons at the Academy’s Falcon Sports Camps. Loeser also worked with three- me Olympian John Roethlisberger at the FlipFest Gymnas cs Camp in Crossville, Tenn., where he coached boys and girls from levels 4-10. A three- me state qualifier in the all-around for Gulf Gymnas cs during his prep days, Loeser spent three years as a member of the Air Force gymnas cs team. Following his Academy career, he spent two years in the Air Force, serving as an Admissions/Disposi ons Clerk and Member Services Clerk at Lackland AFB, Texas. Loeser is a 2012 graduate of the University of Houston, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in economics.
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2013 AIR FORCE GYMNASTICS MEDIA GUIDE
ASSISTANT COACH JEFF ROBINSON
JEFF ROBINSON ASSISTANT COACH | 3RD YEAR Jeff Robinson returns to the gym for his third season as an assistant coach with the Air Force men’s gymnas cs team. He brings over 30 years of experience in gymnas cs to the Falcons’ program, ranging from performance to hands-on teaching and coaching. In addi on, he has served in a variety of capaci es for the USA Gymnas cs Men’s Program for over 25 years.
CAREER COACHING HONORS 2011, 2012 USAG Assistant Coach of the Year
Robinson has been named the USAG Assistant Coach of the Year during each of his first two seasons at Air Force, while helping the Falcons to two USAG Na onal Championship tles. Since his arrival, five individual records have been set, as well as six team scores. Since 1986, Robinson has worked with USA Gymnas cs, including three years as the Junior Olympic Program Coordinator (2006-08). He also served two terms as chairman of the men’s age group compe on commi ee, worked on the Task Force for Elite Training Alterna ves commi ee and has served as a guest clinician and presenter at numerous USAG Men’s Coaching Workshops and at the USAG Na onal and Regional Congress. Robinson was honored with the Frank Comiskey Service Award during the 2011 Junior Olympic Na onals meet, recognizing the work he has done with the Junior Program over the last 25 years. It is the highest honor awarded to an administrator of the USA Gymnas cs junior program. He is the co-founder and owner of Gymnas cs University LLC, a gymnas cs business consultancy firm that assists in areas ranging from facility development and construc on to freelance teaching and coaching to business development and staff development. Robinson spent many years working in the entertainment division at Walt Disney World Resort. He was a principal performer for mul ple live-ac on shows, including Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular, Fantasmic and Lights, Motors, Ac on Extreme Stunt Show. He also spent five years as a stunt manager, where he recruited and trained new players, evaluated performances, wrote opera onal guidelines and safety procedures and inspected the facility. He spent 10 years at Orlando Metro Gymnas cs, a club that he co-founded in 1992. As the men’s program director and head coach, Robinson helped develop 10 U.S. Junior and Senior Na onal Team members. He also worked as the head coach for the Barbados Interna onal Men’s Gymnas cs Delega on and served as the personal coach for Francis ‘Shane’ DeFreitas, who competed at the 1995 World Championships, the 1996 I.E.F. World Championships and the 1996 Olympic Games. He has also served as the boy’s program director and head coach at Brown’s Gymnas cs Central (1984-88) and as the general manager, program director and head coach at Gymnas cs Plus (1983-84). He has received numerous coaching awards, most recently as a member of the inaugural USA Gymnas cs Region VIII Hall of Fame in 2010. A FIG Level III Brevet Coach, Robinson was named Coach of the Year by the Florida USA Gymnas cs Men’s Program (2003) and by the Seminole County School Board (1989). Robinson is a 1982 magna cum laude graduate of Auburn University (educa on: physical educa on/biology). He went on to earn a master’s degree in educa on (physical educa on/business) from Memphis State University in 1983. He and his wife, Kris ne, have a blended family with seven children – Jessica (22), Danielle (20), Megan (19), Mason (18), Christopher (7), Dallas (5) and Garre (5).
WWW.GOAIRFORCEFALCONS.COM
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SUPPORT STAFF
DAVE MICKELSON VOLUNTEER COACH | 12TH YEAR Dave Mickelson returns for his 12th season as a volunteer coach for the Air Force men’s gymnas cs team. Mickelson joined the Falcons a er spending 11 years as the head coach with the Iowa State men’s team, following a six-year s nt as the Cyclones’ assistant coach. Mickelson also serves as the Falcons’ meet director for select home compe ons, including this year’s Mountain Pacific Sports Federa on Championships. During Mickelson’s tenure as head coach, Iowa State produced five NCAA All-Americans, including two NCAA individual champions. As a team, ISU picked up a fourth-place team finish at the na onal meet. As an assistant coach with the Cyclones, Mickelson helped generate 13 NCAA All-Americans, three NCAA individual champions and one Olympian. In addi on, Iowa State finished fourth at the NCAA Championships on three occasions, while also earning a second-place mark during his term as an assistant coach. Mickelson has served on numerous boards during his career, including the NCAA Men’s Gymnas cs Commi ee, the United States Gymnas cs Federa on Board of Directors and the United States Gymnas cs Federa on Men’s Program Commi ee. In addi on, he was the chair of the NCAA Men’s Gymnas cs Commi ee (1987-91) and spent 10 years as a Na onal Safety Cer fier for the U.S. Gymnas cs Federa on. A 1981 graduate of Iowa State, Mickelson earned a degree in physical educa on with an emphasis in athle c administra on. He was a three-year le erwinner on the Cyclones’ gymnas cs team. During his career, Iowa State earned three Big Eight Conference Championships and two NCAA Championship team tles.
CHARLES APT Cadet Manager
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CAPT EMILY BULGER Officer Representa ve
VALERIE PERKIN Media Rela ons Director
CAPT JESSICA SCHROEDER Officer Representa ve
DEANNE ZAMORA Athle c Trainer
2013 AIR FORCE GYMNASTICS MEDIA GUIDE
MEET THE FALCONS
SENIOR TEAM CAPTAIN TORY BROWN
TORY BROWN SENIOR | 5-7 | PORTLAND, ORE. JUNIOR YEAR | 2012: Competed on the floor exercise, vault, parallel bars and high bar…missed several meets with an injury sustained at the Winter Cup Challenge…claimed event tles on the high bar during the March 4 meet against Illinois-Chicago and the March 9 meet at Arizona State…tallied a season-high 14.250 on that event at Nebraska…scored a career-high 14.600 on the vault during the NCAA Na onal Qualifier…that mark was the third-highest score in program history using the new scoring system…also recorded a season-high score of 14.200 on the floor exercise at the NCAA Na onal Qualifier…opened the season with a season-best 13.800 on the parallel bars at the Rocky Mountain Open…became the first-ever Air Force gymnast to receive three straight invita ons to the pres gious Winter Cup Challenge. SOPHOMORE | 2011: USAG Na onal Champion on the vault…matched the Academy record on that event with a 15.950 at the Mountain Pacific Sports Federa on Championships…placed seventh at the conference meet with that score…three- me USAG All-American…placed fourth on the floor exercise and high bar, in addi on to winning the vault tle…claimed six first-place finishes on the year…won the vault at the All-Academy Championships, at Springfield and at the USAG Championships…also shared tles on the high bar at the all-academy meet and at Brockport…won the parallel bars in the home meet with Army…helped Air Force sweep the event tles in the dual meet with the Black Knights…competed at the Winter Cup Challenge, collec ng three top-four finishes in the preliminary round and two career-best scores…finished 15th on the vault at the NCAA Championships (Event Preliminary)…competed on the floor exercise in every team compe on…recorded a career-best 14.900 on the floor in the regular season finale against Washington…that score is the seventh-highest score in Academy history…also recorded a career-high mark on the parallel bars (14.300) at the meet against Washington…that score is ranked 11th on the Falcons’ all- me list…scored a career-best 14.500 on the high bar at Brockport…that mark is ed for sixth on the program’s all- me list…led the team on the vault, posted the squad’s second-highest scores of the season on the floor exercise and parallel bars and ranked third on the team on the high bar.
**2013 TEAM CAPTAIN** CAREER HIGHLIGHTS 2011 USAG National Champion (vault) Three-Time USAG All-American Participant at Three NCAA Qualifiers Advanced to the NCAA Championships in 2011 Three-Time Selection to the Winter Cup Challenge
CAREER-BEST MARKS 14.900 | Floor Exercise | vs. Washington 14.600 | Vault* | at NCAA Qualifer 14.300 | Parallel Bars | vs. Washington 14.250 | High Bar | at Nebraska
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2011 2012 2011 2012
FRESHMAN YEAR | 2010: Competed in six meets, including the Winter Cup Challenge…placed eighth on the vault at that meet with a career-best score of 15.600…that score is the seventh-best score in Academy history… competed on the floor exercise, vault, parallel bars and high bar during the first two team compe ons…scored a season-best 14.150 on the floor at the Rocky Mountain Open…added career-best scores on the parallel bars (13.550) and high bar (13.400) at the Minnesota Triangular…also competed on the parallel bars and high bar at Army…was a member of the Falcons’ high bar rota on at the USAG Championships and MPSF Championships. HIGH SCHOOL | CLUB TEAM: Tigard High School…recipient of the Rotary Award…competed at the club level for Multnomah Athle c Club (MAC)…coached by Shuichi Goto…named 2008 Most Improved Gymnast…two- me Academic All-America honor at the Junior Olympic Na onal Championships…three- me junior na onal qualifier…2009 Oregon state gymnas cs champion…finished second at the Region 2 Championships. PERSONAL: Son of Steve and Kelly Brown…has one younger sister, Julia…majoring in management, while earning a minor in Japanese…future career plans include becoming a pilot…served as a four-degree coach…spent the Fall 2011 semester in Japan as a part of the Academy’s semester abroad program…hobbies include paddle boarding, hiking, running and rock climbing…is fluent in Japanese…favorite event is the high bar, because “learning new skills is the most fun”…member of Cadet Squadron 30.
*using the new vault scoring system that begin in 2012
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2013 AIR FORCE GYMNASTICS MEDIA GUIDE
SENIOR ALEX JESSOP
ALEX JESSOP SENIOR | 5-9 | SYLVANIA, OHIO JUNIOR YEAR | 2012: Competed on the pommel horse during four compe ons, including the conference and na onal championship meets…scored a career-best 13.700 to place seventh at the team finals of the USAG Naonal Championships…that score is ranked 19th on the program’s all- me list…also competed on that event at the Mountain Pacific Sports Federa on Championships and the NCAA Na onal Qualifier.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS Recipient of the 2010 Air Force Hardest Worker Award
SOPHOMORE YEAR | 2011: Par cipated on the floor exercise in three compe ons...scored a career-best 13.200 on that event at against Stanford, Illinois and Illinois-Chicago on March 4...matched that score two days later against Ohio State, UIC and Temple...also competed on the pommel horse during the March 6 quad meet, recording a debut score of 13.400...also par cipated on the high bar in two meets, pos ng a personal-best 12.300 at the Rocky Mountain Open. FRESHMAN YEAR | 2010: Earned the team’s Hardest Worker award…competed on the pommel horse and parallel bars during three meets…set a career-high score of 13.250 on the pommel horse at Army…tallied a personal-best 13.700 on the parallel bars at the Springfield Triangular meet…also competed on the high bar at Arizona State, collec ng a score of 11.300.
CAREER-BEST MARKS 13.200 | Floor Exercise | at UIC Quad 13.700 | Pommel Horse | USAG Team Finals 13.700 | Parallel Bars | at Springfield 12.300 | High Bar | Rocky Mountain Open
HIGH SCHOOL | CLUB TEAM: St. Francis de Sales High School…2009 Northwest Ohio district diving champion on the men’s one meter…two- me state qualifier in one-meter diving…maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout all four years…competed at the club level at Sunrise Gymnas cs Academy…coached by Steve Reamy, Chris Brown and Yusaku Hijioka…Junior Olympic na onal qualifier…was Class 3 Ohio state champion in 2003. PERSONAL: Son of Leonard and Julie Jessop…has two older brothers, Aus n and Andrew…majoring in civil engineering…future plans include becoming a CE officer…hobbies include bicycling…favorite event is the high bar, because “I used to be terrified of it, and overcoming that fear took a lot of work”…member of Cadet Squadron 40.
WWW.GOAIRFORCEFALCONS.COM
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SENIOR TEAM CAPTAIN JAMES OKAMOTO
JAMES OKAMOTO SENIOR | 5-6 | YORBA LINDA, CALIF. JUNIOR YEAR | 2012: USAG All-American on the pommel horse and high bar…finished second on both events at the USAG Championships…Academy record-holder on that event following a 14.900 at Temple on Feb. 26…posted five addi onal scores ranked within the program’s top 10…competed on that event in every meet…also ranked 10th all- me on the high bar with a career-high 14.250 in the event finals of the USAG Championships…competed on the that event during 11 meets…won the pommel horse and high bar tles at the All-Academy Championships to help Air Force to its second straight team tle...was named the Mountain Pacific Sports Federa on Gymnast of the Week following that weekend…also received the CGA Gymnast of the Week award and was selected as CollegeSports360 Prime me Performer…repeated as the MPSF Gymnast of the Week on Feb. 28 a er a strong East Coast road trip…broke the Academy record to win the event tle at Temple on Feb. 26…also placed within the top five on the floor exercise and high bar at that meet…won the high bar tle two days later at Army and placed second on the pommel horse…advanced to the individual event preliminary round of the NCAA Championships on the pommel horse a er placing 10th (14.350) at the Na onal Qualifier…finished 21st in the event prelims (14.250)…claimed six event tles, including four on the pommel horse…competed on the floor exercise in eight meets…posted a career-best 14.400 at Army…vaulted during 11 meets, collec ng a personal-best 14.200 at Army…became just the third Air Force gymnast to earn mul ple invita ons to the pres gious Winter Cup Challenge…did not compete at that meet due to injury…MPSF academic all-conference selec on. SOPHOMORE YEAR | 2011: USAG Na onal Champion on the pommel horse…USAG All-American...competed on the pommel horse in every compe on...scored a season-high 14.400 at Nebraska...that score was the highest on the team in 2011 and the fi h-highest score in program history...recorded four of the eight-highest scores in Academy history…scored a 14.300 to win the pommel horse tle at the Rocky Mountain Open…became the third Falcon to win a RMO tle since 2000…earned the Academy’s Athlete of the Week award following the Rocky Mountain Open…scored a 14.250 in the winning effort at the USAG Championships…matched that score at the NCAA na onal qualifier…placed 26th in the event preliminary round of the NCAA Championships (13.750)…won the pommel horse against Army (13.800)…helped Air Force sweep the event tles in the dual meet with the Black Knights…competed at the Winter Cup Challenge, placing ninth in the preliminary round…also debuted on the high bar…scored a personal-best 14.000 on three occasions (at Brockport, at Springfield, at USAG Championships/ Team Finals)…those scores are ed for 15th on the program’s all- me list…academic all-conference selec on.
**2013 TEAM CAPTAIN** CAREER HIGHLIGHTS 2011 USAG National Champion (pommel horse) Four-Time USAG All-American Three-Time NCAA Participant Two-Time NCAA Event Semifinalist (pommel horse) Two-Time Selection to Winter Cup Challenge Academy Record Holder (pommel horse) MPSF Gymnast of the Week (2012) CGA Gymnast of the Week (2012) Two-Time MPSF Academic All-Conference Honoree 2010 Air Force Freshman of the Year 2010 CGA All-America Scholar-Athlete
CAREER-BEST MARKS 14.400 | Floor Exercise | at Army 14.900 | Pommel Horse | at Temple 14.200 | Vault* | at Army 13.150 | Parallel Bars | at Nebraska 14.250 | High Bar | USAG Event Finals
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2012 2012 2012 2012 2012
FRESHMAN YEAR | 2010: Earned the team’s Freshman of the Year award…USAG All-American on the pommel horse…placed second at the na onal event finals…competed at the NCAA Championships on that event…competed on the pommel horse in every meet…recorded a career-best score of 14.600 at the team finals of the USAG Championships…that score is the third-highest total in Academy history…added five addi onal top-20 pommel horse scores, including four in the top 10…in collegiate debut, became just the second Air Force gymnast to clear the 14.000 mark on that event...competed on the floor at the MPSF Championships, earning a score of 13.150. HIGH SCHOOL | CLUB TEAM: Esperanza High School…Principal’s Award…named Dis nguished Aztec…selected to the Principal’s Honor Roll…competed at the club level for South Coast Gymnas cs Training Center…coached by Xiaoping Li and Jian Shen…four- me Junior Olympic Na onal Qualifier…three- me J.O. na onal semi-finalist on the pommel horse…two- me J.O. na onal semi-finalist on the high bar…three- me USAG Academic All-American first-team selec on…named Gymnast of the Year. PERSONAL: Full name is James Tsurumatsu Okamoto…son of Thomas and Evelyn Okamoto…has two sisters, Ariel and Jean…majoring in management and earning a minor in Japanese…future plans include becoming a financial manager…served as Element Leader, Course Cadre and Assistant Flight Commander…has been named to the Dean’s List during all six semesters…hobbies include rock climbing…made second trip to Japan as a part of the Cadet Summer Language Immersion Program…also took an academic class and worked Basic Cadet Training over the summer…has an uncle that served in the Marines and a grandfather who served in the Army…favorite event is the high bar…member of Cadet Squadron 07.
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*using the new vault scoring system that begin in 2012
2013 AIR FORCE GYMNASTICS MEDIA GUIDE
JUNIOR PATRICK DUFFY
PATRICK DUFFY JUNIOR | 5-7 | ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. SOPHOMORE YEAR | 2012: Competed on the pommel horse in every team compe on…scored a season-high 14.050 at the NCAA Na onal Qualifier…competed on the floor exercise during six meets…won the floor exercise at Arizona State…scored a career-high 14.400 at that meet…that score is ed for 17th on the Academy’s all- me list…also competed twice on the vault…made collegiate debut against Minnesota, scoring a 13.400…earned academic all-conference honors from the Mountain Pacific Sports Federa on. FRESHMAN YEAR | 2011: Competed on the pommel horse in every team compe on...posted a career-best score of 14.200 at the All-Academy Championships...that is the eighth-highest score in Academy history…also recorded marks on the program’s top-20 all- me list of 13.650 (18th, at Nebraska) and 13.600 (19th, three mes, including the MPSF Championships)…named to the College Gymnas cs Associa on’s Scholar-Athlete team. HIGH SCHOOL | CLUB TEAM: La Cueva High School…selected as a State of New Mexico Higher Educa on Department Recogni on Program Scholar in 2009-10…posted a 4.5 weighted GPA…two- me academic le erwinner…member of the Na onal Honor Society…selected for the Na onal Youth Leadership Forum all four years… three-year member of Nobel’s Na onal Society of High School Scholars…named Who’s Who Among High School Students in 2008…competed at the club level for Gold Cup Gymnas cs…coached by Jerry Nickels…member of two state championship teams (2009, 2010)…2009 Gymnast of the Year…four- me USAG Junior Olympic Qualifier… four- me USAG First-Team Academic All-American…USAG Region I Select Team in 2005, represen ng gymnascs from California, Nevada, Hawaii and Arizona…named to the USAG Southern California State All-Star Team in 2005…two- me selec on to the USAG Nevada State All-Star Team…placed first in the all-around at the USAG Southern California State North Conference meet in 2006…two- me Most Decorated Gymnast Award…two- me par cipant at the Interna onal Gymnas cs Camp…also a ended Falcon Sports Camps in 2009, earning the Best A tude Award.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS Two-Time NCAA Participant 2011, 2012 CGA All-America Scholar-Athlete 2012 MPSF Academic All-Conference Selection
CAREER-BEST MARKS 14.400 | Floor Exercise | at Arizona State | 2012 14.200 | Pommel Horse | at All-Academy | 2011 13.400 | Vault* | vs. Minnesota | 2012
PERSONAL: Son of Pat and Diana Duffy…father was a 1981 Academy graduate and spent 28 years as a fighter pilot, re ring as a Colonel…mother is a 1983 Academy graduate…nickname is “Pa y”…has one younger sister, Katherine…majoring in electrical engineering…future career plans include either becoming a pilot or NSA…served as Confidence Course Superintendent and Safety NCO.,..named to the Superintendent’s List for excellence in military, academic and athle c performance…hobbies include “endangering my life, working on cars, Cadet Parades and waterskiing…loves techo music…is one-quarter Japanese…spent part of the summer at Osan AFB, South Korea with the Field Engineering Readiness Laboratory (FERL)…also took leave and worked the second session of Basic Cadet Training…favorite event is the pommel horse…member of Cadet Squadron 12.
