University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
NCAA Qualifying Rounds
Gophers Advance to Second-Straight NCAA Finals
4/21/2017 12:00:00 AM | Men's Gymnastics
The University of Minnesota has advanced to team finals at the 2017 NCAA Men's Gymnastics Championships for the second-straight year after finishing third in the second preliminary session on Friday night at the United States Military Academy. The Gophers scored a 420.100, their second-highest score of the year. Minnesota finished behind Oklahoma (430.600) and Illinois (421.300), and ahead of Iowa (412.500), Navy (400.650) and California (400.250).
Minnesota will compete against Oklahoma, Illinois, Stanford, Ohio State and Nebraska tomorrow for the national title. Additional all-around and individual event competitors from non-advancing teams will also be in the mix for All-America honors.
"It was an awesome night for the Gophers," head coach Mike Burns said. "I am really proud of this team. They competed with confidence, and had one of their best meets of the year at one of the most important meets of the year."
The Gophers began the night on parallel bars, posting a 70.400, the team's second-highest score of the season. Joel Gagnon started things off with a clean 14.550 to lead Minnesota. Justin Karstadt followed with a 14.500. Ben Winkel notched a 14.050, and Ryan Bergman followed with a 14.000. Tristan Duran's 13.300 also contributed.
On high bar, Minnesota posted a 66.200. Jalon Stephens stuck his landing for a 14.000. Duran scored a 13.800, and fellow junior Gagnon followed with a 13.700. Karstadt's 13.450 and Herzog's 11.250 rounded out the team's competitors.
The team posted a 70.650 on floor exercise. Senior Zach Liebler notched a 14.400 for the Gophers' top score. Kan earned a 14.350, while Gagnon and Wittenberg each scored a 14.050. Aldrich scored a 13.800.
Minnesota set a season-high 70.000 on pommel horse with five clean sets. Karstadt scored an incredible 14.950, his best this season. Kan matched his personal record with a 14.350. Aldrich scored a 13.800, close behind was Duran's 13.700. Wittenberg scored a 13.200 to add to the team's total.
On rings, the Gophers notched a 70.100. Yaroslav Pochinka matched his personal record with a 14.500. Karstadt followed with a 14.450. Stephens recorded a 13.800, followed by Mitchell Soukup's 13.750 and Kan's 13.600.
Minnesota wrapped the meet on vault with 72.750. Pochinka again led the team, with his second stuck landing of the night, scoring a 14.800. Kan earned a 14.650, and Gagnon earned a 14.600 after sticking. Liebler posted a 14.400 and Karstadt rounded out the lineup with a 14.300.
"It was one of those meets that leaves a smile on your face," Burns said. "There was a lot of guys that stepped up with season-best performances."
Finals will be held Saturday, April 22 at 5:00 p.m. CST at the Holleder Center's Christl Arena. Minnesota will begin with its first rotation on high bar, followed by floor, pommel horse, rings, vault and parallel bars.
"We'll do it all over again tomorrow, and see if we can clean up a little bit more," Burns said. "There's six quality teams tomorrow. We will look to continue to build off the high confidence and precision from tonight."
Follow along to finals at the Championships Central page.
Players Mentioned
