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Three Gophers Competing at USA Championships
8/14/2018 2:57:00 PM | Men's Gymnastics
The University of Minnesota will be well represented at the USA Gymnastics Championships in Boston this weekend, Aug.16-19.
USA Senior National Team member Shane Wiskus along with Gopher alumni Jalon Stephens and Ellis Mannon are among the 78 senior and junior gymnasts who will compete in the men's competition.
"Having the exposure that we are going to have with three athletes at the championships this week is going to be outstanding," head coach Mike Burns said.
The championships determine the men's and women's U.S. champions and U.S. National Teams for the junior and senior elite levels. The championships also will serve as part of the selection process for the U.S. Team for the 2018 World Championships.
Wiskus, Stephens and Mannon are set to compete on Thursday evening at 6:30 p.m. CT on NBCSN and on Saturday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. CT on NBC.
Mannon is a former NCAA champion, Winter Cup champion and back-to-back Big Ten champion on pommel horse. He finished his Gophers career in 2015 and was a late addition to the USA Championships field after competing at the National Qualifier earlier this summer.
"Ellis coming out of retirement, getting back into the mix and making it to the USA Championships is a great feather in his cap," Burns said.
Stephens just finished his eligibility at Minnesota. He helped lead the Gophers to a second place finish at the NCAA Championships. He is a back-to-back All-American on high bar and qualified for the USA Championships with a strong performance at the National Qualifier.
"Jalon just finished his eligibility and it's exciting to see where he is at," Burns said. "He is real motivated."
Wiskus is coming off a phenomenal freshman season for the Gophers. He earned the Big Ten Gymnast and Freshman of the Year as well as the CGA Rookie of the Year. He finished second at the NCAA Championships in all-around and also earned All-American honors on rings and high bar. He spent part of his summer in Tokyo with Team USA and Team Japan.
"Shane is our member of the national team and is hoping he can get back on," Burns said. "This is a very important meet for picking the national team which will be used to pick the world championship team. These next two years are going to be important for the selection of the Olympic team for Tokyo in 2020."
A full release from USA Gymnastics can be found here.
USA Senior National Team member Shane Wiskus along with Gopher alumni Jalon Stephens and Ellis Mannon are among the 78 senior and junior gymnasts who will compete in the men's competition.
"Having the exposure that we are going to have with three athletes at the championships this week is going to be outstanding," head coach Mike Burns said.
The championships determine the men's and women's U.S. champions and U.S. National Teams for the junior and senior elite levels. The championships also will serve as part of the selection process for the U.S. Team for the 2018 World Championships.
Wiskus, Stephens and Mannon are set to compete on Thursday evening at 6:30 p.m. CT on NBCSN and on Saturday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. CT on NBC.
Mannon is a former NCAA champion, Winter Cup champion and back-to-back Big Ten champion on pommel horse. He finished his Gophers career in 2015 and was a late addition to the USA Championships field after competing at the National Qualifier earlier this summer.
"Ellis coming out of retirement, getting back into the mix and making it to the USA Championships is a great feather in his cap," Burns said.
Stephens just finished his eligibility at Minnesota. He helped lead the Gophers to a second place finish at the NCAA Championships. He is a back-to-back All-American on high bar and qualified for the USA Championships with a strong performance at the National Qualifier.
"Jalon just finished his eligibility and it's exciting to see where he is at," Burns said. "He is real motivated."
Wiskus is coming off a phenomenal freshman season for the Gophers. He earned the Big Ten Gymnast and Freshman of the Year as well as the CGA Rookie of the Year. He finished second at the NCAA Championships in all-around and also earned All-American honors on rings and high bar. He spent part of his summer in Tokyo with Team USA and Team Japan.
"Shane is our member of the national team and is hoping he can get back on," Burns said. "This is a very important meet for picking the national team which will be used to pick the world championship team. These next two years are going to be important for the selection of the Olympic team for Tokyo in 2020."
A full release from USA Gymnastics can be found here.
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