*using the new vault scoring system that begin in 2012
WWW.GOAIRFORCEFALCONS.COM
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JUNIOR TYLER HUEBNER
TYLER HUEBNER JUNIOR | 5-4 | SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS SOPHOMORE YEAR | 2012: Competed on the s ll rings in every team compe on…recorded a career-best 14.900 to finish fi h during the team finals of the USAG Na onal Championships…that mark is ranked 17th on the program’s all- me list…recorded another top-20 all- me score (14.800) at the Rocky Mountain Open…won the s ll rings at Arizona State with a mark of 14.500…earned a top-10 finish at the Mountain Pacific Sports Federa on Championships (14.500). FRESHMAN YEAR | 2011: Competed on the s ll rings in every team compe on...scored a career-best tally of 14.700 in the regular season finale against Washington...that score is one of the top-20 marks in Academy history (19th e).
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS Two-Time NCAA Participant
CAREER-BEST MARKS 14.900 | Still Rings | USAG Team Finals | 2012
HIGH SCHOOL | CLUB TEAM: Claudia Taylor Johnson High School…graduated Summa Cum Laude…competed at the club level for Alamo Gymnas cs Center…coached by Yuegin Sun and Brandon Kays…served as team captain… placed eighth on the s ll rings at Na onals. PERSONAL: Full name is Phillip Tyler Huebner…goes by Tyler…son of Phil and Lori Huebner…has one younger brother, Tate…majoring in Foreign Area Studies…future plans include becoming an A-10 pilot…served as four degree coach…named to the Athle c Director’s List for excellence in athle c performance…spent the summer comple ng Combat Survival Training, Global Engagement and the Space program…hobbies include rock climbing and mountain climbing…grandfather served in the military…favorite event is the s ll rings, because “that’s where I excel”…member of Cadet Squadron 15.
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2013 AIR FORCE GYMNASTICS MEDIA GUIDE
JUNIOR NICK OWEN
NICK OWEN JUNIOR | 5-6 | GRAYSON, GA. 2012: Received a medical turnback from the Academy, while recovering from shoulder surgery. SOPHOMORE YEAR | 2011: Competed on the pommel horse in every team compe on...posted a career-best 14.200 during the regular season finale against Washington...that score is the eighth-highest mark in Academy history…also surpassed the 14-point mark during the Illinois-Chicago Quad on March 4 (14.100)...claimed two first-place finishes on the horse (at Springfield, vs. Washington). FRESHMAN YEAR | 2010: Did not see compe
CAREER-BEST MARKS 14.200 | Pommel Horse | vs. Washington | 2011
ve ac on.
HIGH SCHOOL | CLUB TEAM: Was home schooled…graduated with a 3.99 GPA…competed at the club level for the Atlanta School of Gymnas cs…coached by Nathan Simmons and Spencer Slaton…competed all four years at the Junior Olympic na onal championships…earned Academic All-America honors. PERSONAL: Full first name is Nicholas, but goes by Nick…son of Michael and Susan Owen…has one younger brother, Zachary, who is a freshman on the Air Force men’s gymnas cs team…majoring in biology…future plans include becoming a public affairs officer…served as Element Leader, Public Affairs NCO and Flight NCO…was born on New Year’s Day…hobbies include golf…grandfather, George Yoblonsky, is a re red lieutenant colonel…holds a second degree black belt in Taw Kwon Do…favorite event is the pommel horse, because “it is one of the most challenging events in gymnas cs and overcoming that challenge is worth the struggle”…spent the summer completing Opera on Air Force in South Dakota and working Squadron Safety and Medical during Basic Cadet Training… member of Cadet Squadron 37.
WWW.GOAIRFORCEFALCONS.COM
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JUNIOR MAC RITCHIE
MAC RITCHIE JUNIOR | 5-5 | CONCORD, N.C. SOPHOMORE YEAR | 2012: USAG na onal champion on the high bar…Academy record holder on that event… USAG All-American… ed the program standard of 14.900 to defeat the field by 0.650…also the preliminary round with a then-career high mark of 14.650 (the third-best score in program history)…earned the Mountain Pacific Sports Federa on Gymnast of the Week and the Air Force Athlete of the Week awards following the USAG Championships…also took first on the high bar in meets with Minnesota and Illinois-Chicago…earned a top-10 finish on that event at the MPSF Championships…added two addi onal scores that ranked within the program’s top 10… competed on the s ll rings in every team compe on…scored a personal-best 14.200 during the Rocky Mountain Open… posted a season-best 13.900 on the parallel bars at that meet…par cipated on that event during 11 meets…also competed on the floor exercise for five of the first six meets…scored a season-high 14.300 against Minnesota. FRESHMAN YEAR | 2011: Selected as the team’s Freshman of the Year…competed on the floor exercise, parallel bars and high bar in every team compe on…also competed on the s ll rings in 12 of 13 meets…scored a careerbest 14.500 on the floor exercise in the regular season finale against Washington…that score is ranked 15th on the program’s all- me record book…posted a career-best score of 14.200 on the parallel bars at the team finals of the USAG Na onal Championships…helped Air Force set a new team mark of 57.700 at that meet…that score is ranked 13th in the program record book…won the high bar tle against Army with a score of 13.700…helped Air Force sweep the event tles in the dual meet with the Black Knights…posted a career-high 14.400 on that event at Springfield…that score is the seventh-highest total in Academy history…scored a personal-best 13.900 on the s ll rings at Brockport…also vaulted during three meets…recorded a career-best 15.200 at the Rocky Mountain Open…that score is ed for 16th on the program’s all- me list.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS 2012 USAG National Champion (high bar) USAG All-American Two-Time NCAA Participant Academy Record Holder (high bar) MPSF Gymnast of the Week (2012) 2011 Air Force Freshman of the Year
CAREER-BEST MARKS 14.500 | Floor Exercise | vs. Army 14.200 | Still Rings | Rocky Mountain Open 14.200 | Parallel Bars | at USAG Team Finals 14.900 | High Bar | USAG Event Finals
HIGH SCHOOL | CLUB TEAM: Concord High School…competed at the club level for G&J Speedway Gymnas cs… coached by Jie Ding…member of the 2010 regional team…three- me state all-around champion…also won numerous individual event tles. PERSONAL: Full name is Breeden McEachern Ritchie…goes by Mac…son of Jack and Jennifer Ritchie…has one older brother, Ben, and one younger brother, George…undecided on a major…hobbies include playing golf…favorite event is the parallel bars, because “I like doing it and I don’t ever get bored of it”…member of Cadet Squadron 27.
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2013 AIR FORCE GYMNASTICS MEDIA GUIDE
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JUNIOR BEN ZAISER
BEN ZAISER JUNIOR | 5-3 | PITTSBURGH, PA. SOPHOMORE YEAR | 2012: USAG na onal champion on the vault…scored a 14.600 to finish first at the naonal meet…claimed USAG All-America honors for the second straight year…also placed first on the vault against Illinois-Chicago and Arizona State…scored a season-high 14.750 at Nebraska to lead the Falcons…that mark is an Academy standard under the new scoring guidelines for the vault…holds at least a share of four of the program’s top-five all- me scores…earned a top-10 finish on that event at the Mountain Pacific Sports Federa on Championships (14.600)…also competed on the s ll rings in every team compe on…recorded a career-best score of 14.600 during the Falcons’ dual with Illinois-Chicago…par cipated on the floor exercise during seven meets, including the USAG Championships (team finals) and the MPSF Championships…scored a career-high 14.200 in the meet against Minnesota...earned the team’s Most Improved Award. FRESHMAN YEAR | 2011: USAG All-American on the vault…scored a 15.500 to finish fi h at the USAG Na onal Championships...competed on the vault in 12 meets...recorded a career-best score of 15.600 during five compe ons...first tallied that score at Nebraska...posted that score in four consecu ve meets (at Illinois-Chicago Quad, at Brockport, at Springfield, against Washington)…that mark is the eighth-best score in Academy history…won the vault tles at Nebraska and during the Falcons’ regular season finale against Washington.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS 2012 USAG National Champion (vault) Two-Time USAG All-American Two-Time NCAA Participant Academy Record Holder (vault) Recipient of the 2012 Air Force Most Improved Award
CAREER-BEST MARKS 14.200 | Floor Exercise | vs. Minnesota | 2012 14.600 | Still Rings | vs. Illinois-Chicago | 2012 14.750 | Vault* | at Nebraska | 2012
HIGH SCHOOL | CLUB TEAM: Was home schooled…passed AP tests in chemistry, sta s cs, physics and Calculus AB…two- me USAG Academic All-American…competed at the club level for Pi sburgh Northstars…coached by Sco Carslaw…par cipated at the 2009 Na onals in Cincinna …four- me na onal qualifier…placed second on the pommel horse at the 2008 state championships…received the Greg Young Award, which goes to someone who shows respect to the coaches. PERSONAL: Full first name is Benjamin, but goes by Ben…nickname is Benji…son of Barry and Kim Zaiser…has one older sister, Bekah, who was a 2010 All-American gymnast at Florida…also has an older brother, Aaron, who is a 2011 graduate of the Academy and former member of the men’s gymnas cs team…majoring in civil engineering… future plans include becoming a pilot…served as Security NCO…named to the Athle c Director’s List for excellence in academic performance…hobbies include paintball and rock climbing…spent part of the summer at Osan AFB, South Korea, with the Field Engineering Readiness Laboratory (FERL)…also served as Element Leader during the first session of Basic Cadet Training and took Biology 315…favorite event is the vault, because “I’m good at it”…member of Cadet Squadron 12.
*using the new vault scoring system that begin in 2012
WWW.GOAIRFORCEFALCONS.COM
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SOPHOMORE SKYLER AWISUS
SKYLER AWISUS SOPHOMORE | 5-6 | RENO, NEV. FRESHMAN YEAR | 2012: Competed on the parallel bars during every team compe on…scored a career-best 14.400 against Minnesota…that score is ranked 10th on the Academy’s all- me list…also broke the 14-point mark at the Rocky Mountain Open (14.200) and at Army (14.000)…also competed on the high bar during 11 meets… posted a career-best 13.700 at Arizona State and again during the USAG Championships (team finals).
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS 2012 NCAA Participant
HIGH SCHOOL | CLUB TEAM: Reno High School…member of the Na onal Honor Society…AP Scholar…served as senior class president…member of the Student Council Leadership Class…member of the Key Club, Future Business Leaders of America and the Burrito Lovers Club…competed at the club level for High Sierra Gymnas cs… coached by Plamen “Patso” Avramov and Stephanie DeBoor…served as team captain…received the HSG High Performer award in 2011.
CAREER-BEST MARKS 14.400 | Parallel Bars | vs. Minnesota | 2012 13.700 | High Bar | 2x, last USAG Team Finals | 2012
PERSONAL: Full name is Skyler James Awisus…nickname is “Spot”…son of Mark and Kim Awisus…has two younger brothers, Mitchell and Micah…majoring in poli cal science…future plans include becoming a pilot or CRO… served as Athle c Clerk…hobbies include being with friends and family, listening to music and making fun of Tyler Huebner…spent the summer comple ng Expedi onary Survival and Evasion Training (ESET), taking an academic class and going on leave…grandfather served in the Air Force during World War II…favorite event is the parallel bars, because “it has always come naturally to me”…member of Cadet Squadron 20.
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SOPHOMORE GARED CHAPMAN
GARED CHAPMAN SOPHOMORE | 5-4 | AMERICUS, GA. FRESHMAN YEAR | 2012: USAG All-American on the s ll rings…finished second at that meet with a score of 15.000…competed on that event in every compe on…recorded a career-high score of 15.100 during the team finals of the USAG Championships…that mark is ranked 14th on the program’s all- me list…finished fi h (14.550) during a tri-meet with Oklahoma and Nebraska…competed on the vault during nine meets…scored a personalbest 14.400 at Nebraska…that mark is ranked fi h on the program’s all- me list…par cipated on the floor exercise during four meets…scored a personal-best 13.800 twice…first claimed that mark during the dual meet with Illinois-Chicago and matched that score at Arizona State. HIGH SCHOOL | CLUB TEAM: Winter Park High School…AP Scholar…served as president of the Interact Club…IB Diploma recipient…member of the Na onal Honor Society, Math Honor Society, Social Studies Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society…competed at the club level for Ace Gymnas cs (coached by John Halle , Mike Turner and Greg Weller) and Orlando Metro Gymnas cs (coached by Casimiro Suarez)…five- me na onal qualifier (200711)…three- me Florida state team member…three- me Region 8 team member…member of the 2010 Region 8 team that won the na onal championship…2008 state champion on the parallel bars…2009 state champion on the floor exercise and vault…2009 Region 8 champion on the high bar…received first-team Academic All-American honors for three straight years.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS USAG All-American (still rings) 2012 NCAA Participant
CAREER-BEST MARKS 13.800 | Floor Exercise | 2x, last at Arizona St | 2012 15.100 | Still Rings | USAG Team Finals | 2012 14.400 | Vault* | at Nebraska | 2012
PERSONAL: Full name is Gared Ryan Chapman…nickname is “Meatball”…son of Eddie and Chris ne Chapman… has one younger half-sister, Ann, and one younger half-brother, Will…majoring in electrical engineering and earning a minor in Russian…future plans include going “wherever I am needed”…spent eight years playing in a school orchestra…enjoys wri ng and playing music…comes from a family with a strong military history…has one uncle, Brook “Holly” Rollins, who is currently serving in the Air Force Reserves…spent the summer comple ng soaring, SPACE and Expedi onary Survival and Evasion Training…favorite events are the s ll rings, because “I feel in control and secure”, and the high bar, because “it’s a lot of fun to fly through the air”…member of Cadet Squadron 20.
*using the new vault scoring system that begin in 2012
WWW.GOAIRFORCEFALCONS.COM
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SOPHOMORE GREG CHAPUT
GREG CHAPUT SOPHOMORE | 5-7 | WORCESTER, MASS. FRESHMAN YEAR | 2012: USAG All-American on that pommel horse…advanced to the event preliminary round of the NCAA Championships on that event a er placing ninth (14.400) in the Na onal Qualifier…that mark was a career-best and the sixth-highest score in program history…earned a top-10 finish on that event at the Mountain Pacific Sports Federa on Championships..…won the parallel bars during the first road meet at Nebraska (14.350)…posted a career-high score of 14.400 on that event at the Rocky Mountain Open…that score is ed for 10th on the Academy’s all- me list…also competed on the floor exercise during five meets…posted a career-high 14.000 at the first dual meet with Illinois-Chicago. HIGH SCHOOL | CLUB TEAM: St. John’s High School…competed on the varsity wrestling team as a freshman… competed at the club level for Legends Gymnas cs…coached by Dewayne Davenport and Debbie Naka…four- me compe tor at Na onals as a member of the Region 6 team. PERSONAL: Full name is Gregory Arthur Chaput…goes by Greg…nickname is “Squints”...son of Arthur and Dawn Chaput…has one older sister, Colby, who is 2012 Academy graduate…majoring in social sciences…future career plans include becoming a pilot or CRO...served as Training Clerk…a ended the Academy’s Prep School…won the pommel horse and all-around at the regional meet while a ending the prep school…hobbies include playing basketball with friends, video games with the guys on the team and relaxing on the beach at home…spent the summer taking two academic classes and comple ng Expedi onary Survival and Evasion Training (ESET)…favorite event is the pommel horse, because “it’s one of the events that you have to put the most work into, prac cing circles and keeping a good line, but in the end, a er doing millions of drills and trying to perfect your circle, it all pays off when you learn a new skill or hit your rou ne in a clutch situa on”...would like to add that “accomplishing all that we had as a young team was exci ng and I look forward to the freshmen coming in this year to help us achieve even greater things”…member of Cadet Squadron 01.
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CAREER HIGHLIGHTS USAG All-American (pommel horse) 2012 NCAA Participant 2012 NCAA Event Semifinalist (pommel horse)
CAREER-BEST MARKS 14.000 | Floor Exercise | vs. Illinois-Chicago | 2012 14.400 | Pommel Horse | at NCAA Qualifier | 2012 14.400 | Parallel Bars | Rocky Mtn Open | 2012
2013 AIR FORCE GYMNASTICS MEDIA GUIDE
SOPHOMORE NICK GAUDLIP
NICK GAUDLIP SOPHOMORE | 5-7 | COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. FRESHMAN YEAR | 2012: USAG All-American on the floor exercise…competed on that event in every compeon…posted a career-best 14.700 at Army...that score is ranked 11th on the Academy’s all- me list…posted four addi onal scores that are ranked among the program’s top-20…placed sixth at the USAG na onal meet with a score of 13.600…member of the pommel horse lineup during eight meets…scored a career-best 13.750 in the team finals of the USAG Na onal Championships…competed on the parallel bars in seven meets…scored a career-best 13.800 on three occasions (against Illinois-Chicago, at Arizona State, at NCAA Na onal Qualifier)…also performed on the high bar three mes…scored a personal-high 13.600 at the Temple Tri-Meet. HIGH SCHOOL | CLUB TEAM: Rampart High School…member of the student council for four years…served as student body president during senior year...also served as president of the Na onal Honor Society…competed at the club level for the Colorado Training Center…coached by Ron Brant…placed ninth on the high bar at the 2011 Junior Olympic Na onals…finished second in the all-around at the 2011 Region IX Championships…five- me qualifier to the Junior Olympic Na onals…four- me first-team Academic All-American.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS USAG All-American (floor exercise) 2012 NCAA Participant
CAREER-BEST MARKS 14.700 | Floor Exercise | at Army 13.750 | Pommel Horse | USAG Team Finals 13.800 | Parallel Bars | 3x, last NCAA Qualifier 13.600 | High Bar | at Temple
PERSONAL: Full name is Nicholas Frank Gaudlip…goes by Nick…nickname is “Bieber”…son of Fred and Beth Gaudlip…father is re red Air Force…has one older brother, Aus n…majoring in biology (premed)…future plans include becoming a combat rescue officer…has lived “pre y much everywhere” by growing up in a military family…was born in England and has dual ci zenship…hobbies include golf, fishing and drawing…favorite quote is “When are champions made? Every day at prac ce”…completed Jump over the summer…favorite event to train on is the pommel horse, because “it is definitely the most difficult, so new skills are the most rewarding”…favorite event for compe on is the high bar, because “it’s a crowd pleaser and I feed on the energy of everybody watching”… member of Cadet Squadron 39.
