Temple University Athletics
Stewart, Vogtman Headline Owls At ECAC-EIGL Individual Championships
4.1.07 | Men's Gymnastics
April 1, 2007
ECAC-EIGL Individual Event Results
PHILADELPHIA - The 2007 ECAC-EIGL Conference Championships came to a close on Sunday afternoon with the individual event finals held at McGonigle Hall. In an atmosphere that was much more relaxed than yesterday's team and all-around competition, the athletes took center stage as the audience was treated to some high-flying gymnastics.
On the floor exercise, Temple senior Clay Stewart cruised to a first place finish with a career-high score of 9.500 (back 3/2, front 1/1, Rudi; front 2/1, barani; full-twisting whip, back 5/2; 2/1 side pass; stuck whip-triple dismount).
"I had a lot of fun out there today, to the point where I couldn't stop smiling during my routine. It's been my goal all season to win this floor championship. The win gives me more confidence to reach my other goal, which is to be an NCAA All-American on floor exercise," said Stewart.
Placing second was Bobby Solomon of Illinois-Chicago (stuck double Arabian mount; 5/2 barani; tucked Thomas; stuck 2/1 dismount-9.000) while Sloan Crawford of William & Mary (whip-5/2; tucked Thomas; front 1/1, punch front 1/34; tucked Arabian step-out through to a 2/1 dismount-8.850) finished third.
All-around champion Luke Vexler tied for fifth with teammate Sterling Kramer and Illinois-Chicago's Anthony May.
Pommel horse almost saw another first place showing for Temple, with John Vogtman placing second to winner Adam Stanton of Navy (nice open hips on his swing, great handstand pirouetting work through to his dismount). Vogtman's 8.600 was the result of a fall during a Magyar, but was still good enough to tie him with Navy's Joseph Atzenbeck (full spindle, Magyar, Savado).
Luke Vexler finished fourth (8.550), and junior Andrew Corp ranked seventh (7.800).
Over at the still rings, UIC's Nikolai Korepanov dominated with an untouchable 9.400 (kip-maltese; uprise-maltese; uprise-planche- push to inverted cross; Jonasson; full-in dismount). Vogtman finished second with a solid 8.900 (uprise maltese-push planche; uprise straddle planche; Yamawaki-straddle planche, stuck full twisting double tuck).
Tying for third with scores of 8.700 were Kramer (kip-iron cross; Jonasson-Yamawaki, back uprise straddle-L; stuck full-in), and UIC's May (Honma-maltese; kip maltese; kip iron cross; Jonasson-Yamawaki; Honma-iron cross; stuck full-in). Temple's Derek Shepard was fifth (8.650), and MIT's Boris Rasin powered his way through a difficult set for an 8.600 and sixth place finish.
After two consecutive second place showings, Vogtman finally got the gold he was looking for today with a stuck Kasamatsu 1/1 (9.100). Navy's Brandon Cook vaulted a very clean Kas; for 8.600 and second place, while Army's Tyler Ho took a slight shuffle after his Kas; for third place (8.500).
On parallel bars, Army's Eliot Proctor was victorious with an 8.700 (Healy, Healy to upper arms; Stutz; stuck double tuck dismount). It appeared that Kramer was going to walk away with this title, but stumbled forward on his new double pike dismount for an 8.650. The rest of his set was incredible, highlighted by a peach to handstand, Diamidov, back toss, Stutz combination. Luke Vexler nabbed the bronze medal with a respectable 8.600 (peach, Belle; giant; back toss; double tuck). Temple freshman Patrick McLaughlin finished ninth (7.650).
High bar closed the afternoon out, and also provided the first shut out for the Temple Owls. Winning high bar today was UIC's Tim Morrison with a 9.100 (Tkatchev; excellent pirouetting work; small step on his 1/1 twisting double layout). Right behind him was Navy's Isaac Olson who wowed the crowd with his impeccable lines and sky-high Geinger release (9.000). Last up on the event was UIC's Andrew Stover, and he got the crowd pumped with his solid 8.900 and third place (Tkatchev; Rybalko to mixed grip; stuck double twisting double layout) finish. Vexler finished in a tie for fourth with Army's George Rhynedance (8.850), while Kramer mustered but an 8.400 for his dazzling set (Kolmann; Kovacs).
During the competition, several conference honors were awarded based on a voting system by the coaches in the conference. Winning Coach of the Year was James Madison University's Roger Burke; Assistant Coach of the Year went to Navy's Craig Holt; Rookie of the Year went to UIC's Nikolai Korepanov; UIC's Tim Morrison won Senior Athlete of the Year; Army's George Rhynedance was awarded Most Improved Gymnast of the Year.
The Temple men head back into the gym to prepare for the NCAA National Championships scheduled for April 12-14 at Rec Hall on the campus of Penn State. The Owls have qualified to the preliminary day of competition, where they will compete for a spot in the NCAA finals.
