University of Minnesota Athletics
Preview: Gophers Travel to Arnold Challenge
3/2/2017 12:00:00 AM | Men's Gymnastics
| Meet 7: Arnold Challenge | |||||||||||
| Date | Saturday, March 4 (12:45 p.m.) | ||||||||||
| Location | Burnham Pavilion | Stanford, Calif. | ||||||||||
| Live Scoring | |||||||||||
| Social Media | @GopherMGym | Facebook | Instagram | ||||||||||
The No. 5 Golden Gophers will travel to Columbus, Ohio for the 2017 Arnold Challenge to face No. 4 Ohio State and Ukraine's National Team. The meet is scheduled for Saturday, March 4 at 12:30 p.m.
WEEKEND REWIND
Last weekend, Minnesota fell to the Japan National Team and No. 2 Stanford, but finished ahead of the Canadian National Team at the International Collegiate Challenge. The Gophers posted a team score of 405.600. The team tallied a 70.150 on parallel bars, the highest score of the season in the event. After battling injuries, seniors Zach Liebler and Mitchell Soukup made their way back in the lineup. Minnesota's Yaroslav Pochinka and Liebler earned gold and silver, respectively, on vault to close out the meet. The competition was also the first five-up, five-count meet format of the year.
IN THE RANKS
The Gophers have been ranked No. 5 in the College Gymnastics Association Coaches' Poll for the entire season. With the three score average, Minnesota is No. 6 with a 412.883. By event, the program is No. 5 on floor (70.200), No. 7 on pommel horse (67.050), No. 6 on rings (69.183), No. 2 on vault (72.417), No. 7 on parallel bars (69.050) and No. 7 on high bar (67.717). Individually, the Gophers have two gymnasts ranked in the top-10 in their respective events. Pochinka is tied with Oklahoma's Justus for the No. 1 spot on vault (15.000), while Vitali Kan is tied at No. 6 (14.800). On floor, Kan is No. 10 (14.483).
ABOUT THE OPPONENTS
This will be Ohio State's first five up, five count of the season, as they did not compete last weekend. The program is No. 4 in the country, and boast a 417.833 three score average. Individually, the Buckeyes have six individuals in the top 10 in various events, including three on parallel bars. Ukraine will send seven of its National Team members to the meet.
HOME SWEET HOME
After four weekends, Minnesota will return to the Sports Pavilion for a two-meet homestand. The Gophers will face Iowa and the Arizona State club team on March 11, followed by a meet against UIC on March 18. Tickets are available at mygophersports.com.
Players Mentioned