WWW.GOAIRFORCEFALCONS.COM
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2012 2012 2012 2012
SOPHOMORE CORBIN PALMER
CORBIN PALMER SOPHOMORE | 5-9 | FRISCO, TEXAS FRESHMAN YEAR | 2012: Earned the team’s Most Valuable Gymnast award…USAG All-American on the floor exercise and parallel bars…finished second on both events…competed on the pommel horse, vault and high bar during every team compe on…scored a career-high 13.700 on the pommel horse in the dual meet with Minnesota…that mark is ranked 19th on the program’s all- me list…recorded a career-best 14.400 to win the vault tle at Army…that score is ed for fi h on the team’s all- me list…matched that score on the high bar to finish second at Nebraska…that mark (career-best) is ranked seventh all- me…competed on the floor exercise during the final 12 meets…scored a career-best 14.500 to pace the Falcons at Oklahoma (eighth-place finish)…that score is ranked 15th on the program’s all- me list…par cipated on the parallel bars in 11 meets...posted a career-high 14.350 to lead Air Force on that event at the Mountain Pacific Sports Federa on Championships…that mark is ed for 11th on the program’s all- me list. HIGH SCHOOL | CLUB TEAM: Centennial High School…competed at the club level for World Olympic Gymnas cs Academy…coached by Sergei Pakanich. PERSONAL: Full name is Corbin Dodd Palmer…son of Tony and Kelly Palmer…has one older brother, Colton, and one younger brother, Conner…majoring in biology…future plans include working in the medical field…a ended the Academy’s Prep School…hobbies include gymnas cs and going to the movies…Eagle Scout…loves to camp and spend me outdoors…favorite event is the high bar, because “the release moves and skills are the most fun out of all the events. I love to fly high”…member of Cadet Squadron 05.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS 2012 AIr Force Most Valuable Player Two-Time USAG All-American 2012 NCAA Participant
CAREER-BEST MARKS 14.500 | Floor Exercise | at Oklahoma | 13.700 | Pommel Horse | Minnesota | 14.400 | Vault* | at Army | 14.350 | Parallel Bars | MPSF Championships | 14.400 | High Bar | at Nebraska |
2012 2012 2012 2012 2012
*using the new vault scoring system that begin in 2012
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SOPHOMORE JOSH RAMOS
JOSH RAMOS SOPHOMORE | 5-3 | BROKEN ARROW, OKLA. FRESHMAN YEAR | 2012: USAG na onal champion on the parallel bars…earned USAG All-America honors on that event…also won the parallel bars at five other meets…paced the squad on the parallel bars (15.000)…that mark is the second-highest score in program history…took first on the floor exercise at the All-Academy Championships, at Army and at Arizona State…led the team on that event with a career-best mark of 14.700…first achieved that score at the All-Academy Championships…matched that score the following week against Army…that score is ed for 11th on the Academy’s all- me list…also competed on the high bar in every team compe on…recorded a mark of 14.300 during the first home dual with Illinois-Chicago…that score is ed for ninth on the all- me list… also competed on the vault (career-best 14.100, at Army) five mes and the s ll rings once…earned the CGA Athlete of the Week award a er claiming three event tles during the Falcons’ trip to Temple and Army …won the floor exercise and parallel bars at Army, while earning first on the parallel bars at Temple and became just the second Air Force gymnast to reach the 15-point mark on the parallel bars in the meet with the Owls. HIGH SCHOOL | CLUB TEAM: Bishop Kelley High School…member of the Na onal Honor Society…honor roll selecon…member of the Na onal Society of High School Scholars…competed at the club level for Jenks Gymnas cs… coached by Neptali Narvaez…two- me Oklahoma state champion (2009, 2010)…three- me member of the Region 3 team (2007, 2009, 2010)…qualified to three Junior Olympic meets (2008-10). PERSONAL: Full name is Steven Joshua Ramos…goes by Josh…nickname is Jimmy…son of Pete and Elaine Ramos… has two younger sisters, Megan and Mika…majoring in biology…future career plans include a ending medical school and becoming an orthopedic surgeon…named to the Superintendent’s List for excellence in military, academic and athle c performance…hobbies include gymnas cs, guitar, piano, video games and hanging out with friends…favorite event is the parallel bars, because “it’s my best event”…member of Cadet Squadron 04.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS 2011 USAG National Champion (parallel bars) USAG All-American (parallel bars) 2012 NCAA Participant 2012 Air Force Freshman of the Year CGA Gymnast of the Week (2012) 2012 CGA All-America Scholar-Athlete
CAREER-BEST MARKS 14.700 | Floor Exercise | 2x, last at Army | 13.600 | Still Rings | Rocky Mountain Open | 14.100 | Vault* | at Army | 15.000 | Parallel Bars | at Temple | 14.300 | High Bar | vs. Illinois-Chicago |
2012 2012 2012 2012 2012
*using the new vault scoring system that begin in 2012
WWW.GOAIRFORCEFALCONS.COM
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SOPHOMORE JON SPIRO
JON SPIRO SOPHOMORE | 5-4 | LAGUNA NIGUEL, CALIF. FRESHMAN YEAR | 2012: Competed on the s ll rings during nine compe ons…recorded a career-high 14.300 during the first home dual with Illinois-Chicago…also surpassed the 14-point mark against Minnesota (14.000) at Temple (14.100) and during the second meet with UIC (14.200)…also competed on the pommel horse in four meet…scored a personal-best 13.200 in the first UIC meet. HIGH SCHOOL | CLUB TEAM: Capistrano Connec ons Academy…competed at the club level for New Hope Academy of Gymnas cs in Fountain Valley, California…coached by Guonian Wu…ranked third in the na on on the s ll rings two years in a row (2010, 2011)…five- me qualifier to the Junior Olympic Na onals…ranked first on the s ll rings and second on the pommel horse in Region 1 (California, Hawaii, Nevada, Arizona) during 2011…four- me USA Gymnas cs Academic All-American…member of the Level 10 team that won the state championship…also a member of the club team that won the Iron Man Compe on (top club in Southern California).
CAREER-BEST MARKS 13.200 | Pommel Horse | Illinois-Chicago | 2012 14.300 | Still Rings | Illinois-Chicago | 2012
PERSONAL: Full name is Jonathan Sco Spiro…goes by Jon…nickname is “Hollywood”…son of Sco and Patsy Spiro…has one younger brother, Nick, who is also a gymnast…majoring in law……hobbies include going to the beach, anything on the water and being tan…also plays the electric guitar…completed Expedi onary Survival and Evasion Training (ESET) over the summer…also took academic classes and went on leave…has one grandfather who was enlisted in the Air Force for 27 years…also has a grandfather that served in the Air Force for several years as a flight surgeon…favorites events are the s ll rings and pommel horse…member of Cadet Squadron 20.
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2013 AIR FORCE GYMNASTICS MEDIA GUIDE
FRESHMEN DENIS AURELIUS & THOMAS OWEIDA
DENIS AURELIUS FRESHMAN | 5-6 | PLAIN CITY, OHIO HIGH SCHOOL | CLUB TEAM: Jonathan Alder High School…le ered in tennis…ranked as the first singles varsity tennis player all four years…graduated with a 3.96 GPA…competed at the club level on the OSU Boys Team… coached by DeRon McIntyre…made the top 36 at na onals as a senior…also finished second in the state that year…earned Academic All-America honors for four years. PERSONAL: Full name is Denis Robert Aurelius…son of Glen and Dori Aurelius…is a triplet (sisters Krista and Lindsi)…currently undecided on a major…future plans include becoming a pilot…hobbies include playing all sports, including basketball, football and tennis…favorite event is the s ll rings, because “it’s fun”…member of Cadet Squadron 08.
THOMAS OWEIDA FRESHMAN | 6-1 | CHARLOTTE, N.C. HIGH SCHOOL | CLUB TEAM: Myers Park High School…competed in track and field…regional qualifier in the discus throw…also played strong safety for the varsity football team…member of the swim team…member of the Na onal Honor Society…graduated in the top 10 percent of class (approximately 662 students)…competed at the club level for Zenith Gymnas cs…coached by Stass Savitch…na onal qualifier…state qualifier. PERSONAL: Full name is Thomas Joseph Oweida…son of Sami and Lynne Oweida…has three older sisters – Mariel, Nicole and Katharine…also has one younger brother, Philip…currently undecided on a major…half Lebanese… favorite event is the parallel bars, because “that is my best event”…member of Cadet Squadron 01.
WWW.GOAIRFORCEFALCONS.COM
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FRESHMEN ZACH OWEN & JOSH PYNE
ZACH OWEN FRESHMAN | 5-8 | GRAYSON, GA. HIGH SCHOOL | CLUB TEAM: Grayson High School…played soccer through sophomore year…competed at the club level for Roswell Men’s Gymnas cs…coached by Nathan Simmons…won the state tle in 2012…placed first at HNI…recipient of the Mike Raines Award. PERSONAL: Full name is Zachary Aaron Owen…goes by Zach…nickname is “Princess”…son of Mike and Sue Owen… has one older brother, Nick, who is a junior gymnast at the Academy…majoring in poli cal science…future plans include a career in Congress…hobbies include reading the Bible, playing soccer, ea ng sushi and taking walks… CajunFaith…grandfather is a re red lieutenant colonel…favorite event is the high bar, because “you feel free and it’s great to have everyone watching you when you’re doing your release moves”…member of Cadet Squadron 12.
JOSH PYNE FRESHMAN | 5-3 | LAS VEGAS, NEV. HIGH SCHOOL | CLUB TEAM: Cimarron Memorial High School…recipient of the Presiden al Award…also earned the Millennium Scholarship…competed at the club level for Go For It Gym…coached by Nalani Cook…Nevada state champion…regional finalist on the vault. PERSONAL: Full name is Vaughn Joshua Pyne…goes by Josh…nickname is “JJ”…son of Vaughn and Sue Pyne…has three younger siblings – Jus ne, Taya and Riayn…planning to major in either economics or management…hobbies include dancing…first member of family to serve in the military…favorite event is the floor exercise, because “it is the least restric ng of the events, and it’s fun to just go all out on the event”…member of Cadet Squadron 03.
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2013 AIR FORCE GYMNASTICS MEDIA GUIDE
2012 SEASON IN REVIEW
2012 SEASON-IN-REVIEW 2012 Team Captain Devin Menefee
AIR FORCE PAIR COMPETE IN NCAA SEMIFINALS James Okamoto and Greg Chaput competed in the individual event preliminaries at the NCAA Championships on Apr. 20. Okamoto, who advanced to the event preliminaries of the national meet for the second straight year, scored a 14.250 on the pommel horse to tie for 24th, while Chaput scored a 12.000 on the same event to place 47th. FALCONS TAKE SIXTH AT NATIONAL QUALIFIER With a score of 333.750, 12th-ranked Air Force finished sixth during the NCAA National Qualifier on April 19. It marked the second straight year that the Falcons qualified to the national meet, having broken a 13-year drought one season earlier. FALCONS FINISH FOURTH AT MPSF Air Force amassed a score of 335.950 to finish fourth at the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championships on April 7. Devin Menefee earned the Falcons’ best finish of the night, as he placed sixth on the still rings (14.900) in his final home competition. Menefee was one of two top-10 finishers for Air Force on the rings, as Tyler Huebner tied for 10th with a 14.500. James Okamoto (14.100, eighth) and Greg Chaput (14.000, 10th) finished within the top 10 on the pommel horse, while Ben Zaiser and Mac Ritchie both finished 10th on the vault (14.600) and high bar (14.150), respectively.
2012 GYMNASTICS SCHEDULE Jan. 14
Jan. 22 Jan. 28 Feb. 18
Feb. 24 Feb. 26
Mar. 2 Mar. 4 Mar. 9 Mar. 17
Mar. 30
Mar. 31 Apr. 7
Apr. 19
Apr. 20
Rocky Mountain Open vs. No. 1 Oklahoma vs. No. 9 Nebraska vs. Arizona State* vs. Washington* at No. 9 Nebraska No. 8 Minnesota at All-Academy Championships vs. No. 13 Navy vs. No. 12 Army at No. 15 Army at Temple Tri-Meet at No. 10 Temple vs. Brockport* No. 14 Illinois-Chicago No. 14 Illinois-Chicago at No. 17 Arizona State* at Oklahoma Tri-Meet at No. 1 Oklahoma vs. No. 9 Nebraska USAG Championships-Team No. 14 William & Mary No. 16 Navy No. 17 Springfield USAG Championships-Event MPSF Championships No. 2 Oklahoma No. 3 Stanford No. 7 California at NCAA Na onal Qualifier No. 4 Illinois No. 1 Oklahoma No. 8 Calfornia No. 5 Minnesota No. 9 Temple at NCAA Championships
2nd of 5 (333.300) L, 333.300-343.700 W, 333.300-331.300 W, 333.300-314.100 W, 333.300-248.100 L, 331.750-336.550 L, 337.700-345.400 1st of 3 (327.800) W, 327.800-325.650 W, 327.800-317.600 W, 334.000-326.500 2nd of 3 (334.800) L, 334.800-336.300 W, 334.800-257.600 W, 338.900-329.500 W, 337.300-332.400 W, 335.600-321.600 3rd of 3 (327.950) L, 327.950-352.400 L, 327.950-341.550 1st of 4 (341.050) W, 341.050-331.850 W, 341.050-326.900 W, 341.050-324.350 No Team Scores 4th of 4 (335.950) L, 335.950-352.100 L, 335.950-345.950 L, 335.950-335.950 6th of 6 (333.750) L, 333.750-356.250 L, 333.750-356.200 L, 333.750-351.150 L, 333.750-343.450 L, 333.750-339.450 No Team Scores
Home meets in bold at Cadet West Gym. * Meets against club teams do not count in overall record.
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RITCHIE EARNS WEEKLY HONORS Mac Ritchie was named the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Gymnast of the Week and the Air Force Athlete of the Week award after claiming his first USAG high bar title. The sophomore tied the Academy record of 14.900 to win his first career USAG national title by a 0.650 margin on March 31. Ritchie, who scored a then-career mark 14.650 to win the preliminary competition by 0.450, helped the Falcons to their third straight USAG team title. AIR FORCE COACHES EARN USAG AWARDS Kip Simons was named the USAG Varsity Coach of the Year at the conclusion of the USAG Championships, while Jeff Robinson and Chuck Schweiss shared the USAG Varsity Assistant Coach of the Year award. It is the third such award for Simons, who also claimed the honor in 2008 and 2010. Robinson and Schweiss shared the honor last year, while Schweiss shared the honor with former assistant Brett McClure in 2010. FALCONS SET PROGRAM RECORD IN USAG HONORS A program-best nine Falcons claimed USAG All-America status, based on their top-six finishes in the event finals of the USAG Championships. Corbin Palmer (floor exercise, parallel), James Okamoto (pommel horse, high bar), Nick Gaudlip (floor exercise), Greg Chaput (pommel horse), Gared Chapman (still rings), Devin Menefee (still rings), Ben Zaiser (vault), Josh Ramos (parallel bars) and Mac Ritchie (high bar) earned USAG All-American honors. AIR FORCE TRIO EARNS USAG TITLES Three Falcons claimed USAG national titles during the event finals on March 31. Ben Zaiser (vault), Josh Ramos (parallel bars) and Mac Ritchie (high bar) each claimed their first USAG national title. Zaiser’s title on the vault marked the third straight year that an Air Force gymnast has won the USAG title on that event, while Ramos’ win marked the fourth time in five years that the Falcons have claimed the parallel bars title. Ritchie became the first Falcon since Erin Montague in 1999 to win the USAG high bar title. FALCONS WIN THIRD STRAIGHT USAG TITLE Backed by a season-high score of 341.050, Air Force successfully defended its USAG team title on March 30. It is the third straight year that the Falcons have claimed the USAG title, defeating William and Mary (331.850), Navy (326.900) and Springfield (324.350). HIGH FLYING HIGH BAR Air Force opened the USAG Championships on the high bar, recording five of the six top scores and the fourth-best team score in Academy history (56.950). Mac Ritchie (14.650), James Okamoto (14.150), Tory Brown (14.100), Josh Ramos (14.050) and Corbin Palmer (14.000) helped Air Force dominate the top of the leaderboard on that event. MORE NEWS FROM THE USAG CHAMPIONSHIPS Backed by matching 15.100 marks from Devin Menefee and Gared Chapman, the Falcons set an Academy record team score of 59.450 on the still rings during the team finals on March 30. Menefee, Chapman, Tyler Huebner (14.900, fifth) and Ben Zaiser (14.350, seventh) all finished within the top 10 of that event. Air Force also claimed five of the top-six scores on the pommel horse, behind Greg Chaput’s winning score of 14.000. James Okamoto (13.850, third-tie), Nick Gaudlip (13.750, sixth), Alex Jessop (13.700, seventh) and Corbin Palmer (13.650, eighth) all placed within the top 10 on that event.
2013 AIR FORCE GYMNASTICS MEDIA GUIDE
2012 SEASON-IN-REVIEW AIR FORCE FINISHES THIRD AT OKLAHOMA James Okamoto and Gared Chapman finished fifth on the pommel horse and still rings, respectively, to lead the Falcons (327.950) at a tri-meet against Oklahoma (352.400) and Nebraska (341.550) on March 17. Okamoto scored a 14.050 on the pommel, while Chapman collected a 14.550 on the rings. Corbin Palmer posted the squad’s top scores on both the floor (14.500) and parallel bars (13.500). FALCONS EARN EASY WIN AT ARIZONA STATE Backed by five of the six event titles, Air Force defeated Arizona State by a 14-point margin (335.600-321.600) on March 9. The Falcons’ 335.700 is their highest road total of the season. In addition, five Falcons set or matched career-best marks at ASU. Patrick Duffy improved his score on the floor exercise by nearly two points to 14.400, while Tory Brown set a vault mark of 14.300 and Skyler Awisus tallied a 13.700 on the high bar. In addition, Nick Gaudlip (parallel bars, 13.800) and Gared Chapman (floor, 13.800) each matched their personal-best scores. TAKING FIVE OF SIX Air Force claimed five of the six event titles at Arizona State, including a sweep of the first three events. Josh Ramos and Patrick Duffy shared the top spot on the floor exercise (14.400), while James Okamoto won the pommel horse (13.800) and Tyler Huebner took first on the still rings with a score of 14.500. In the final three events, Ben Zaiser scored a 14.500 to win the vault, while Tory Brown took first on the high bar with a score of 14.200. FALCONS SWEEP UIC DURING HOME STAND Air Force successfully defended its home floor over the March 2-4 weekend, sweeping Illinois-Chicago by 338.900-329.500 (March 2) and 337.300-332.400 (March 4) margins. The Falcons finished the regular season with a 3-2 home record against Division I programs (5-2 overall). HIGH FLYING HIGH BAR Air Force claimed the top five scores on the high bar during the March 4 meet. Tory Brown scored a 14.200 to win the event, while Josh Ramos and Mac Ritchie tied for second with matching marks of 14.000. Corbin Palmer finished fourth with a score of 13.800 and James Okamoto tied for fifth with a 13.600. DOUBLING IT UP Devin Menefee collected event titles on the still rings (14.600) and vault (14.700) during the March 4 meet with Illinois-Chicago. MORE WINS FROM THE FALCONS In addition to the titles from Tory Brown (high bar) and Devin Menefee (rings, vault), Josh Ramos won the p-bars (14.200) and James Okamoto took first on the horse during the March 4 competition. The victories came two nights after Mac Ritchie (high bar), Menefee (rings), Ben Zaiser (vault) and Ramos (p-bars) claimed first-place finishes at the March 2 meet. MOVING ON UP Mac Ritchie recorded the sixth-best high bar score in Academy history (14.500) to win that event during the March 2 meet with UIC. As a team, the Falcons posted their highest team score of the season (338.900). The Falcons improved their team score by over one point to better the mark of 337.700 that they set at the Academy against Minnesota on Jan. 28.
