Temple University Athletics
Saturday, January 19
2:00 p.m.
Temple University
at
Navy Open
Quest To Defend ECAC Title Begins; Men's Gymnastics Opens Season At Navy On Saturday
1.18.13 | Men's Gymnastics
PHILADELPHIA— Coming off an NCAA Tournament appearance and their 16th ECAC Championship last season, Temple Men's Gymnastics returns to the apparatuses looking to defend their title. On Saturday at 2:00 p.m., Temple will make its way to the U.S. Naval Academy for its season-opening meet. The Navy Open will feature top tier competition in host Navy, William & Mary and Penn State, who was ranked No. 3 in the nation last season and was the squad responsible for handing TU its only two losses a year ago.
Under the direction of 37-year head coach Fred Turoff, the Owls went 17-2 last season, including an undefeated slate against fellow ECAC squads. Their flawless efforts helped them claim a program-best team score of 347.400, which occurred at the ECAC Championship. Turoff's Owls closed out the 2012 season ranked No.10 in the nation and were ranked as high as No. 9 during the regular season
With all of that now in the rearview and losing six key seniors due to graduation, the Owls have a plethora of depth going into 2013 with what remains from last years team in addition to the seven newcomers.
With the loss of seven gymnasts, six of which were seniors, the Owls are in good hands with newly elected captains in graduate students Taylor Brana and Evan Burke.
Brana and Burke will strive to lead and motivate the team to have the success that it did a season ago, while relying on a talented seniors: Zachary Aguiar, Allan Malone, Dashiell Sears, Brett Statman, Alex Tighe and Assaf Zoor.
Malone and Tighe return after putting together consistent stellar performances last year, which helped spur Temple to an ECAC title. Tighe was the conference's parallel bar champion, while Malone took first place in the floor exercise during the team competition.
Junior John Leonard also played a catalytic role for the team a year ago and returns to defend his ECAC floor exercise gold medal.
Redshirt freshman Phillip Longo, sophomores Michael Bittner, Scott Haddaway, along with junior Charles Baldi and Brendan Williams, the Owls should have plenty of stability to support themselves during another ECAC title run.
To replenish and strengthen the program for the upcoming season and beyond, Turoff has added seven newcomers, including: Wayne Conley, Blaise Cosenza, Aaron Meland, Phillip Pruett, Jon Rydzefski, Mark Vaccaro and his son Evan Eigner.
Following Saturday's season-opener at the Navy Open, the Owls will compete at Springfield, West Point and the Winter Cup Challend out in Las Vegas befote hosting William & Mary and Penn State in McGonigle Hall on Feb. 16. From there Temple will wrap up its regular season road slate with trips to SUNY Brockport, California, Air Force and University of Illinois-Chicago. The Owls will get a chance to tune up for the ECAC Championships at home a week prior when it hosts Army and Navy on March 3 for Alumni Homecoming and Senior Day.
For more of an in-depth outlook on the upcoming season, watch head coach Fred Turfoff's interview above.
Under the direction of 37-year head coach Fred Turoff, the Owls went 17-2 last season, including an undefeated slate against fellow ECAC squads. Their flawless efforts helped them claim a program-best team score of 347.400, which occurred at the ECAC Championship. Turoff's Owls closed out the 2012 season ranked No.10 in the nation and were ranked as high as No. 9 during the regular season
With all of that now in the rearview and losing six key seniors due to graduation, the Owls have a plethora of depth going into 2013 with what remains from last years team in addition to the seven newcomers.
With the loss of seven gymnasts, six of which were seniors, the Owls are in good hands with newly elected captains in graduate students Taylor Brana and Evan Burke.
Brana and Burke will strive to lead and motivate the team to have the success that it did a season ago, while relying on a talented seniors: Zachary Aguiar, Allan Malone, Dashiell Sears, Brett Statman, Alex Tighe and Assaf Zoor.
Malone and Tighe return after putting together consistent stellar performances last year, which helped spur Temple to an ECAC title. Tighe was the conference's parallel bar champion, while Malone took first place in the floor exercise during the team competition.
Junior John Leonard also played a catalytic role for the team a year ago and returns to defend his ECAC floor exercise gold medal.
Redshirt freshman Phillip Longo, sophomores Michael Bittner, Scott Haddaway, along with junior Charles Baldi and Brendan Williams, the Owls should have plenty of stability to support themselves during another ECAC title run.
To replenish and strengthen the program for the upcoming season and beyond, Turoff has added seven newcomers, including: Wayne Conley, Blaise Cosenza, Aaron Meland, Phillip Pruett, Jon Rydzefski, Mark Vaccaro and his son Evan Eigner.
Following Saturday's season-opener at the Navy Open, the Owls will compete at Springfield, West Point and the Winter Cup Challend out in Las Vegas befote hosting William & Mary and Penn State in McGonigle Hall on Feb. 16. From there Temple will wrap up its regular season road slate with trips to SUNY Brockport, California, Air Force and University of Illinois-Chicago. The Owls will get a chance to tune up for the ECAC Championships at home a week prior when it hosts Army and Navy on March 3 for Alumni Homecoming and Senior Day.
For more of an in-depth outlook on the upcoming season, watch head coach Fred Turfoff's interview above.
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