University of Minnesota Athletics
Meet Preview: Gophers Host Air Force in Home Opener
1/19/2017 12:00:00 AM | Men's Gymnastics
| MEET 2: #5 Minnesota vs. #10 Air Force | |||||||||||
| Date | Saturday, Jan. 21 (2:30 p.m.) | ||||||||||
| Location | Sports Pavilion | Minneapolis, Minn. | ||||||||||
| Follow Along | | BTN Plus | ||||||||||
| Tickets | mygophersports.com | ||||||||||
| Promotions | Cell Phone Wallet Schedules (First 250 fans) | Team Autographs | ||||||||||
| Social Media | @GopherMGym | Facebook | Instagram | ||||||||||
The University of Minnesota men's gymnastics team will welcome Air Force to the Sports Pavilion this Saturday, Jan. 21 for a top-ten matchup. The first rotation is scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m.
A Look At Air Force
The Falcons kicked off their season finishing second out of four teams at the Rocky Mountain Open with a team score of 407.350. By event, Air Force holds an edge against the Gophers on pommel horse, rings and parallel bars. Like Minnesota, Air Force's roster boasts just one freshman. In last year's meeting between the two teams, Minnesota picked up a 438.500-434.950 win over the Falcons on the road.
Last Time Out
Minnesota opened the 2017 competition season at the 47th annual Windy City Invite with a fourth-place finish after totaling 397.600 points. While injuries and illness prevented the team from performing to their full potential, there were certainly highlights. The Gophers scored a 71.600 on vault, which has them ranked No. 3 in the nation in the event, led by Yaroslav Pochinka's silver finish (14.650). Ryan Bergman earned bronze on parallel bars with a 14.000. Junior Jalon Stephens also qualified for the 2017 Winter Cup after his placing in the all-around competition.
In The Ranks
Minnesota is tied for the No. 5 ranking in the latest CGA Coaches' Poll with Penn State. After week one, the Gophers are ranked No. 8 on floor (68.350), No. 17 on pommel horse (58.150), No. 12 on rings (65.750), No. 3 on vault (71.600), No. 7 on parallel bars (67.000) and No. 5 on high bar (66.750).
Stuck Dismount Pledge
Each year, the Gophers seek pledges for each stuck dismount over the course of the season. The fundraiser helps the team have an impact on the financial security of the sport. In 2016, the team raised over $40,000 with 156 stuck dismounts. Any amount is accepted, and fans of the sport can pledge online.