FALCONS CLAIM WEEKLY AWARDS Josh Ramos was named the CGA Gymnast of the Week (Feb. 29) and James Okamoto earned his second straight MPSF Gymnast of the Week award (Feb. 28). Ramos claimed three event titles during the Falcons’ East Coast swing, while Okamoto earned two titles and set the Academy pommel horse record. DID YOU KNOW? It is the second straight week that the Falcons have claimed Gymnast of the Week awards from the MPSF and CGA. James Okamoto earned both titles on Feb. 22, while he and Josh Ramos split the titles this week. THE RAMOS ROUND-UP Josh Ramos won the floor exercise (14.700) and parallel bars (14.900) against Army, while placing first on the parallel bars (15.000) at the Temple Tri-Meet. He became just the second Falcon to reach the 15-point mark on the parallel bars, easily winning the event by a 0.900 margin and moving into second on the program’s all-time list. He also claimed top-five finishes on the vault and high bar against the Black Knights, while tying for third on the floor exercise at Temple. WHAT DID YOU DO THIS WEEKEND? James Okamoto broke the Academy record on the pommel horse, scoring a careerbest 14.900 to win the Temple Tri-Meet on Feb. 26 ... just two days after winning the high bar at Army (Feb. 24). The junior easily won the pommel horse at Temple, improving his overall score by 0.300, while tying for third on the floor (13.800) and fourth on the high bar (13.700). Against Army, Okamoto won the high bar with a 14.000 – a mark just 0.100 off his career – while placing second on the horse. FALCONS NET STRONG SCORE AT TEMPLE Air Force tallied its second-highest score of the season (334.800) to finish second at Temple on Feb. 26. James Okamoto (pommel horse), Josh Ramos (parallel bars) and Devin Menefee (still rings) won their respective event titles, while the Falcons collected four of the top five placements on the rings. In addition to Menefee’s tie for first (14.600), Tyler Huebner tied for third (14.200) and Jon Spiro and Gared Chapman finished fourth (14.100) and fifth (14.000), respectively. AIR FORCE TAKES EASY WIN OVER ARMY Taking four of the six event titles, Air Force defeated Army by nearly eight points (334.000-326.500) on Feb. 24. Josh Ramos (floor, parallel bars), Corbin Palmer (vault) and James Okamoto (high bar) combined for four event titles as the Falcons bettered the Black Knights for the second straight week. Nick Gaudlip (floor), Okamoto (pommel horse) and Gared Chapman (rings) also claimed runner-up spots. DID YOU KNOW? Air Force has won the last five duals against its service academy counterpart from West Point, as well as the past two All-Academy Championship titles. OKAMOTO CLAIMS WEEKLY AWARDS James Okamoto was named Gymnast of the Week by the MPSF and CGA after winning the pommel and high bar at the All-Academy Championships. He matched his career-best score on the pommel (14.600), while tallying a 14.000 on the high bar. He was also honored as a CollegeSports360.com “Primetime Performer”. FALCONS RETAIN ALL-ACADEMY TITLE Claiming four of the six event titles, Air Force claimed its second straight team title at the All-Academy Championships on Feb. 18. The Falcons scored a total of 327.800 to defeat service academy rivals from Navy (325.650) and Army (317.600). TAKING DOWN THE COMPETITION Air Force claimed four event titles at the All-Academy Championships, including two from James Okamoto (pommel horse,14.600; high bar, 14.000). Josh Ramos and Devin Menefee won the floor (14.600) and rings (14.800), respectively.
2012 All-Academy Champions
WWW.GOAIRFORCEFALCONS.COM
MORE NOTES FROM THE AAC Josh Ramos matched his career best of 14.600 to win the floor, bettering the field by nearly one point. Ben Zaiser and Corbin Palmer each picked up three top-five finishes, including a tie for third on the vault (14.200). Zaiser tied for second on the rings (14.100) and finished fourth on the floor (13.650), while Palmer finished fifth on the floor (13.600) and tied for the same placement on the high bar (13.300).
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2012 SEASON-IN-REVIEW 2012 HONORS USAG Head Coach of the Year Kip Simons USAG Assistant Coach of the Year Jeff Robinson, Chuck Schweiss USAG National Champions Josh Ramos ....................................PB Mac Ritchie ................................... HB Ben Zaiser ........................................V USAG All-Americans Gared Chapman............................. SR Greg Chaput ................................. PH Nick Gaudlip .................................. FX Devin Menefee .............................. SR James Okamoto ...................... PH, HB Corbin Palmer.......................... FX, PB Josh Ramos ....................................PB Mac Ritchie ................................... HB Ben Zaiser ........................................V
CGA Collegiate Coach of the Year Kip Simons
CGA All-Academic Team Patrick Duffy Jacob Houder Travis Myers James Okamoto Josh Ramos MPSF Academic All-Conference Patrick Duffy Jacob Houder Travis Myers James Okamoto MW Scholar-Athlete Jacob Houder Travis Myers
Winter Cup Challenge Participants Tory Brown James Okamoto
CGA Gymnast of the Week Devin Menefee ........................ Dec. 8 James Okamoto ..................... Feb. 22 Josh Ramos ............................ Feb. 28 MPSF Gymnast of the Week James Okamoto ........Feb. 21, Feb. 28 Mac Ritchie .............................. Apr. 3
MVP............................ Corbin Palmer Top Freshman ................ Josh Ramos Most Improved ................ Ben Zaiser Hardest Worker ............Travis Myers
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DID YOU KNOW? Injury forced both Air Force competitors out of the lineup at the Winter Cup Challenge, but Tory Brown became the first Falcon to ever earn three straight invitations to the prestigious national meet. In addition, James Okamoto became just the third to claim two selections to the Winter Cup Challenge. FALCONS NET SEASON-HIGH AGAINST MINNESOTA Devin Menefee won the still rings and Mac Ritchie tied for first on the high bar, as the Falcons recorded a season-high team score of 337.700 during a dual meet with Minnesota (345.400) on Jan. 28. Menefee scored a 15.000 to easily win the still rings rings, while Ritchie matched his career-high mark of 14.400 to tie for the top spot on the high bar. THE YOUNG WILL LEAD Freshmen paced the Falcons in two events in the Jan. 28 meet against Minnesota. Nick Gaudlip and Josh Ramos tied for second on the floor with matching marks of 14.600, while Skyler Awisus tied for third on the parallel bars with a 14.400. With his score on the parallel bars, Awisus moved into ninth on the program’s all-time list, while the 14.600 marks by Gaudlip and Ramos on the floor exercise are tied for 13th. SPLITTING THE SEASON Air Force split the regular season with Nebraska, following a 336.550-331.750 loss to the Huskers on Jan. 22. The Falcons opened the season by defeating Nebraska 333.300-331.300 at the Rocky Mountain Open on Jan. 14 for the program’s first victory over the Huskers since 1969. AIR FORCE PAIR TAKES FIRST AT NEBRASKA Devin Menefee and Greg Chaput claimed event titles for the Falcons during their competition at Nebraska on Jan. 22, as Menefee won the still rings (14.600) and Chaput took first on the parallel bars (14.350). Menefee, who bettered the field by .450 points, led Air Force to three of the top five spots on the rings, as Ben Zaiser and Gared Chapman finished fourth and fifth, respectively. Chaput also paced the Falcons to three top-five finishes, with Jacob Houder and Josh Ramos finishing third and fifth, respectively. HIGH BAR HIGHS Air Force collected four of the top-six places on the high bar during the dual meet at Nebraska on Jan. 22. Corbin Palmer improved his score to 14.400 to finish second, while Jacob Houder used a career-best 14.350 to place third. Tory Brown tied for fourth with a season-high 14.250, while James Okamoto placed sixth with a career-high 14.100.
MOVING ON UP Just one meet into the season and several Falcons have already placed themselves in the Academy record book. With a 15.400 on the still rings, Devin Menefee recorded the eighth-best score in program history on that event. Greg Chaput, Skyler Awisus and Josh Ramos all impacted the top-20 of the parallel bars, highlighted by a top-10 addition from Chaput (14.400, ninth). Awisus recorded the 13th-highest score (14.200), while Ramos debuted in 15th (14.100). Ramos also moved into the program’s all-time list on the high bar, with a 13.900 (17th). Corbin Palmer’s career-opening score 13.800 is ranked 19th. HOME SWEET HOME Air Force will compete at home on six occasions during the 2012 season. Following the season-opening Rocky Mountain Open on Jan. 14 and the Minnesota dual meet on Jan. 28. Air Force returns to the Academy in March to host Illinois-Chicago (Mar. 2, Mar. 4) and USAG Championships (March 30-31). The Falcons will close out the home schedule on Apr. 7, when they host the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championships for the second straight year. FALCONS MATCH BEST PRESEASON RANKING Air Force recorded its highest preseason ranking ever, when it was tabbed 11th in the College Gymnastics Association Preseason Coaches’ Poll. It is the fourth straight year that the Falcons were listed among the nation’s top teams, as well as receiving the highest ranking among the three service academies. WELCOME TO THE SHOW Air Force added eight talented freshmen to its roster with the addition of Skyler Awisus, Gared Chapman, Greg Chaput, Nick Gaudlip, Corbin Palmer, Josh Ramos, Niko Schwab and Jon Spiro. ON THE SIDELINES Kip Simons is entering his seventh season as head coach of the Air Force men’s gymnastics team. He will be joined in 2012 by fourth-year assistant Chuck Schweiss and second-year coach Jeff Robinson. LEADING THE WAY Senior Devin Menefee will serve as the captain for the 2012 Falcons. It is just the third time since 2003 – that one gymnast has served as team captain.
DID YOU KNOW? The Falcons’ No. 9 placement on Jan. 16 was the second-highest ranking in Academy history. FALCONS TAKE SECOND AT ROCKY MOUNTAIN OPEN Air Force opened the 2012 season with a second-place finish at the annual Rocky Mountain Open, behind a combined score of 333.300 – its best season-opening score ever. Josh Ramos (floor) and Greg Chaput (parallel bars) finished second in their respective events to pace the Falcons, while Devin Menefee tied for third on the rings with a career-best 15.400. BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE As a team, Air Force scored a 59.200 on the still rings at the Rocky Mountain Open … the third-highest event score in Academy history. The Falcons also recorded the fifth-best parallel bars score (56.600) in program history at that meet.
2013 AIR FORCE GYMNASTICS MEDIA GUIDE
2012 MEET-BY-MEET SCORES
SKYLER AWISUS Freshman
KYLE BAKER Sophomore
TORY BROWN Junior
GARED CHAPMAN Freshman
COMPETITION Rocky Mountain Open at Nebraska Minnesota at All-Academy Championships at Army at Temple, with Brockport Illinois-Chicago Illinois-Chicago at Arizona State at Oklahoma, with Nebraska USAG Team Finals USAG Event Finals MPSF Championships at NCAA National Qualifier
FX ---------------
PH ---------------
SR ---------------
V ---------------
PB 14.200 13.000 14.400 12.000 14.000 13.300 13.700 13.800 13.700 13.000 12.800 -13.750 13.950
HB 13.100 --13.550 12.200 13.200 11.600 13.200 13.700 13.500 13.700 -13.350 12.050
AA ---------------
COMPETITION Rocky Mountain Open at Nebraska Minnesota at All-Academy Championships at Army at Temple, with Brockport Illinois-Chicago Illinois-Chicago at Arizona State at Oklahoma, with Nebraska USAG Team Finals USAG Event Finals MPSF Championships at NCAA National Qualifier
FX ---------------
PH ---------------
SR ---------------
V ---------------
PB ---------------
HB ---------------
AA ---------------
COMPETITION Rocky Mountain Open at Nebraska Minnesota at All-Academy Championships at Army at Temple, with Brockport Illinois-Chicago Illinois-Chicago at Arizona State at Oklahoma, with Nebraska USAG Team Finals USAG Event Finals MPSF Championships at NCAA National Qualifier
FX 13.600 13.600 13.800 -------14.150 -13.050 14.200
PH ---------------
SR ---------------
V 14.100 14.100 14.300 ---13.900 13.900 14.300 14.300 14.250 -13.250 14.600
PB 13.800 -13.700 -------13.350 -13.400 13.550
HB 12.700 14.250 14.100 ---13.600 14.200 14.200 13.400 14.100 -11.700 13.300
AA ---------------
COMPETITION Rocky Mountain Open at Nebraska Minnesota at All-Academy Championships at Army at Temple, with Brockport Illinois-Chicago Illinois-Chicago at Arizona State at Oklahoma, with Nebraska USAG Team Finals USAG Event Finals MPSF Championships at NCAA National Qualifier
FX ------13.800 12.700 13.800 13.450 -----
PH ---------------
SR 14.600 13.600 14.200 13.300 14.300 14.00 14.800 14.500 14.100 14.550 15.100 15.000 14.300 13.250
V 14.000 14.400 13.500 13.400 --14.100 14.200 13.000 13.350 --13.850 --
PB ---------------
HB ---------------
AA ---------------
WWW.GOAIRFORCEFALCONS.COM
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2012 MEET-BY-MEET SCORES
GREG CHAPUT Freshman
PATRICK DUFFY Sophomore
NICK GAUDLIP Freshman
JACOB HOUDER Senior
COMPETITION Rocky Mountain Open at Nebraska Minnesota at All-Academy Championships at Army at Temple, with Brockport Illinois-Chicago Illinois-Chicago at Arizona State at Oklahoma, with Nebraska USAG Team Finals USAG Event Finals MPSF Championships at NCAA National Qualifier at NCAA Championships
FX ------14.000 13.400 -13.500 12.500 --13.400 --
PH 12.300 13.000 13.100 12.700 -14.200 14.000 13.900 13.500 13.500 14.000 12.650 14.000 14.400 12.000
SR ----------------
V ----------------
PB 14.400 14.350 13.300 12.050 -13.700 13.500 13.900 13.900 13.100 13.700 -14.100 14.350 --
HB ----------------
AA ----------------
COMPETITION Rocky Mountain Open at Nebraska Minnesota at All-Academy Championships at Army at Temple, with Brockport Illinois-Chicago Illinois-Chicago at Arizona State at Oklahoma, with Nebraska USAG Team Finals USAG Event Finals MPSF Championships at NCAA National Qualifier
FX 12.700 --12.350 12.500 12.700 --14.400 12.650 -----
PH 13.300 12.500 11.500 13.850 12.900 11.800 13.700 12.600 13.800 12.100 13.450 -13.450 14.050
SR ---------------
V --13.400 13.000 -----------
PB ---------------
HB ---------------
AA ---------------
COMPETITION Rocky Mountain Open at Nebraska Minnesota at All-Academy Championships at Army at Temple, with Brockport Illinois-Chicago Illinois-Chicago at Arizona State at Oklahoma, with Nebraska USAG Team Finals USAG Event Finals MPSF Championships at NCAA National Qualifier
FX 13.800 12.950 14.600 13.800 14.700 13.500 13.700 14.600 13.700 14.400 14.550 13.600 14.100 13.600
PH -11.450 12.900 -10.300 ---12.850 12.500 13.750 -12.450 12.250
SR ---------------
V ---------------
PB ----13.600 13.700 13.800 13.400 13.800 11.500 ---13.800
HB ----13.400 13.600 ---12.800 -----
AA ---------------
COMPETITION Rocky Mountain Open at Nebraska Minnesota at All-Academy Championships at Army at Temple, with Brockport Illinois-Chicago Illinois-Chicago at Arizona State at Oklahoma, with Nebraska USAG Team Finals USAG Event Finals MPSF Championships at NCAA National Qualifier
FX ---------------
PH 13.500 12.400 13.300 ---13.800 13.200 12.550 ------
SR ---------------
V ---------------
PB 13.900 14.150 14.100 ------------
HB 13.200 14.350 13.900 ------------
AA ---------------
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2013 AIR FORCE GYMNASTICS MEDIA GUIDE
2012 MEET-BY-MEET SCORES
TYLER HUEBNER Sophomore
ALEX JESSOP Junior
DEVIN MENEFEE Senior
TRAVIS MYERS Senior
COMPETITION Rocky Mountain Open at Nebraska Minnesota at All-Academy Championships at Army at Temple, with Brockport Illinois-Chicago Illinois-Chicago at Arizona State at Oklahoma, with Nebraska USAG Team Finals USAG Event Finals MPSF Championships at NCAA National Qualifier
FX ---------------
PH ---------------
SR 14.800 13.350 14.100 13.550 13.100 14.200 14.200 14.300 14.500 13.950 14.900 -14.500 13.400
V ---------------
PB ---------------
HB ---------------
AA ---------------
COMPETITION Rocky Mountain Open at Nebraska Minnesota at All-Academy Championships at Army at Temple, with Brockport Illinois-Chicago Illinois-Chicago at Arizona State at Oklahoma, with Nebraska USAG Team Finals USAG Event Finals MPSF Championships at NCAA National Qualifier
FX ---------------
PH ---13.050 ------13.700 -12.950 12.600
SR ---------------
V ---------------
PB ---------------
HB ---------------
AA ---------------
COMPETITION Rocky Mountain Open at Nebraska Minnesota at All-Academy Championships at Army at Temple, with Brockport Illinois-Chicago Illinois-Chicago at Arizona State at Oklahoma, with Nebraska USAG Team Finals USAG Event Finals MPSF Championships at NCAA National Qualifier
FX ---------------
PH ---------------
SR 15.400 14.600 15.000 14.800 14.000 14.600 15.000 14.600 14.000 13.700 15.100 14.950 14.900 13.600
V 13.800 14.100 13.800 14.100 13.800 14.200 13.300 14.700 14.300 13.750 14.300 13.150 14.050 14.500
PB ---------------
HB ---------------
AA ---------------
COMPETITION Rocky Mountain Open at Nebraska Minnesota at All-Academy Championships at Army at Temple, with Brockport Illinois-Chicago Illinois-Chicago at Arizona State at Oklahoma, with Nebraska USAG Team Finals USAG Event Finals MPSF Championships at NCAA National Qualifier
FX ---------------
PH 12.500 --13.150 12.100 13.100 ---12.400 -----
SR ---------------
V ---------------
PB ---12.050 12.600 ----12.500 -----
HB ---------------
AA ---------------
WWW.GOAIRFORCEFALCONS.COM
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2012 MEET-BY-MEET SCORES
JAMES OKAMOTO Junior
CORBIN PALMER Freshman
JOSH RAMOS Freshman
MAC RITCHIE Sophomore
COMPETITION Rocky Mountain Open at Nebraska Minnesota at All-Academy Championships at Army at Temple, with Brockport Illinois-Chicago Illinois-Chicago at Arizona State at Oklahoma, with Nebraska USAG Team Finals USAG Event Finals MPSF Championships at NCAA National Qualifier at NCAA National Qualifier
FX -12.300 --14.400 13.800 13.500 13.900 13.500 ---14.200 13.150 --
PH 13.600 14.200 13.800 14.600 14.000 14.900 14.400 14.200 14.100 14.050 13.850 13.400 14.100 14.350 14.250
SR ----------------
V 13.800 14.100 -14.050 14.200 14.100 14.100 13.700 13.800 -14.100 -14.000 13.900 --
PB -13.150 --------------
HB -14.100 -14.000 14.000 13.700 13.500 13.600 13.900 -14.150 14.250 13.900 12.100 --
AA ----------------
COMPETITION Rocky Mountain Open at Nebraska Minnesota at All-Academy Championships at Army at Temple, with Brockport Illinois-Chicago Illinois-Chicago at Arizona State at Oklahoma, with Nebraska USAG Team Finals USAG Event Finals MPSF Championships at NCAA National Qualifier
FX --14.200 13.600 14.400 12.900 14.400 13.000 14.200 14.500 14.250 14.150 14.400 14.200
PH 12.200 12.750 13.700 13.100 13.200 13.400 13.200 13.400 13.300 12.950 13.650 -13.200 13.300
SR ---------------
V 13.500 14.300 13.700 14.200 14.400 13.900 14.300 14.200 13.600 14.150 14.000 -14.200 14.200
PB ---13.100 13.900 13.600 13.600 13.500 12.400 13.500 14.100 14.100 14.350 13.600
HB 13.800 14.400 13.500 13.300 13.600 14.200 14.200 13.800 13.400 13.250 14.000 -9.9000 13.300
AA ---------------
COMPETITION Rocky Mountain Open at Nebraska Minnesota at All-Academy Championships at Army at Temple, with Brockport Illinois-Chicago Illinois-Chicago at Arizona State at Oklahoma, with Nebraska USAG Team Finals USAG Event Finals MPSF Championships at NCAA National Qualifier
FX 14.000 14.000 14.600 14.700 14.700 13.800 14.100 14.300 14.400 14.150 13.700 -12.850 14.350
PH ---------------
SR 13.600 --------------
V ----14.100 13.900 ---13.550 13.800 --14.050
PB 14.100 14.000 14.200 13.350 14.900 15.000 14.100 14.200 14.300 13.400 14.500 14.150 13.550 14.300
HB 13.900 13.400 13.500 12.500 13.100 13.200 14.300 14.000 13.400 12.850 14.050 -13.800 13.800
AA ---------------
COMPETITION Rocky Mountain Open at Nebraska Minnesota at All-Academy Championships at Army at Temple, with Brockport Illinois-Chicago Illinois-Chicago at Arizona State at Oklahoma, with Nebraska USAG Team Finals USAG Event Finals MPSF Championships at NCAA National Qualifier
FX 12.100 12.200 14.300 13.250 -11.900 ---------
PH ---------------
SR 14.200 13.200 13.800 12.950 13.900 13.500 13.900 14.000 12.800 12.900 13.850 -13.600 12.900
V ---------------
PB 13.900 13.150 13.600 10.700 13.800 12.500 13.600 12.600 13.400 -13.400 -13.650 --
HB 13.600 13.950 14.400 13.200 12.500 14.200 14.500 14.000 12.000 12.600 14.650 14.900 14.150 14.000
AA ---------------
36
2013 AIR FORCE GYMNASTICS MEDIA GUIDE
2012 MEET-BY-MEET SCORES
NIKO SCHWAB Freshman
JON SPIRO Freshman
J. TOMASZEWSKI Senior
BEN ZAISER Sophomore
COMPETITION Rocky Mountain Open at Nebraska Minnesota at All-Academy Championships at Army at Temple, with Brockpor Illinois-Chicago Illinois-Chicago at Arizona State at Oklahoma, with Nebraska USAG Team Finals USAG Event Finals MPSF Championships at NCAA National Qualifier
FX ---------------
PH ---------------
SR ---------------
V ---------------
PB ---------------
HB ---------------
AA ---------------
COMPETITION Rocky Mountain Open at Nebraska Minnesota at All-Academy Championships at Army at Temple, with Brockport Illinois-Chicago Illinois-Chicago at Arizona State at Oklahoma, with Nebraska USAG Team Finals USAG Event Finals MPSF Championships at NCAA National Qualifier
FX ---------------
PH ----12.300 12.400 13.200 12.500 -------
SR -11.850 14.000 13.750 13.200 14.100 14.300 14.200 13.700 13.750 -----
V ---------------
PB ---------------
HB ---------------
AA ---------------
COMPETITION Rocky Mountain Open at Nebraska Minnesota at All-Academy Championships at Army at Temple, with Brockport Illinois-Chicago Illinois-Chicago at Arizona State at Oklahoma, with Nebraska USAG Team Finals USAG Event Finals MPSF Championships at NCAA National Qualifier
FX ---------------
PH ---------------
SR ---------------
V ---------------
PB ---------------
HB ---------------
AA ---------------
COMPETITION Rocky Mountain Open at Nebraska Minnesota at All-Academy Championships at Army at Temple, with Brockport Illinois-Chicago Illinois-Chicago at Arizona State at Oklahoma, with Nebraska USAG Team Finals USAG Event Finals MPSF Championships at NCAA National Qualifier
FX 12.300 13.200 14.200 13.650 13.500 -----13.450 -13.200 --
PH ---------------
SR 14.400 13.700 14.400 14.100 14.000 13.400 14.600 14.000 13.400 13.400 14.350 -13.700 12.900
V 14.100 14.750 14.300 14.200 13.200 14.400 14.400 14.300 14.500 14.250 14.350 14.600 14.600 13.650
PB ---------------
HB ---------------
AA ---------------
WWW.GOAIRFORCEFALCONS.COM
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2012 MEET-BY-MEET SCORES
AIR FORCE
COMPETITION Rocky Mountain Open at Nebraska Minnesota at All-Academy Championships at Army at Temple, with Brockport Illinois-Chicago Illinois-Chicago at Arizona State at Oklahoma, with Nebraska USAG Team Finals MPSF Championships at NCAA National Qualifier
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FX 54.100 53.750 57.500 55.750 58.200 54.000 56.300 56.200 56.800 56.550 56.650 55.900 56.350
PH 52.900 52.450 53.900 54.700 52.400 55.600 55.900 54.700 54.700 53.000 55.300 54.750 56.100
SR 59.200 55.250 57.700 56.200 56.200 56.900 58.700 57.600 56.300 55.950 59.450 57.400 53.150
V 56.000 57.550 56.100 56.550 56.500 56.600 56.900 57.400 56.900 56.450 57.000 56.850 57.350
PB 56.600 55.650 56.400 50.550 56.600 56.000 55.200 55.400 55.700 53.000 55.700 55.850 56.400
HB 54.500 57.100 55.900 54.050 54.100 55.700 55.900 56.000 55.200 53.000 56.950 55.200 54.400
TOTAL 333.300 331.750 337.700 327.800 334.000 334.800 338.900 337.300 335.600 327.950 341.050 335.950 333.750
2013 AIR FORCE GYMNASTICS MEDIA GUIDE
PROGRAM HISTORY
USAG NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
2010: Tory Brown, Garrett Canter, Jacob Houder, Alex Jessop, Dan Klimkowski, Derek Kvedar, Travis Langham, Kyle Mefford, Devin Menefee, Nash Mills, Travis Myers, Chase Nobles, James Okamoto, Nick Owen, Matthew Thorne, Joel Uptmor, Thomas Wilkinson, Brennan Wolford, Aaron Zaiser. Head Coach: Kip Simons. Assistant Coaches: Brett McClure, Lt Col Chuck Schweiss.
