University of Minnesota Athletics
Gold Team Prevails in Intrasquad Meet
12/7/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Gymnastics
The No. 7 University of Minnesota men's gymnastics team held its annual intrasquad meet at Cooke Hall on Saturday afternoon. The meet serves as a season kick-off and allows the coaches to evaluate the team as a whole before the competition season begins in January. The event also gives the student-athletes the opportunity to perform in front of a crowd in preparation for the season.
In a fight to the finish, the Gold Team defeated the Maroon Team 252.5-251.9. The Gold Team, led by junior co-captain Paul Montague, Jr., took an early lead on Friday afternoon as the Gophers held the vault portion of the competition. Heading into Saturday's five events, the Maroon team was ahead by just 0.05, leading the Gold Team, 44.10-44.05.
The competition continued on Saturday in front a packed crowd of Gopher fans, friends and family in Cooke Hall. The Gold Team continued to excel posting a 44.7 on floor exercise while both teams scored an identical 37.4 on the pommel horse to bring the running total to 126.20-124.55 in favor of the Gold Team.
Sophomore Zach Liebler secured the highest score of the day when he posted a 15.5 on floor. His routine featured a 3 ½ punch barani for a mount and a triple full for a dismount.
Montague's Gold Team widened the gap on still rings by producing a score of 42.75 to the Maroon Team's 42.25.
Entering the final two events of the competition, the Gold Team led the Maroon Team by two full points.
The Maroon Team made a comeback as the competition close drew near, closing the gap by defeating the Gold Team on parallel bars and high bar. But in the end, the Gold Team prevailed posting a final score 252.5 to the Maroon Team's 251.9, the closest margin of victory in the history of the Mike Burns' coaching era.
Reigning national pommel horse champion and senior, Ellis Mannon, posted the second highest score of the day on parallel bars earning a 15.2.
Maroon Team captain, Steve Jaciuk, placed second on still rings and parallel bars while earning a third place finish on high bar behind teammate Danny DiBenedetto and Gold Team freshman, Tristan Duran.
"If we can get the rest of the guys to perform at the level of Zach on floor and Ellis on parallel bars, we will certainly be a force to be reckoned with," said head coach Mike Burns. "Those two routines were outstanding especially at this time of the season. I was very impressed with their performances."
Minnesota will host their annual Alumni Meet on Saturday, Jan. 10 in the Sports Pavilion before opening regular season competition at the Windy City Invitational in Chicago, Ill. the following weekend. The meet is set to begin at 1 p.m. CT. Tickets can be purchased at MyGopherSports.com.
###
