Temple University Athletics
Owls Set Pace at Southwest Cup
3.14.07 | Men's Gymnastics
March 14, 2007
TEMPE, AZ - The Temple men's gymnastics team (13-3) is reeling after posting a season-high score of 204.750 against club-program Arizona State, and #16 Air Force Academy at the Southwest Cup held on March 2 in Tempe, AZ.
Leading the charge for Temple on the floor exercise were senior floor specialist Clay Stewart (whip-3/1; 9.350) and sophomores John Vogtman and Nick Iles (8.750). The three catapulted Temple to a 35.500 team score.
Several Owls showed consistency on the pommel horse, where junior Luke Vexler (8.600) and senior Dan Berlin (8.450) were tops. All four of the Owls counting scores topped 8.000 to compile an impressive 33.100 total.
Rings were led by John Vogtman's 8.950, with Vexler and junior Sterling Kramer chipping in scores of 8.450 en route to a 34.250 team score.
Both Vogtman (8.950 for a Kas 1/1) and Kramer (8.800 for a 2/1 Yurchenko) led the Owls' vaulting squad. Vaulting is normally one of Temple's strongest events, but miscues from both senior Derek Shepard and freshman Patrick McLaughlin kept the team total at 34.350.
The Owls posted one of their highest parallel bar team scores of the season with a 33.750. Highlighting the bars rotation were Kramer and Vogtman (8.700) and junior Andy Corp (8.600).
The Owls finished their night on high bar, and again showed huge improvements from earlier in the season. An impressive 33.800 team score featured 8.700's from Corp (triple flyaway) and Kramer (Kolmann; Kovacs).
The Owls enjoyed a week off from competition, and now face ECAC conference-rival Navy in the final home meet of the regular season. The dual-meet with Navy is scheduled for Saturday, March 17 at 2:00 p.m. in McGonigle Hall.