2011: Kyle Baker, Tory Brown, Patrick Duffy, Jacob Houder, Tyler Huebner, Alex Jessop, Dan Klimkowski, Derek Kvedar, Devin Menefee, Nash Mills, Travis Myers, James Okamoto, Nick Owen, Mac Ritchie, Matt Thorne, Colton Wulf, Aaron Zaiser, Ben Zaiser. Head Coach: Kip Simons. Assistant Coaches: Jeff Robinson, Chuck Schweiss.
2012: Skyler Awisus, Kyle Baker, Tory Brown, Gared Chapman, Greg Chaput, Patrick Duffy, Nick Gaudlip, Jacob Houder, Tyler Huebner, Alex Jessop, Devin Menefee, Travis Myers, James Okamoto, Corbin Palmer, Josh Ramos, Mac Ritchie, Niko Schwab, Jon Spiro, Jared Tomaszewski, Ben Zaiser. Head Coach: Kip Simons. Assistant Coaches: Jeff Robinson, Chuck Schweiss.
40
2013 AIR FORCE GYMNASTICS MEDIA GUIDE
USAG NATIONAL CHAMPIONS USAG CHAMPIONS JERRY MICHAEL CLINE All-Around ............................................... 1994 BRIAN RIZZOLI Floor Exercise .......................................... 1994 ERIN MONTAGUE High Bar ................................................... 1999 JAVIN PETERSON Still Rings ................................................. 2000 LEVI TORKELSON Parallel Bars ................................... 1999, 2000
TORY BROWN
JERRY MICHAEL CLINE
AARON JACKSON
DEVIN MENEFEE
NASH MILLS
ERIN MONTAGUE
JAMES OKAMOTO
JAVIN PETERSON
JOSH RAMOS
MAC RITCHIE
BRIAN RIZZOLI
JAKE SCHONIG
GREG STINE
LEVI TORKELSON
BEN ZAISER
AARON JACKSON Vault ........................................................ 2003 GREG STINE All-Around ........................... 2004, 2007, 2008 Pommel Horse ......................................... 2004 Floor Exercise .......................................... 2007 Still Rings ................................................. 2007 Parallel Bars ............................................. 2008 JAKE SCHONIG Still Rings ....................................... 2008, 2009 DEVIN MENEFEE Vault ........................................................ 2010 NASH MILLS All-Around ............................................... 2010 Still Rings ................................................. 2011 Parallel Bars ................................... 2010, 2011 TORY BROWN Vault ........................................................ 2011 JAMES OKAMOTO Pommel Horse ......................................... 2011 JOSH RAMOS Parallel Bars ............................................. 2012 MAC RITCHIE High Bar ................................................... 2012 BEN ZAISER Vault ........................................................ 2012 Returning USAG champions in blue.
USAG TOP SENIOR Jerry Michael Cline .................................. 1994 Aaron Jackson.......................................... 2003 Kurt Antonio ............................................ 2007 Greg Stine ................................................ 2008 Jake Schonig ............................................ 2009 Nash Mills ................................................ 2011
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USAG ALL-AMERICANS 1994 Jerry Michael Cline .............................. All-Around, Pommel Horse, Rings, Parallel Bars Brian Rizzoli ..............................................................................................Floor Exercise Troy Belin ...............................................................................................................Vault Jim Miller ...........................................................................................................High Bar 1995 Brian Rizzoli ..............................................................................................Floor Exercise David Cobb ........................................................................................................High Bar Beau Neal ...................................................................................... All-Around, High Bar Ben Smith ......................................................................................................All-Around Chad Silva ..........................................................................................................High Bar 1996 Brian Rizzoli ..............................................................................................Floor Exercise 1997 Ben Smith ..............................................................................All-Around, Floor Exercise Geoff Jensen .............................................................................................Floor Exercise Casey Guerrero........................................................................................Pommel Horse Erin Montague ...................................................................................................High Bar 1998 Andrew Fisher .....................................................................................All-Around, Vault Peter Lueck ..............................................................................................Pommel Horse Ryan Mahoney ........................................................................................... Parallel Bars Erin Montague...................................................................................................High Bar Javin Peterson .................................................................................................Still Rings Levi Torkelson..........................................................................................Pommel Horse 1999 Andrew Fisher ...............................................................................................All-Around Levi Torkelson.................................................. All-Around, Floor Exercise, Parallel Bars Jeff Anderson ..........................................................................................Pommel Horse Javin Peterson .................................................................................................Still Rings Jason Smith .....................................................................................................Still Rings Mikel Daniel ...........................................................................................................Vault Erin Montague...................................................................................................High Bar 2000 Jeff Andersen..................................................................... All-Around, Still Rings, Vault James Hayes ............................................................................................... Parallel Bars Javin Peterson .................................................................................................Still Rings Levi Torkelson........................ All-Around, Floor Exercise, Pommel Horse, Parallel Bars 2001 Levi Torkelson....................................................................................................High Bar Scott Lewis ................................................................................................. Parallel Bars Andrew Fisher ........................................................................................................Vault Justin Jones ..............................................................................................Floor Exercise Aaron Jackson...........................................................................................Floor Exercise Matt Kenkel ............................................................................... Still Rings, Parallel Bars Stephen Sistare ...............................................................................................Still Rings
2005 Kent Reichle............................................................................................................Vault Ryan Stromstad ........................................................................................Floor Exercise 2007 Kurt Antonio ..................................................................................................All-Around Brian Boardman .....................................................................................................Vault Jake Schonig ....................................................................................................Still Rings Tyler Sickles .......................................................................................................High Bar Greg Stine ................... All-Around, Floor Exercise, Pommel Horse, Still Rings, High Bar Brennan Wolford ...................................................................All-Around, Floor Exercise 2008 Jake Schonig ....................................................................................................Still Rings Tyler Sickles .......................................................................................................High Bar Greg Stine ....................... All-Around, Floor Exercise, Still Rings, Parallel Bars, High Bar Brennan Wolford ...........................................................................................All-Around 2009 Jacob Houder........................................................................... Pommel Horse, High Bar Josiah Loeser ...................................................................................................Still Rings Devin Menefee .......................................................................................................Vault Jake Schonig ....................................................................................................Still Rings Joel Uptmor ..............................................................................................Floor Exercise 2010 Garrett Canter ...................................................................................................High Bar Dan Klimkowski ...............................................................................................Still Rings Devin Menefee .......................................................................................................Vault Nash Mills ..................................... All-Around, Still Rings, Vault, Parallel Bars, High Bar Chase Nobles ...........................................................................................Pommel Horse James Okamoto .......................................................................................Pommel Horse 2011 Tory Brown ..................................................................... Floor Exercise, Vault, High Bar Nash Mills .................................................................................. Still Rings, Parallel Bars James Okamoto .......................................................................................Pommel Horse Matt Thorne ............................................................................................... Parallel Bars Colton Wulf ........................................................... Floor Exercise, High Bar, All-Around Ben Zaiser ...............................................................................................................Vault 2012 Gared Chapman...............................................................................................Still Rings Greg Chaput ............................................................................................Pommel Horse Nick Gaudlip .............................................................................................Floor Exercise Devin Menefee ................................................................................................Still Rings James Okamoto ....................................................................... Pommel Horse, High Bar Corbin Palmer..................................................................... Floor Exercise, Parallel Bars Josh Ramos ................................................................................................. Parallel Bars Mac Ritchie ........................................................................................................High Bar Ben Zaiser ...............................................................................................................Vault
2002 Aaron Jackson................................. All Around, Floor Exercise, Still Rings, Parallel Bars Matthew Kenkel ......................................................................................... Parallel Bars Stephen Sistare ...............................................................................................Still Rings 2003 Jeff Andersen................................................All-Around, Still Rings, Vault, Parallel Bars Aaron Jackson.......................All-Around, Floor Exercise, Still Rings, Vault, Parallel Bars 2004 Jeff Andersen.......................................... All-Around, Still Rings, Parallel Bars, High Bar Kent Reichle..............................................................................................Floor Exercise Greg Stine ......... All-Around, Floor Exercise, Pommel Horse, Still Rings, Vault, High Bar
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2013 AIR FORCE GYMNASTICS MEDIA GUIDE
HONORS & AWARDS NCAA ALL-AMERICANS
MOST VALUABLE GYMNAST
TEAM CAPTAINS
1962....................................... Jim Weaver | Trampoline 1964......................................Doug Reynolds | Tumbling 1966....................................Terry Higgins | Parallel Bars 1972....................................... Bill Ritter | Floor Exercise 1973................................................John Tomich | Vault 1992.............................................Joel Miller | Still Rings 1993........................................Tim Hess | Floor Exercise 2008......................... Greg Stine | All-Around, Still Rings
1965........................................................... Terry Higgins 1966........................................................... Terry Higgins 1967......................................................... Lawrence Thal 1968.............................................................Pat O’Grady 1969........................................................Chuck Kennedy 1970.............................................................. Rick Solana 1971............................................... Anthony Nardecchia 1972................................................................. Bill Ritter 1973................................................................Steve Hoit 1974............................................................John Tomich 1975........................................................ Bruce Edstrom 1976.......................................................... Kirk Stephens 1977...............................................................Mark Fulks 1978...............................................................Mark Fulks 1979............................................................Mike Otomo 1980............................................................... Don Knauf 1981.......................................................... Bob Hamilton 1982..................................................Preston Thompson 1983........................................................Tom Eannarino 1984.........................................................Robert Mondy 1985.......................................................... Keith Morgan 1986...................................................... Steve Gustafson 1987............................................................Frank Shines 1988................................................... Marcus Kaneshiro 1989............................................................. Sven Brown 1990........................................................ Scott Hamilton 1991................................................................Joel Miller 1992................................................................Joel Miller 1993......................................................... Ryan Marshall 1994..................................................Jerry Michael Cline 1995................................................................Beau Neal 1996.............................................................Brian Rizzoli 1997................................................................Ben Smith 1998............................................................. Peter Lueck 1999........................................................ Erin Montague 2000.......................................................... Jeff Andersen 2001......................................................... Aaron Jackson 2002......................................................... Aaron Jackson 2003......................................................... Aaron Jackson 2004.......................................................... Jeff Andersen 2005.......................................................Ryan Stromstad 2006............................................................ Brian Moore 2007...................................................... Brian Boardman 2008............................................................... Greg Stine 2009.......................................................... Jacob Houder 2010................................................................Nash Mills 2011................................................................Nash Mills 2012......................................................... Corbin Palmer
1956................................................... Henry Canterbury 1957................................................... Henry Canterbury 1958........................................................... Clark Lovrien 1959.......................................................... Thomas Stack 1960................................................................Mike Love 1961......................................................... Paul O’Conner 1962................................................ Randy Schamberger 1963..................................... Lloyd Harmon, Jim Weaver 1964............................................................Robert Jobin 1965............................................................ William Cole 1966........................................................... Terry Higgins 1967....................................................Rick Weizenegger 1968.............................................................Pat O’Grady 1969........................................................Chuck Kennedy 1970........................................................Chuck Kennedy 1971......................................................Nino Nardecchia 1972.................................................. Breck Cunningham 1973.................................................. Breck Cunningham 1974....................................................... Phil Nardecchia 1975........................................................ Bruce Edstrom 1976.............................................................Micky Duval 1977.......................................................... Kirk Stephens 1978...............................................................Mark Fulks 1979............................................................Mike Otomo 1980............................................................... Don Knauf 1981.......................................................... Mike Spencer 1982....................................................... Chuck Schweiss 1983........................................................Tom Eannarino 1984........................................................Tom Eannarino 1985.......................................................... Keith Morgan 1986...................................................... Steve Gustafson 1987............................................................Frank Shines 1988................................................... Marcus Kaneshiro 1989.............................................................. Chris Mauk 1990.............................................................Ken Kemper 1991.........................................Erik Bowman, Joel Miller 1992................................................................Joel Miller 1993.................................... Brian Copes, Ryan Marshall 1994............................... Jerry Michael Cline, Jim Miller 1995................................................................ Troy Belin 1996.......................................... Brian Rizzoli, Ben Smith 1997............................................................. Mark Wolfe 1998................................................................Greg Meis 1999............................................................. Jason Smith 2000........................................................Nathan Drewry 2001.........................................................Andrew Fisher 2002...................................... James Hayes, Matt Kenkel 2003......................................................... Aaron Jackson 2004.......................................Jeff Andersen, Mike Berry 2005...................................... Kent Reichle, Brian Moore 2006............................................................ Brian Moore 2007................................Kurt Antonio, Brian Boardman 2008..............................Brian Boardman, Kevin Murphy 2009.....................................Josiah Loeser, Jake Schonig 2010........................... Garrett Canter, Brennan Wolford 2011................................................................Nash Mills 2012........................................................Devin Menefee 2013..................................Tory Brown, James Okamoto
WINTER CUP SELECTIONS Joel Miller ............................................................... 1992 Jeff Andersen.......................................................... 2004 Greg Stine ............................................................... 2007 Tory Brown ......................................... 2010, 2011, 2012 Nash Mills ........................................... 2010, 2011, 2012 Joel Uptmor ............................................................ 2010 James Okamoto ...................................................... 2011
COACHING AWARDS CGA NATIONAL HEAD COACH OF THE YEAR Kip Simons .....................................2010, 2011, 2012 NCAA REGIONAL HEAD COACH OF THE YEAR Carl Townsend ................................. 1978 (Midwest) Lou Burkel.............................. 1989, 1992 (Midwest) Lou Burkel.............................................. 2005 (West) Kip Simons ................................... 2008, 2010 (West) NCAA REGIONAL ASSISTANT COACH OF THE YEAR Brett McClure ........................................ 2010 (West) CGA ASSISTANT COACH OF THE YEAR Ivan Merritt .......................................................1998 USAG HEAD COACH OF THE YEAR Kip Simons .....................................2008, 2010, 2012 USAG ASSISTANT COACH OF THE YEAR Brett McClure ....................................................2010 Chuck Schweiss..............................2010, 2011, 2012 Jeff Robinson ...........................................2011, 2012 WAC COACH OF THE YEAR Lou Burkel................................................1988, 1990 MPSF COACH OF THE YEAR Kip Simons .........................................................2006 CGA HONOR COACH AWARD Lou Burkel..........................................................2006 Capt Levi Torkelson ...........................................2010
TOP-SIX AWARDS 1966 ........................ Terry Higgins, Most Valuable Male 1986 ......................................Tim Mills, Scholar-Athlete 1991 ............................... Erik Bowman, Scholar-Athlete 1992 .......................... Joel Miller, Athletic Achievement 2003 ........................ Aaron Jackson, Athletic Excellence
CGA HONORARY LIFETIME AWARD Karl Schwenzfeier ................................................ n/a Lou Burkel..........................................................2008
NISSEN EMERY FINALISTS
CGA SPECIAL SERVICE AWARD Karl Schwenzfeier ....................................1973, 1977 Larry Fariss ........................................................2001 Lou Burkel......................................1989, 1990, 2005 Chuck Schweiss..................................................2012
1966........................................................... Terry Higgins 1992................................................................Joel Miller 2003......................................................... Aaron Jackson 2004.......................................................... Jeff Andersen 2009............................................................Jake Schonig
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HONORS & AWARDS NATIONAL ACADEMIC HONORS CoSIDA ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICAN Joel Miller ................................................................1992 NCAA POSTGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP Steve Hoit ................................................................1973 Ken Kemper .............................................................1990 Joel Miller ................................................................1992 NACDA SCHOLAR-ATHLETE AWARD Erik Bowman ...........................................................1991 CGA ALL-ACADEMIC TEAM Ken Kemper .............................................................1990 Erik Bowman .................................................1990, 1991 Joel Miller ............................................1990, 1991, 1992 Joel Jenne’ .....................................................1993, 1995 Brian Rizzoli .............................................................1994 Chad Silva ..................................1994, 1995, 1996, 1997 Geoff Jensen ..............................1995, 1996, 1997, 1998 Greg Meis ................................................................1995 Matt Jensen ...................................................1997, 1998 James Hayes III ....................................1999, 2000, 2001 Justin Jones .............................................................2000 Scott Lewis ..........................................2000, 2001, 2002 Aaron Jackson................................................2002, 2003 Patrick McAndrew .........................................2002, 2003 Noah Rich ................................................................2003 Brian Boardman ..................................2006, 2007, 2008 Jake Schonig ........................................2007, 2008, 2009 Brennan Wolford ...........................................2007, 2010 Aaron Zaiser ..................................................2008, 2011 Jacob Houder.......................................2009, 2011, 2012 Thomas Wilkinson ...................................................2010 James Okamoto .............................................2010, 2012 Patrick Duffy ..................................................2011, 2012 Derek Kvedar ...........................................................2011 Travis Myers ..................................................2011, 2012 Josh Ramos ..............................................................2012
Chris Mauk, 1988 WAC Gymnast of the Year
WESTERN ATHLETIC CONF.
MOUNTAIN PACIFIC SPORTS FED.
GYMNAST OF THE YEAR Chris Mauk ..............................................................1988 Ken Kemper .............................................................1990
ALL-ACADEMIC TEAM James Hayes ............................................................2002 Bill Hermann ............................................................2002 Aaron Jackson................................................2002, 2003 Justin Jones .............................................................2002 Scott Lewis ..............................................................2002 Matthew Joseph ......................................................2003 Patrick McAndrew .........................................2003, 2004 Kent Reichle.........................................2003, 2004, 2005 Matthew Joseph ......................................................2004 Noah Rich ................................................................2004 Brian Boardman ..................................2006, 2007, 2008 Jake Schonig ........................................2007, 2008, 2009 Brennan Wolford .................................2008, 2009, 2010 Aaron Zaiser ........................................2009, 2010, 2011 Jacob Houder.................................................2011, 2012 Travis Myers ..................................................2011, 2012 James Okamoto .......................................................2011 Patrick Duffy ............................................................2012 James Okamoto .......................................................2012
CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS Paul Comeau, Pommel Horse ..................................1989 Scott Hamilton, Vault .............................................1990 Jerry Michael Cline, Floor Exercise ..........................1991 Joel Miller, Still Rings .....................................1990, 1991 ALL- CONFERENCE TEAM Jerry Michael Cline All-Around ............................................................1991 Floor Exercise .......................................................1991 Joel Miller Still Rings ....................................................1991, 1992 Jim Miller All-Around ............................................................1992 WAC SCHOLARSHIP AWARD Erik Bowman .................................................1990, 1991 ALL-ACADEMIC TEAM Erik Bowman ...........................................................1991 Joel Miller ................................................................1991 Brian Stuart .............................................................1991 SCHOLAR-ATHLETES Chris Mauk ..........................................1987, 1988, 1989 Ken Kemper .........................................1987, 1989, 1990 Erik Bowman .............................1988, 1989, 1990, 1991 Brent Johnson................................................1987, 1988 Joel Miller ..................................1989, 1990, 1991, 1992 Brian Stuart .............................................................1990 Jerry Michael Cline ....................1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 Joel Jenne’ .................................1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 Brock Devos .........................................1993, 1994, 1995 Jacque Joffrion ....................................1993, 1994, 1995 Brian Rizzoli ...............................1993, 1994, 1995, 1996 Ron Marciniak .........................................................1994 Chad Silva ..................................1994, 1995, 1996, 1997 Mark Wolfe ...................................................1996, 1997 Greg Meis ......................................................1995, 1996 Mark Emiley.........................................1995, 1996, 1997 Geoff Jensen ........................................1995, 1996, 1997 Matt Jensen .........................................1995, 1996, 1997
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GYMNAST OF THE WEEK Greg Stine ...............................................2007 (2x), 2008 Nash Mills ..............................2009, 2010 (2x), 2011 (2x) Jake Schonig ............................................................2009 Colton Wulf .............................................................2011 James Okamoto ................................................2012 (2x) Mac Ritchie ..............................................................2012 ALL-ANNIVERSARY TEAM * Jeff Andersen..................... competed 1999-00, 2003-04 * The MPSF, which celebrated its 15th year of competition in 2007-08, chose the all-anniversary team based on a vote by the head coaches from the league schools.
MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE SCHOLAR-ATHLETES James Hayes ..................................................2001, 2002 Aaron Jackson..........................................................2003 Patrick McAndrew ...............................2002, 2003, 2004 Brian Boardman ............................................2007, 2008 Jacob Houder.......................................2009, 2011, 2012 Thomas Wilkinson ...................................................2010 Travis Myers ..................................................2011, 2012
2013 AIR FORCE GYMNASTICS MEDIA GUIDE
ALL-TIME LETTERWINNERS AAA
EEE
KKK
NNN
ABEYTA, Derek.....................................88 ABSHIRE, Thomas ................................74 ALDRICH, Richard .......................... 80, 81 ALEXANDER, Dana ......................... 69, 70 ANDERSEN, Jeff ................. 99, 00, 03, 04 ANTONIO, Kurt .................. 04, 05, 06, 07 ANNANIE, Douglas...............................88 AWISUS, Skyler..................................12
EANNARINO, Tom.............. 81, 82, 83, 84 EASTMAN, William ..............................08 EATON, Brian ........................... 69, 70, 71 EDSTROM, Bruce ........................... 74, 75 EDWARDS, John...................................63 EGLINTON, Gary ............................ 65, 66
NARDECCHIA, Anthony............ 69, 70, 71 NARDECCHIA, Philip .......... 71, 72, 73, 74 NEAL, Latimer .................... 93, 94, 95, 96 NEFF, Ted.............................................62 NEVIN, Michael........................ 76, 77, 78 NEWHOUSE, John II .............................63 NICKERSON, Eric ..................................70 NOBLES, Chase .............................. 09, 10
FISHER, Andrew ................. 98, 99, 00, 01 FISTER, Bruce ................................. 63, 64 FLICKINGER, James .................. 77, 78, 79 FLOOD, William ............................. 63, 64 FRETZS, Robert .............................. 69, 70 FRUSHOUR, George ................. 65, 66, 67 FULKS, Mark ...................... 75, 76, 77, 78
KANESHIRO, Marcus ................ 86, 87, 88 KEMPER, Kenneth.............. 86, 87, 88, 90 KENKEL, Matthew.............. 99, 00, 01, 02 KENNEDY, Charles .................. 68, 69, 70 KING, Gerald .................................. 63, 64 KIRK, Charles ................................. 77, 78 KLIMKOWSKI, Dan ............. 08, 09, 10, 11 KNAUF, Donald .................. 77, 78, 79, 80 KNOPKE, Carl Jr........................ 66, 67, 68 KOPF, Christopher ................... 64, 65, 66 KOS, Ronald ................................... 61, 62 KOZMA, William ..................................65 KRAYE, Howard........................ 60, 62, 63 KRESS, John ................................... 85, 86 KVEDAR, Derek .............................. 09, 11
GGG
LLL
GARBODEN, Andrew ..................... 85, 86 GARRETT, James ................ 71, 72, 73, 74 GAUDLIP, Nick ...................................12 GIBBONS, William.......................... 60, 61 GILMORE, Samuel.............. 75, 76, 77, 78 GLANDON, Nathan ..............................05 GOGGINS, Edward ...............................80 GOODMAN, Patrick ....................... 75, 76 GREGORY, Scott............................. 82, 83 GUERRERO, Casey ............. 96, 97, 98, 99 GUSTAFSON, Stephen ....... 83, 84, 85, 86
LANGHAM, Travis ................................10 LAWLESS, Michael ......................... 82, 83 LEONARD, Michael ........................ 66, 67 LEWIS, Arthur .......................... 58, 59, 60 LEWIS, Scott ............................ 00, 01, 02 LOBUE, Paul .........................................86 LOESER, Joshua.............................. 05, 06 LOESER, Josiah ................... 06, 07, 08, 09 LOVE, Michael ......................... 58, 59, 60 LOVRIEN, Clark ........................ 57, 58, 59 LOWE, Gregory ....................... 68, 69, 70 LUSHBAUGH, Robert ..................... 67, 68
BBB BAKER, Gary.........................................63 BAKER, Kyle .........................................11 BELIN, Troy ........................ 92, 93, 94, 95 BELL, Richard ..................... 83, 84, 85, 86 BENTON, Julian .............................. 03, 04 BERRY, Edwin................................. 05, 06 BERRY, Michael.................. 01, 02, 03, 04 BLACK, Jon ...........................................57 BOARDMAN, Brian ............ 05, 06, 07, 08 BONECK, James ...................................83 BOWEN, Thomas ................................57 BOWMAN, Erik .................. 88, 89, 90, 91 BRADSHAW, James ..............................58 BREWER, George II .................. 80, 81, 82 BREWER, Gregory .............. 76, 77, 78, 79 BROOKS, Charlie ...................... 85, 86, 87 BROWN, Sven .......................... 87, 88, 89 BROWN, Tory ........................ 10, 11, 12 BURLINGAME, Barry ...................... 66, 67 BURNS, Scott .......................................02 BUTLER, George....................... 59, 60, 61 BUTLER, Michael ........................... 66, 67
CCC CANTER, Garrett ................ 07, 08, 09, 10 CANTERBURY, Henry ............... 57, 58, 59 CASTLE, Leroy ......................................57 CHAPMAN, Gared ..............................12 CHAPUT, Greg ...................................12 CHASE, Joseph ............................... 70, 71 CHESTNUT, William .............................81 CLAUSON, Vaughn ................... 69, 70, 71 CLINE, Jerry Michael .......... 91, 92, 93, 94 CLINE, Paul .................................... 93, 94 CLOSE, Gary ................................... 64, 65 COBB, David....................... 92, 93, 94, 95 COLE, William .......................... 63, 64, 65 COMEAU, Paul ................... 87, 88, 89, 90 COPES, R. Brian........................ 91, 92, 93 CORBETT, Jason ....................... 97, 98, 99 CUNNINGHAM, Breck .............. 71, 72, 73
FFF
HHH HALL, Robert.................................. 62, 63 HAMILTON, Robert .................. 79, 80, 81 HAMILTON, Scott............... 87, 88, 89, 90 HAMMOND, Terry ...............................67 HARDEE, Patrick ...................... 62, 63, 64 HARMON, Lloyd....................... 61, 62, 63 HAYES, James III ................ 99, 00, 01, 02 HENDRICKS, John.................................60 HERMANN, Bill .................. 00, 01, 02, 03 HESS, Timothy ................... 90, 91, 92, 93 HIGGINS, Terry ........................ 64, 65, 66 HOIT, Stephen ................... 70, 71, 72, 73 HOLLOWAY, Josh .................................03 HOUDER, Jacob........................ 09, 11, 12 HOUSE, Thomas....................... 57, 58, 59 HOWELL, John ............................... 58, 59 HUEBNER, Tyler ........................... 11, 12 HULL, Merton ......................................61 HUNT, Thomas .................. 76, 77, 78, 79 HYATT, Mark............................ 72, 73, 74
III DDD DALEY, Jerome.....................................63 DANIEL, Mikel .................... 98, 99, 00, 01 DEANS, Chris.................................. 06, 07 DEVOS, Brock..................... 92, 93, 94, 95 DOUGLAS, David ................ 90, 91, 92, 93 DOYLE, Steven ......................... 02, 03, 05 DOZIER, Norman ........................... 89, 90 DREWRY, Nathan ............... 96, 97, 99, 00 DRUECKE, Kipp .............................. 08, 09 DUDLEY, Garry ......................... 66, 67, 68 DUFFY, Patrick ............................. 11, 12 DUNN, Roger ................................. 63, 64 DUVALL, Michael ........................... 75, 76
ILLINGSWORTH, Robert .......................67
JJJ JACKSON, Aaron ................ 00, 01, 02, 03 JENNE, Joel .............................. 93, 94, 95 JENSEN, Geoffrey .............. 95, 96, 97, 98 JENSEN, Matthew .......................... 97, 98 JESSOP, Alex .......................... 10, 11, 12 JOBIN, Robert .......................... 62, 63, 64 JOFFRION, Jacque .................... 94, 95, 96 JOHANSEN, Albert ...............................60 JOHNSON, Brent ............................ 87, 88 JOLLY, Lawrence ...................... 57, 58, 59 JONES, Justin ........................... 00, 01, 02 JOSEPH, Matthew .......................... 03, 04
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MMM McANDREW, Patrick ................ 02, 03, 04 McCLURE, Kurtis ............................ 85, 86 McLEAN, Daniel ...................................66 McKINNEY, Craig ........................... 64, 65 McNAUGHTON, Mark ..........................04 MACPHERSON, John ...................... 66, 67 MAHONEY, Ryan............................ 97, 98 MAJOR, Michael ..................................93 MARKSTEINER, Joseph .................. 74, 75 MARSHALL, Parker ............ 97, 98, 99, 00 MARSHALL, Ryan ............... 89, 90, 92, 93 MARTIN, Michael........................... 65, 66 MASON, Richard ............................ 57, 58 MAUK, Christopher ................. 87, 88, 89 MEIS, Gregory.................... 95, 96, 97, 98 MENEFEE, Devin ................ 09, 10, 11, 12 MILLER, James ................... 91, 92, 93, 94 MILLER, Joel....................... 89, 90, 91, 92 MILLER, Roy ................................... 65, 66 MILLS, Michael .................. 77, 78, 79, 80 MILLS, Nash ....................... 08, 09, 10, 11 MILLS, Timothy ........................ 84, 85, 86 MONDY, Robert ................. 81, 82, 83, 84 MONTGOMERY, Paul ............... 79, 80, 81 MONTAGUE, Erin............... 96, 97, 98, 99 MOORE, Brian.................... 03, 04, 05, 06 MORGAN, Keith ................. 82, 83, 84, 85 MURPHY, Kevin ................. 05, 06, 07, 08 MYERS, Travis ................................ 11, 12
OOO OAKESHOTT, Glenn ................. 68, 69, 70 O’CONNELL, William ...................... 74, 75 O’CONNOR, Paul ..................... 59, 60, 61 O’GRADY, James ...................... 66, 67, 68 O’ROURKE, James ................................60 OKAMOTO, James ................. 10, 11, 12 OTOMO, Michael............... 76, 77, 78, 79 OWEN, Nicholas ................................11
PPP PACKER, Frank ............................... 63, 64 PALMER, Corbin ................................12 PAQUETTE, James.............. 71, 72, 73, 74 PAYAUYS, Ryan ....................................88 PEELE, Eric ......................... 03, 04, 05, 06 PETERSON, Javin ...................... 98, 99, 00 PFAU, William .......................... 79, 80, 81 PLAISTED, Glen .................. 78, 79, 80, 81 PODRASKY, David ................................91 PORTER, Christopher ..................... 71, 72 PRENDERGAST, Brian .............. 68, 69, 70 PROPOGGIO, Ron .............. 81, 82, 83, 84
QQQ QUANBECK, Gordon ............................71
RRR RABINS, John ................................. 72, 73 RAMOS, Josh .....................................12 RAUSCH, John ................................ 61, 62 REAVES, Irving ............................... 81, 82 REICHLE, Kent .................... 02, 03, 04, 05 REYNOLDS, Douglas .............................64 RICH, Noah .................................... 03, 04 RIGHTMER, Charles ....................... 82, 83 RITCHHART, Kenneth...........................72 RITCHIE, Mac ............................... 11, 12 RITTER, William ................. 70, 71, 72, 73 RIZZOLI, Brian .................... 93, 94, 95, 96 ROBERTS, Jon ......................................06 ROBERTSON, Dennis ............................67 ROSTAGNO, Anthony .............. 90, 91, 92 RUND, Berton .......................... 75, 76, 77
SSS SANDERS, Robert Scott........................78 SCHAMBERGER, John ..........................76 SCHAMBERGER, Randall .......... 60, 61, 62 SCHEMENAUR, Roger .............. 57, 58, 59 SCHONIG, Jacob................. 06, 07, 08, 09 SCHWEISS, Charles ............ 79, 80, 81, 82 SHAFER, Jonathan ................... 57, 58, 59 SHEPARD, Richard ...............................58 SHINES, Franklin ................ 84, 85, 86, 87 SICKLES, Tyler .................... 05, 06, 07, 08 SILVA, Chad ....................... 94, 95, 96, 97 SISTARE, Stephen .................... 00, 01, 02
45
ALL-TIME LETTERWINNERS SSS
TTT
SMITH, Benjamin ............... 94, 95, 96, 97 SMITH Jason ...................... 96, 97, 98, 99 SMITH, Karl .............................. 66, 67, 68 SMITH, Kenneth ...................... 57, 58, 59 SMULL, Richard ............................. 61, 62 SOGARD, Jeffrey ...................... 69, 70, 71 SOLANA, Richard .................................70 SPENCER, Michael ................... 79, 80, 81 SPIRO, Jon .........................................12 SQUIER, Craig ......................................68 ST. CYR, Christopher ............................82 STACK, Thomas ........................ 57, 58, 59 STEELE, William ....................... 90, 91, 92 STINE, Greg ........................ 03, 04, 07, 08 STEPHENS, Dallas............... 74, 75, 76, 77 STROMSTAD, Ryan ........................ 04, 05 STUART, Brian.................... 90, 91, 92, 93 STYLES, James ......................................75 SULLIVAN, Paul ....................................60
TAYLOR, Randy .................. 77, 78, 79, 80 TERRELL, Andrew.................................06 THAL, Lawrence ....................... 65, 66, 67 THOMPSON, Preston ......... 79, 80, 81, 82 THOMPSON, Robert ............................87 THORNE, Matthew ............ 08, 09, 10, 11 TOMICH, John......................................74 TORKELSON, Levi ............... 98, 99, 00, 01 TORNOW, Robin ...................... 62, 63, 64 TORREANO, Mark .................... 66, 67, 68 TRACEY, Robert ....................... 69, 70, 71 TRAVIS, Byron ......................................59 TRINIDAD, Pedro ............... 85, 86, 87, 88
46
UUU UPTMOR, Joel ................................ 09, 10
VVV VAN DOREN, Peter .................. 92, 93, 94 VRETTOS, John......................... 63, 64, 65
WWW WALKER, Philip ....................................71 WATKINS, Jerome................................86 WEAVER, James ....................... 61, 62, 63 WEIZENEGGER, Richard ................. 66, 67 WENGERT, Alix ....................................88 WENRICH, Robert .............. 75, 76, 77, 78 WHILES, Jared................................ 97, 98 WHITTENBERG, Karl ................ 66, 67, 68 WIEST, David .......................... 58, 59, 60 WILHELM, James ........................... 60, 61 WILKINSON, Mark ................... 76, 77, 78 WILKINSON, Thomas ...........................10 WINN, Derek .......................................80 WITZEL, Robert ....................................75 WOLF, Craig ................................... 89, 90 WOLFE, Mark..................... 94, 95, 96, 97 WOLFORD, Brennen .......... 07, 08, 09, 10 WOOD, Chris .......................................06 WULF, Colton.......................................11
YYY YOUNG, Gerard ............................. 60, 61 YUEN, Jeffrey ..................... 80, 81, 82, 83
ZZZ ZAISER, Aaron .................... 08, 09, 10, 11 ZAISER, Ben ................................. 11, 12 ZAMZOW, Mark................. 75, 76, 77, 78
Returning gymnasts in bold.
2013 AIR FORCE GYMNASTICS MEDIA GUIDE
ACADEMY RECORDS ACADEMY RECORDS (1956-2007) Event Floor Exercise Pommel Horse Still Rings Vault Parallel Bars High Bar All-Around
INDIVIDUAL Score 9.850 9.600 9.900 9.800 9.550 9.900 56.350
Gymnast Jerry Michael Cline Jeff Andersen Joel Miller Andrew Fisher Levi Torkelson Jerry Michael Cline Jerry Michael Cline
Year 1993 2000 1991 2000 1998 1994 1994
TEAM Score 37.350 38.050 37.750 37.700 37.700 38.250 223.125
Year 1995 2000 2000 2000 1998 1995 1998
ACADEMY RECORDS (2008-PRESENT) Event Floor Exercise Pommel Horse Still Rings Vault Parallel Bars High Bar All-Around
INDIVIDUAL Score 15.400 14.900 15.700 14.750 15.200 14.900 14.900 --
Gymnast Colton Wulf James Okamoto Greg Stine Ben Zaiser Nash Mills Mac Ritchie Nash Mills --
Date 03/20/11 02/26/12 03/09/08 01/22/12 03/25/11 03/31/12 03/06/11 --
Event Washington at Temple Illinois-Chicago at Nebraska at USAG Championships USAG Championships at Illinois-Chicago --
TEAM Score 59.600 57.500 59.450 57.550 57.700 57.800 -341.050
Date 03/20/11 03/26/10 03/30/12 01/22/12 03/25/11 03/13/11 -03/30/12
Event Washington USAG Championships USAG Championships at Nebraska at USAG Championships at Springfield College -USAG Championships
Date 04/02/11 03/27/10 03/09/08
Event MPSF Championships USAG Championships Illinois-Chicago
TEAM Score 62.800 -347.500
Date 03/06/11 -03/20/11
Event at Illinois-Chicago -Washington
ACADEMY RECORDS (2008-2011) Event Vault All-Around
INDIVIDUAL Score 15.950 15.950 88.200
Gymnast Tory Brown Devin Menefee Greg Stine
Please note: beginning with the 2012 season, vault start values were lowered by one point. The additional catagories for vault, all-around and team total reflect that change.
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TOP PERFORMANCES FLOOR EXERCISE
VAULT*
59.600....................................................................................... Washington (03/20/11) 58.650...................................................................................Illinois-Chicago (03/07/10) 58.350...................................................................................Illinois-Chicago (03/09/08) 58.200.............................................................................................. at Army (02/24/12) 58.100...................................................................................Illinois-Chicago (03/07/08)
57.550........................................................................................at Nebraska (01/22/12) 57.400...................................................................................Illinois-Chicago (03/02/12) 57.350................................................................ at NCAA National Qualifier (04/19/12) 57.000........................................................................ USAG Championships (03/30/12) 56.900................................................................................. at Arizona State (03/09/12)
15.400...............................................................Colton Wulf | Washington (03/20/11) 15.200........................................................ Greg Stine | at Southwest Cup (03/01/08) 15.100............................................................ Greg Stine | Illinois-Chicago (03/09/08) 15.050..........................................Greg Stine | at NCAA National Qualifier (04/17/08) 15.000........................................................................Greg Stine | at Army (01/01/08) 15.000....................................Greg Stine | at USAG Championships-Team (03/28/08) 15.000........................................... Greg Stine | at NCAA All-Around Finals (04/18/08) 14.950..........................................................Joel Uptmor | Illinois-Chicago (03/07/10) 14.950.........................................................................Aaron Zaiser | Army (01/31/09) 14.900................................. Colton Wulf | at USAG Championships-Team (03/25/11) 14.900............................................................... Tory Brown | Washington (03/20/11) 14.900.............................................. Greg Stine | at MPSF Championships (04/05/08)
14.750 ............................................................ Ben Zaiser | at Nebraska (01/22/12) 14.700.....................................................Devin Menefee | Illinois-Chicago (03/04/12) 14.600 ....................................Tory Brown | at NCAA Na onal Qualifier (04/19/12) 14.600 ............................................. Ben Zaiser | MPSF Championships (04/07/12) 14.600 ....................................Ben Zaiser | USAG Championships-Event (03/31/12) 14.500.................................. Devin Menefee | at NCAA Na onal Qualifier (04/19/12) 14.500 ...................................................... Ben Zaiser | at Arizona State (03/09/12) 14.400 ....................................................... Ben Zaiser | Illinois-Chicago (03/02/12) 14.400 ......................................... Ben Zaiser | at Temple Quadrangular (02/26/12) 14.400 ............................................................ Corbin Palmer | at Army (02/24/12) 14.400 ................................................... Gared Chapman | at Nebraska (01/22/12)
PARALLEL BARS POMMEL HORSE 57.500........................................................................ USAG Championships (03/26/10) 56.100................................................................ at NCAA National Qualifier (04/19/12) 55.700......................................................... at All-Academy Championships (02/20/11) 55.950.............................................................................................. at Army (03/12/10) 55.900...................................................................................Illinois-Chicago (03/02/12) 14.900 ................................ James Okamoto | at Temple Quadrangular (02/26/12) 14.800................................... Chase Nobles | USAG Championships-Team (03/26/10) 14.700........................................................Chase Nobles | Illinois-Chicago (03/07/10) 14.600 ......................James Okamoto | at All-Academy Championships (02/12/12) 14.600 ...........................James Okamoto | USAG Championships-Team (03/26/10) 14.550................................................................... Chase Nobles | at Army (03/12/10) 14.400 ..................................Greg Chaput | at NCAA National Qualifier (04/19/12) 14.400 ................................................... James Okamoto | at Nebraska (01/30/11) 14.350 ............................ James Okamoto | at NCAA National Qualifier (04/19/12) 14.300 ................................... James Okamoto | Rocky Mountain Open (01/15/11) 14.300...................................................... Chase Nobles | at Arizona State (03/19/10) 14.300.......................................... Dan Klimkowski | at Springfield College (03/14/10)
57.700.................................................................... at USAG Championships (03/25/11) 57.550........................................................................ MPSF Championships (04/02/11) 57.100....................................................................................... Washington (03/20/11) 56.650.............................................................................................Stanford (03/05/10) 56.600..................................................................................2x, last at Army (02/24/12) 15.200....................................Nash Mills | at USAG Championships-Team (03/25/11) 15.000 .......................................Josh Ramos | at Temple Quadrangular (02/26/12) 14.900 ................................................................ Josh Ramos | at Army (02/24/12) 14.900.................................................. Nash Mills | MPSF Championships (04/02/11) 14.900........................................................... Nash Mills | at Arizona State (02/26/10) 14.900....................................Greg Stine | at USAG Championships-Event (03/29/08) 14.850.............................................. Greg Stine | at MPSF Championships (04/05/08) 14.750.............................................Nash Mills | Stanford, Illinois-Chicago (03/05/10) 14.750........................................................................Greg Stine | at Army (01/01/08) 14.700...................................................Nash Mills | at Springfield College (03/13/11) 14.700........................................................ Greg Stine | at Southwest Cup (03/01/08)
HIGH BAR STILL RINGS 59.450........................................................................ USAG Championships (03/20/12) 59.400....................................................................................... Washington (03/20/11) 59.350...................................................................................Illinois-Chicago (03/07/10) 59.200.......................................................................Rocky Mountain Open (01/14/12) 59.100.........................................................................at Springfield College (02/03/08) 15.700............................................................ Greg Stine | Illinois-Chicago (03/09/08) 15.650................................ Jake Schonig | at USAG Championships-Team (03/27/09) 15.650..............................................................Jake Schonig | at Nebraska (03/22/08) 15.650..........................................Greg Stine | at NCAA National Qualifier (04/17/08) 15.600.....................................................Jake Schonig | at Southwest Cup (02/27/09) 15.600...................................................Greg Stine | at Springfield College (03/03/08) 15.600....................................Greg Stine | at USAG Championships-Team (03/28/08) 15.550................................ Jake Schonig | at USAG Championships-Event (03/29/08) 15.550................................ Jake Schonig | at USAG Championships-Team (03/28/08) 15.500................................ Jake Schonig | at USAG Championships-Event (03/28/09) 15.500.......................................... Jake Schonig | at MPSF Championships (04/05/08) 15.500.........................................................Jake Schonig | Illinois-Chicago (03/07/08) 15.500.................................................Greg Stine | at Pacific Coast Classic (02/23/08) 15.500............................................... Jake Schonig | at Springfield College (02/03/08)
57.800..................................................................................... at Springfield (03/13/11) 57.400.......................................................................................at Brockport (03/11/11) 57.100........................................................................................at Nebraska (01/22/12) 56.950........................................................................ USAG Championships (03/30/12) 56.500.............................................................................................. at Army (03/12/10) 14.900 ..................................Mac Ritchie | USAF Championships-Event (03/31/12) 14.900........................................................ Nash Mills | at Illinois-Chicago (03/06/11) 14.800...................................................Nash Mills | at Springfield College (03/13/11) 14.650 ................................. Mac Ritchie | USAG Championships-Team (03/30/12) 14.650...................................................Greg Stine | at Springfield College (02/03/08) 14.600................................................ Colton Wulf | at Springfield College (03/13/11) 14.550................................................................. Greg Stine | at Nebraska (03/22/08) 14.500 ..................................................... Mac Ritchie | Illinois-Chicago (03/02/12) 14.500.............................................................. Colton Wulf | at Brockport (03/11/11) 14.500 ......................................................... Tory Brown | at Brockport (03/11/11)
ALL-AROUND, TEAM TOTALS* 341.050...................................................................... USAG Championships (03/30/12) 338.900.................................................................................Illinois-Chicago (03/02/12) 337.700........................................................................................Minnesota (01/28/12) 337.300.................................................................................Illinois-Chicago (03/04/12) 335.950...................................................................... MPSF Championships (04/07/12) No all-around compe
ons have been contested under the new scoring system.
* vault and team totals represent new scoring system (2012-present)
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2013 AIR FORCE GYMNASTICS MEDIA GUIDE
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY
THE ACADEMY EXPERIENCE The U.S. Air Force Academy offers a four-year program of instruction and experience designed to educate, train and inspire men and women to become officers of character, motivated to lead the United States Air Force in service to our nation. Each cadet graduates with a bachelor of science degree and a commission as a second lieutenant in the Air Force.
COURSES OF STUDY Cadets are exposed to a balanced curriculum that provides the knowledge, skills and responsibilities essential to a career Air Force officer. The entire USAFA experience is integrated and mapped to achieve a set of desired outcomes in every graduate. The core academic curriculum includes courses in basic sciences, engineering, social sciences and humanities. Cadets take elective courses to complete requirements for one of 32 major areas of study. About 50 percent of the cadets complete majors in science and engineering; the remainder graduate in the social sciences and humanities. Some of the most popular majors include management, aeronautical engineering, foreign area studies, history, behavioral science, civil engineering, astronautical engineering, electrical engineering and engineering mechanics.
FACULTY COMPOSITION The majority of the Academy’s faculty members, more than 500 total, are Air Force officers. They are selected primarily from career-officer volunteers who have established outstanding records of performance and dedication. Each has at least a master’s degree and more than 55 percent have doctorates or other terminal degrees in their field of study. About 30 percent of the faculty are civilians who bring great depth of disciplinary and educational expertise and provide academic stability and continuity. Faculty members are intensely focused on cadet learning as an integral part of their officer development. The Air Force Academy has been ranked No. 1 in the nation for the most accessible and involved faculty for four years in a row. To provide greater contributions by a diverse faculty, the Academy has several visiting professors and endowed professors who serve one or more years. Officers from other services, as well as officers from allied countries are also members of the faculty. Distinguished civilian and military lecturers also share their expertise with the cadets.
ATHLETIC PROGRAMS The Academy’s athletic program is designed to improve physical fitness, teach athletic skills and develop leadership qualities. To achieve its goals, the Academy offers some of the most extensive physical education, intramural sports and intercollegiate athletic programs in the nation. Cadets take at least three different physical education courses each year.
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MILITARY EDUCATION & TRAINING An air, space and cyberspace-oriented military education, training and leadership program begins with basic cadet training and continues throughout the four years. Seniors are responsible for the organizational leadership of the cadet wing, while juniors and sophomores seek to develop team and interpersonal leadership and instructional skills. Cadets are projected into as many active leadership roles as possible to prepare them to be effective Air Force officers. Fundamental concepts of military organization -- drill, ethics, honor, Air Force heritage and physical training -- are emphasized the first summer during basic cadet training. Freshmen study the military role in United States society, as well as the mission and organization of the Air Force. Sophomores receive instruction in communication skills and juniors study combat and operational aspects of the Air Force. The Academy offers courses in flying, navigation, soaring and parachuting, building from basic skills to instructor duties. Some cadets may fly light aircraft with the Cadet Flying Team. Summer training for cadets is divided into three, threeweek training periods. There are a variety of programs available and each cadet is required to complete two training periods each summer with leave during the other period. All new cadets take six weeks of basic cadet training in their first summer. Combat survival training is a required three-week program during cadets’ second summer. For other secondsummer training periods, cadets have options such as working with Airmen in an operational unit at an Air Force installation, airborne parachute training, soaring or basic free-fall parachute training. During their last two summers, all cadets are offered leadership training as supervisors or instructors in the summer programs listed above. Extracurricular activities also are an integral part of the education program. The cadet ski club, drum and bugle corps, cadet chorale and forensics are a few of the programs available to Academy cadets.
NOMINATIONS Nominations to the Academy may be obtained through a congressional sponsor or by meeting eligibility criteria in other categories of competition established by law. For information on admission procedures, write to: HQ USAFA/RRS 2304 Cadet Drive, Suite 200 USAF Academy, CO 80840-5025
HISTORY OF THE ACADEMY In 1948, a board of leading civilian and military educators was appointed to plan the curriculum for an academy that would meet the needs of the newly established Air Force. The board determined that Air Force requirements could not be met by expanding the other service academies and recommended an Air Force Academy be established without delay. In 1949, then Secretary of the Air Force W. Stuart Symington appointed a commission to assist in selec ng a site and, on April 1, 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower authorized creation of the U.S. Air Force Academy. After considering 580 sites in 45 states, the commission narrowed the choice to three locations. During the summer of 1954, Secretary of the Air Force Harold Talbott selected a site near Colorado Springs, Colo. Colorado contributed $1 million toward purchase of the property. In July 1955, the first Academy class entered interim facilities at Lowry Air Force Base, Denver, while construction began. It was sufficiently completed for occupancy by the cadet wing in late August 1958. Initial construction cost was $142 million. Women entered the Academy on June 28, 1976, as members of the class of 1980.
2013 AIR FORCE GYMNASTICS MEDIA GUIDE
SENIOR LEADERSHIP LIEUTENANT GENERAL MICHAEL C. GOULD, SUPERINTENDENT Lt Gen Michael C. Gould is Superintendent, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo. He directs a four-year academic, military training, athlec and character development program leading to a bachelor’s degree and commission as an Air Force officer. The general is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy’s Class of 1976. His career encompasses a wide range of assignments, ranging from head football coach of the Air Force Academy Preparatory School, to serving as Air Force aide to the President of the United States. He has held numerous command posions at the group, wing and numbered air force level, and was commander of Cheyenne Mountain Operaons Center during 9/11. Prior to his return to the Academy, he was Director of Operaons and Plans, U.S. Transport on Command, Sco Air Force Base, Ill. General Gould is a command pilot with more than 3,000 flying hours in the T-38, T-41, KC-10, C-5, C-17, C-21, C-141 and KC-135R. The general’s military awards and decoraons include the Disnguished Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Defense Superior Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Air Force Commendaon Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.
VICE SUPERINTENDENT Colonel Tamra Rank
COMMANDANT OF CADETS Brigadier General Gregory Lengyel
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DEAN OF FACULTY Brigadier General Dana Born
COMMANDER, 10TH ABW Colonel Thomas Gibson
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AIR FORCE ATHLETICS DR. HANS J. MUEH, DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS Dr. Hans J. Mueh is in his ninth year as the director of athletics at the Air Force Academy. A retired Air Force brigadier general, Mueh was vice dean of faculty for two years prior to his retirement from active duty in the summer of 2004. He was heavily involved in Academy athletics before becoming director of athletics. He was the Academy’s faculty athletics representative from 1996-2004 and was a long-time member of the board of directors for the Air Force Academy Athletics Association. Since becoming the director of athletics, Mueh has led the Academy to some remarkable feats. In 2007, the Academy was one of three schools (Michigan St., Boston College) to reach post-season play in football (2007), men’s basketball and ice hockey (2006-07). It marked the first time a service academy has ever had a team compete in the post-season in all three sports. In addition, under Mueh’s watch the men’s basketball team has played in an NCAA tournament and the National Invitational Tournament’s Final Four. The ice hockey team won three straight conference championships and made three straight appearances in the NCAA tournament. Mueh was on the selection committee that hired current head coach Frank Serratore and led the Academy’s move into the Athletic Hockey Association. The football program, the Academy’s flagship sport, has gone through a major overhaul under Mueh. He led the transition from the retirement of the legendary Fisher DeBerry after 23 years at the helm to hiring current head coach Troy Calhoun, a 1989 Academy graduate. Calhoun’s impact was immediate, leading the Falcons to a 9-4 overall mark and a second-place finish in the Mountain West Conference in 2007. The Falcons qualified for their first bowl game in five years, playing in the Armed Forces Bowl in 2007. The program then posted back-to-back eight-win seasons and was 9-4 in 2010, while qualifying for bowl games every year. The school has averaged 9,000 bowl tickets sold during the four-year run.
the Falcons to the Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Soccer League championship and quarterfinal berths in the NCAA tournament. He was a first-team all-league selection in 1965. Following graduation, Mueh completed two assignments in intelligence before attending the University of Wisconsin where he earned his master’s degree in chemistry in 1970. He later earned a doctorate degree in chemistry from Wisconsin in 1976 as a distinguished graduate. Mueh also completed Squadron Officer School, Air Command and Staff College and Air War College. Between earning the two degrees, Mueh returned to USAFA as an instructor in the department of chemistry from 1970-72. He also served as assistant soccer coach and played semi-pro soccer with the Aurora Internationals in Denver during those two years, leading the Internationals to the Colorado state title in 1971. He volunteered for duty in Vietnam and served as an intelligence officer in Saigon, Republic of Vietnam and at Nakhon Phanom RTAB, Thailand, in 1972 and 1973. After earning his doctorate degree, Mueh returned to the Academy in 1976 as an associate professor of chemistry. He remained at the Academy except for a stint in 198586 as the special assistant for technical matters at the Defense Intelligence Agency at the Pentagon. In 1986, he assumed the position of acting head, department of chemistry, before being selected for his position of permanent professor and head of the department of chemistry in 1987. As faculty athletics representative, he was active in both the Western Athletic Conference and Mountain West Conference, and was the Academy’s representative on the transition team to form the new MWC, the only faculty athletics representative on the team. He competes in golf, racquetball, handball and tennis, and has promoted Air Force Academy intercollegiate sports throughout his tenure, beginning with work as chairman of the hockey eligibility committee, officer representative to the men’s golf team and five years as the officer representative to the football team. Mueh is married to the former Sally Flax of Cincinnati, Ohio. They have three children: Kristine, Kurt and Deborah.
Mueh has also been successful behind the scenes with the administration of the department. Mueh restructured the department with an internal/external model that has streamlined resources and made the department more effective from top to bottom. In addition, he has the department on course to become a federally chartered non-profit organization which will lead to more fund-raising opportunities. Mueh was instrumental in the USAFA Endowment and the Holaday Athletic Center, a $15 million indoor training facility that was completed in July 2011. Mueh has also been active within the conference and the NCAA. He is a part of the NCAA Division I Amateurism Cabinet and has been active on the NCAA’s academics/ eligibility compliance cabinet, the men’s golf committee and the Region 7 postgraduate scholarship committee. Mueh has been equally active within the conference on various leadership committees. He is currently on the awards and recognition committee and has previously served on the joint council executive committee, and committees on championships, television and sportsmanship. Before assuming his duties as vice dean at the Academy, Mueh was permanent professor and head of the department of chemistry at the Academy, a position he held since October 1987 where he oversaw the annual design and instruction of 25 undergraduate courses for 1,500 cadets annually. Mueh was born Jan. 8, 1944, in Celle, Germany, and emigrated to the U.S. in 1951. He entered the Air Force in 1962, as a member of the Academy’s eighth graduating class, and graduated with a bachelor of science degree in chemistry in 1966. While at the Academy, Mueh was a two-year letterwinner in soccer as a goalie. He still holds the Academy record for saves in a game with 30, accomplishing it twice in 1965 against North Carolina and Benedictine. In his junior and senior years, Mueh helped
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The Academy honored the men’s gymnasƟcs team for their third-straight USAG naƟonal Ɵtle with an on-field presentaƟon during the Air Force-Hawaii football game on Nov. 10, 2012.
2013 AIR FORCE GYMNASTICS MEDIA GUIDE
AIR FORCE ATHLETICS
COL BART WEISS
COL BILLY WALKER
JIM TREGO
Vice Director of Athletics
Deputy Director of Athletics
Senior Associate AD
WILLIAM CARPENTER
DERMOT COLL
JOHN COULAHAN
Associate AD | Recruiting Support
Associate AD | Development, Government
Associate AD | Finance
AIR FORCE ATHLETICS Few schools in the country have an athletic program as extensive as the Air Force Academy’s. The goals of the athletic program are to enhance the physical conditioning of all cadets, to develop the physical skills necessary for officership, to teach leadership in a competitive environment and to build character. There are three subdivisions of the athletic program: intercollegiate athletics, intramurals and physical education. TROY GARNHART
MARTI GASSER
WAYNE KELLENBENCE
Associate AD | Information, Communications
Associate AD | Intercollegiate Programs
Associate AD | Support
GEORGE NELSON
KAREN WALKER
Associate AD | Athle c Programs
Associate AD | Human Resources
The intercollegiate program has 17 men’s and 10 women’s NCAA-sanctioned teams, facing some of the top competition in the nation. Men’s teams are football, baseball, basketball, ice hockey, cross-country, fencing, golf, gymnastics, indoor and outdoor track, lacrosse, rifle, soccer, swimming and diving, tennis, water polo and wrestling. The Academy fields women’s teams in basketball, cross-country, fencing, gymnastics, rifle, indoor and outdoor track, swimming and diving, soccer, tennis and volleyball. In addition, the Academy sponsors two non-NCAA programs; boxing and cheerleading. The majority of the Academy’s men’s and women’s programs compete at the NCAA Division I level in the Mountain West Conference. The Falcons compete in this conference against teams from Boise State, Colorado State, New Mexico, San Diego State, TCU, UNLV and Wyoming. All sports also compete against non-conference opponents, including many ranked teams. The football team competes annually for the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy, which is emblematic of service academy football supremacy. The Falcons have won the trophy 17 times, which is more than any other academy. The winner of the annual rivalry visits the White House to have the trophy presented by the President of the United States. The USAFA Cadet Field House is one of the most impressive buildings in the country. It’s a modern, versatile structure with seemingly endless uses. The $5.6 million building is five stories high and 396 feet by 426 feet, the size of three football fields laid side by side. The structure is divided into three areas--basketball arena, ice hockey arena and multipurpose area. The three sections have a combined seating capacity of more than 9,000. Clune Arena seats 5,858. The Cadet Ice Rink has a seating capacity of 2,470, while the multipurpose area seats 1,000 fans for track and field competitions.
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CADET WEST GYM
The Air Force women’s and men’s gymnastics team train and compete in the Academy’s Cadet West Gymnasium. The gymnastics-only facilty features a competion area and spectator seating, as well as an area dedicated to training.
Air Force also has the added benefit of an auxiliary gym that features locker areas for both the men’s and women’s teams. The second floor of the auxiliary gym also features a high bar apparatus and vaulting runway with foam landing pits.
In the fall of 2011, a second story was added to a part of the main gym, providing a foam landing pit for tumbling routines. Beneath the new structure includes areas for strorage, stationary bikes and athletic training areas.
Overall, the Cadet Gymnasium is a five-level structure, containing 439,951 square feet of useable space. It houses three complete gyms, 12 squash courts, 21 handball/racquetball courts and nine basketball courts. There are two swimming pools, an indoor rifle range and four indoor tennis courts, along with separate facilities for gymnastics, cheerleading, wrestling, fencing, boxing, aerobic fitness, weight lifting, scuba, baseball, volleyball and judo. The gymnasium, which also contains an athletic training room, human performance laboratory, lockers for all cadets, and administrative offices of the physical education instructors and support staff, is adjacent to the new Cadet Fitness Center, which opened in 2012.
The set-up can be configured for either a men’s or women’s meet, with a raised floor exercise area and proper “holding areas” for championship meets. The gym features a two-tiered scorers’ table that is wirelessly linked to the judges’ tables located throughout the venue. For daily practices and special dual meet performances, the floor surface can hold all equipment for both the men’s and women’s training.
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2013 AIR FORCE GYMNASTICS MEDIA GUIDE
FALCONS IN THE AIR
The Air Force gymnastics coaches received the pportunity to take glider flights over the Academy with cadet instructors from the 94th Flying Training Squadron. Head coach Kip Simons and assistant coach Jeff Robinson, took to the skies in August 2011.
During the Falcons’ road trip to Arizona State in 2012, several members of the men’s gymnastics team, including senior team captain Devin Menefee (above), received F-16 incentive flights from pilots in the 308th Fighter Squadron at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz.
“Who needs coffee in the morning when you’re pulling 4Gs?” Simons said. Three cadet instructor pilots guided the coaches through this adventure. Simons flew with junior Matt Cosmo, while Day went up with junior Conner Deebel and Robinson had senior Chad Hennig as his cadet pilot. The cadets conducted a basic pre-flight briefing with their respective coaches and took them to the hangar for a hands-on orientation, before heading out to the flight line. Cosmo explained the pre-flight briefing that happens in the Midfield Building before every flight to get both crew members on the same page about what will happen and who will be doing what. “Our briefings with the coaches involved whether they were fit to fly, explanation of the ground procedures, explanation of anything they might have to do during the flight, the maneuvers we expect to accomplish, and where we’re going in the air.” Although the coaches’ briefings were more informal, the cadet instructors then took the coaches into the hangar. “We give them an overview of the controls and what they will head and experience in the flight, so nothing comes as a complete surprise in the air,” Deebel said.
Once arriving on base, the Falcons had a whirlwind morning of physicals, training and briefings. In a hands-on classroom environment that included a parachute rig and mock F-16 cockpits, the Falcons received evacuation training, before being fitted for their G-suits, helmets and oxygen masks.
“We got them oriented with the front seat,” Cosmo added. “We showed them what everything did, what and what not to touch, and gave them a general tour of our fleet. On the line, it was all last minute discussion about the maneuvers and finally strapping them in, reminding them what they could do in the front, and accomplishing the sortie.” Once in the air, Deebel explained that every coach should have pulled around 4.5Gs and done some simple aerobatics, such as stalls and wing overs, during their flights, which last around 30 minutes. “They also get a pretty sweet view of the cadet area and mountains along the Front Range,” he added. “The opportunity for us to get these orientation rides is just another of the great things about working here at USAFA,” Robinson commented. “What a rush!”
Freshman Josh Ramos (above) was one of several gymnasts that were able to take to the skies onboard an F-16. The Falcons were able to spend around in hour in the air over Luke AFB, while their pilots performed aerial combat maneuvers (“dogfighting”) and broke the sound barrier with ease. Additional photos from the Falcons’ F-16 experience at Luke AFB can be found in the 2011-12 men’s gymnastics photo gallery at www.GoAirForceFalcons.com.
WWW.GOAIRFORCEFALCONS.COM
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FALCONS IN THE COMMUNITY ADOPT-A-SCHOOL Each year, the Air Force men’s and women’s gymnastics teams visit Monroe Elementary School in Colorado Springs, as a part of the athletic department’s adopt-a-school program. The after-school program allows grade-school children the opportunity to interact with members of each of the Academy’s sports teams throughout the year. Following introductions, a handstand contest between the men’s and women’s teams and a brief tumbling demonstration by Air Force, the Falcons and K-5 students go through some of the pre-practice stretching that the gymnastics team does on a daily basis. The Falcons then divide the students onto two mats and spent the remainder of the time teaching basic tumbling moves, including somersaults, handstands and cartwheels. The students received hands-on attention from the gymnasts, who assisted and supported the young students through each new move. At the conclusion of the afterschool program, the students were able to ask questions.
RACE FOR THE CURE For the fourth straight year, the Air Force men’s and women’s gymnastics teams took to the streets of Denver to participate in the annual Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. The 35 members of the Falcons’ combined program were some of the over 40,000 participants that took part in the 20th anniversary of Denver’s race on Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012. The race began at Confluence Park and continued around Sports Authority Field at Mile High, before concluding near the Pepsi Center and Auraria campus. Junior Tyler Huebner served as the captain for the Falcons’ volunteer efforts at the annual race and Air Force exceeded its goal, earning distinction as one of the race’s Top 100 teams. Denver’s Race for the Cure is one in a series of races that take place every year around the world. The races help raise significant funds and awareness for the fight against breast cancer, celebrate breast cancer survivorship and honor those who have lost their battle with the disease.
MOUNTAIN SHADOWS CLEAN-UP Members of the Air Force men’s gymnastics team came together this past weekend to help residents of the Mountain Shadows neighborhood in Colorado Springs with a massive cleanup following the Waldo Canyon Fire earlier this summer. “It was a gratifying feeling to help the residents of Mountain Shadows, as they begin to rebuild their homes and community,” head coach Kip Simons commented. “I’m very proud of my team, because they took the initiative to participate in such a meaningful service to the community.” The gymnasts were some of nearly 350 volunteers from the Academy and District-20 that descended on the Mountain Shadows community on Sunday (Aug. 26). During the nine-hour event, volunteers worked in an area that surrounded over 140 homes, chopping down burned trees, clearing dry brush and doing fire mitigation to prevent future burns.
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2013 AIR FORCE GYMNASTICS MEDIA GUIDE
CAPT TORKELSON TRIBUTE CAPTAIN LEVI TORKELSON
1979-2008 | FOUR-YEAR LETTERWINNER | TWO-YEAR ASSISTANT COACH Capt Levi Torkelson, an assistant coach for the men’s gymnastics team, was killed in a tragic automobile accident in San Antonio, Texas, on Dec. 27, 2008. Torkelson, who was in his second season as an assistant coach for the men’s program, returned to the Academy midway through the 2008 season, after completing a six-month deployment to Iraq. In addition to his coaching duties with the Falcons’ gymnastics team, Torkelson worked in the athletic department’s scheduling and grading division. “Levi was an amazing role model to our team, day in and day out,” head coach Kip Simons said. “His love and passion for the sport was apparent. He was a great officer, coach, young man and friend. He will be greatly missed.” A four-year letterwinner on the Falcons’ gymnastics team, Torkelson graduated from the Academy in 2001. A decorated gymnast, he was a two-time national champion on the parallel bars at the USAG Championships. A nine-time USAG All-American, Torkelson is the Academy record-holder on the parallel bars with a score of 9.550. Torkelson remained at USAFA after graduation, serving as an assistant coach for the men’s team during the 2001-02 season. “Levi was a huge contributor to our gymnastics program, as a competitor and then as a coach, before going out in the Air Force,” said former head coach Lou Burkel, who coached Torkelson from 1998-2001. “He was a very hard worker with excellent technique. He was amazingly strong and could execute skills you would not think possible. His gymnastics credentials speak for themselves. He was also a good person who was caring and thoughtful. Levi was just a wonderful young man who was doing a terrific job for the Air Force. He leaves a big hole in many of our lives.”
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Following his time at the Academy, Torkelson spent four years stationed at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, where he served as the Deputy Flight Commander for both the Communications Control Center and Mission Systems Flight. He also served as the Officer in Charge for all geographically separated units controlled by the 435 Communication Group. During his time at Ramstein, he was deployed twice. He spent four months as an Executive Officer in Jacobabad, Pakistan, and a year as the Officer in Charge for Screening and Property Exploitation Cells under the Joint Interrogation and Debriefing Center in Forward Operating Base Abu Ghraib and Victory Base Comply in Iraq. Torkelson was awarded the Bronze Star and the USAFE Arthur S. Flemming Award. He has also won two Company Grade Officer of the Year Awards from the 435 Communications Squadron and the 86 Communications Squadron. “He did a fantastic job, not only coaching the gymnastics team but as a physical education teacher,” said Col Billy Walker, the Academy’s deputy athletic director, who oversees the Falcons’ Olympic sports, as well as the Academy’s Physical Education department. “He was very well respected by the cadets, a great role model and mentor, not only to the cadets he taught in his PE classes, but especially to the cadet-athletes he coached on the gymnastics team.’’ In 2010, Torkelson was posthumously awarded the Honor Coach Certificate by the CGA. The certificate is awarded to a deceased member of the coaching profession, who was either too young to qualify for the 25 years of service to the sport of gymnastics or had not been nominated for the Honor Coach Award prior to his death. The inscription on the plaque reads “In recognition of his service in coaching and developing gymnasts in the United States. He has gained the respect of his colleagues in the gymnastic world by his inspiring example and accomplishments.”
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OVERVIEW OF THE SCORING SYSTEM Prior to the 2008 season, judging men’s gymnastics was based on the 10.0 system. Every routine that you saw had the highest possible score of a 10.0 if it was performed without any deductions and had the highest possible difficulty allowed. Men’s collegiate gymnastics then adopted the FIG (Federation of International Gymnastics) Scoring System of an open-ended Code of Points. Now, when watching USA and college gymnastics, you will see scores like 15.3, 14.8, 13.9 and so on. Men’s college gymnastics is judged using three components: First, the gymnast performs his 10 best or hardest skills. These 10 skills each have value parts ranging from A,B,C,D,E,& F. “A” value corresponds to 0.1 points, “B” to 0.2 points, and so on to an “F” that is worth 0.6 points. The gymnast is free to have as much difficulty as he can do in those 10 skills. Second, of those 10 skills, the gymnast performs five that must be used to fulfill the five special requirements on each event. Every time a requirement is fulfilled, the gymnast is awarded 0.5 points. The gymnast receives a maximum of 2.5 points for all five requirements on each event. Third, every gymnast is given 10 points for the execution of the event. If the gymnast falls down or breaks form, the judge takes away points from this total. After the routine is finished the judges go through the following process: First, they add up the difficulty of the 10 highest skills (max unlimited). Next, they add up the special requirements (max 2.5). Then they add 10 points for execution and make any necessary deductions. This gives them a final score. In the old scoring system, if the gymnast performed a perfect routine it would look like this: 3.5 for difficulty + 2.5 for special requirements + 4.0 for execution with no deductions = 10.0 With the new scoring system, this now looks like: 3.5 difficulty + 2.5 for special requirements + 10.0 for execution with no deductions = 16.0 (The difficulty of 3.5 can be more or less depending on the gymnast’s capability). Special Note: Not all events are necessarily equal now. You will tend to see higher scores on vault and rings and lower scores on pommel horse and parallel bars.
FLOOR EXERCISE The floor exercise is an event where the gymnast performs multiple tumbling skills in a row and flips forward, backwards and sideways to achieve three of the special requirements. The fourth requirement is a non-acrobatic skill like a press handstand or circles on the floor. The fifth requirement is the dismount. Look for double flipping and double twisting skills that grab your attention.
POMMEL HORSE Pommel horse is one of the hardest events in gymnastics, requiring strength, balance and flexibility. The gymnast continuously does circles, flairs or scissors while performing require¬ments and finishes with a dismount.
STILL RINGS Pound per pound, rings is one of the hardest events in any sport. The gymnast performs strength moves like the “Iron Cross”, which requires him to hold up to nine times his own body weight. The requirements include holding strength moves, swinging to strength moves, swing skills, kip skills and a dismount.
VAULT Vault is the most explosive event in gymnastics. The gymnast has a choice of three styles of vaults that include a handspring, roundoff or roundoff onto the board. Like diving, vaults are given ratings based on their difficulty. The harder the vault, the higher the rating the vault receives.
PARALLEL BARS Parallel bars is one of the most versatile events in gymnastics. The gymnast must perform skills in support, upper arm support, skills from hanging, basket skills where the gymnast loops around the p-bars and must finish with a dismount. Look for unique twists and flips where the gymnasts earn their difficulty points.
HIGH BAR High bar is the most exciting event to watch in gymnastics. It requires the gymnast to swing on the bar, then let go of it and catch again. Other requirements include straddle skills, El-grip skills, long hang skills and a dismount. Watch for high flying release moves that remind you of an X-Games style competition.
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2013 AIR FORCE GYMNASTICS MEDIA GUIDE
CLASS OF 2013
CLASS OF 2014
CLASS OF 2015
CLASS OF 2016
GYMNASTICS 2013 SCHEDULE Jan. 12 Jan. 19 Jan. 26 Feb. 1 Feb. 7 Feb. 16 Feb. 23 Mar. 1 Mar. 3 Mar. 8 Mar. 14 Mar. 16 Mar. 29-30 Apr. 6 Apr. 19 Apr. 19-21
Rocky Mountain Open USAF Academy, Colo. Army USAF Academy, Colo. at Minnesota Minneapolis, Minn. at Washington Sea le, Wash. at Winter Cup Challenge Las Vegas, Nev. at All-Academy Championships Atlanta, Ga. at Oklahoma Norman, Okla. at Illinois-Chicago Chicago, Ill. at Illinois-Chicago Chicago, Ill. at Arizona State, with Washington Tucson, Ariz. Temple USAF Academy, Colo. Washington USAF Academy, Colo. at USAG Na onal Championships Williamsburg, Va. MPSF Championships USAF Academy, Colo. at NCAA Na onal Qualifier State College, Pa. at NCAA Na onal Championships State College, Pa.
All home meets will be at Cadet West Gym
James Okamoto, 2011 pommel horse
Tory Brown, 2011 vault