Temple University Athletics
Friday, February 1
7:00 p.m.
Temple University
at
West Point Open (team & all-around finals)
Photo by: Madeline Salvani
No. 13 Men's Gymnastics Takes West Point Open Title On Final Performance
2.1.13 | Men's Gymnastics
Results
WEST POINT, N.Y.— It came down to the wire Friday night in team competition at the West Pont Open. The No. 13 Temple men's gymnastics squad trailed host Army by 13.3 points when it came to the last performance of the night. On still rings, graduate student and co-team captain Taylor Brana knew he needed at least a 14.0 to assure the Owls the victory. Brana demonstrated a performance that earned him a 14.6, which was more than enough to solidify the Owls' first meet title of the season.
Going 5-0 on the night to improve to 8-2 on the season, Temple set a season-best team score of 417.400, beating out Army 416.7, No. 11 William & Mary (411.4), Springfield (401.4), No. 15 Navy (398.15) ASU (395.5).
In the process, the Owls won team titles in three events, including rings, floor exercise and on the high bar. Temple came up just short of a fourth title by its parallel bars lineup, who took second, while its pommel horse squad earned third and its vault team placed fourth.
Continuing his strong start to his career in Cherry & White, freshman Jon Rydzefski racked up an all-around score of 81.200 to place third among all six-event gymnasts.
Backing up Brana's make-or-break performance on rings, the team was heavily represented in the top 8, as freshman Evan Eigner put up a fourth place score with his 14.4 and Dashiell Sears followed in fifth, closely, with his 14.2.
While one co-captain captured the victory for the Owls, the other in graduate student Evan Burke claimed Temple's only event title by an individual on the night. In the floor exercise, Burke reserved his spot in Saturday's individual finals and spurred the squad to the event victory, as he displayed a routine that was impressive enough to earn him a top score of 15.3.
Burke qualified for the individual finals for the vault, as he earned a fourth place score of 14.2. Joining him, junior John Leonard ranked seventh in the competition with his earned tally of 14.1
Several Owls will join Burke on Saturday night when the West Point Open reconvenes for the Individual Finals.
Temple had several of its gymnasts place as the runner-up in Friday's events.
Taking second place and qualifying for Saturday's competition, senior Michael Bittner scored a 14.450, falling to Army's Garrek Hojan-Clark, who outdid him with a 14.8. Senior Alex Tighe took a 14.150 to claim fifth, which was ahead of teammate Brendan Williams, who rounded out the Owls presence in the top 8 of the event, allowing him to move on to Saturday as well.
Tighe's performance on the high bar proved to be the second-best one among all paritciapnts, as he was awarded a 14.550, putting him just .100 off from Army's Jesse Glenn. Rydzefski gave a critical performance in helping TU take first place as a team on the apparatus. Rydzefski tied Lee Wilkerson with a score of 13.8 to earn his spot into Saturday's competition.
Having a second place team score on parallel bars, Brana, Rydzefski and Tighe carried the Owls, as they were awarded scores that held up for second, third and fourth, respectively.
Temple will send eight gymnasts to Saturday's event final at the West Point Open on Saturday. Competition is scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m.
WEST POINT, N.Y.— It came down to the wire Friday night in team competition at the West Pont Open. The No. 13 Temple men's gymnastics squad trailed host Army by 13.3 points when it came to the last performance of the night. On still rings, graduate student and co-team captain Taylor Brana knew he needed at least a 14.0 to assure the Owls the victory. Brana demonstrated a performance that earned him a 14.6, which was more than enough to solidify the Owls' first meet title of the season.
Going 5-0 on the night to improve to 8-2 on the season, Temple set a season-best team score of 417.400, beating out Army 416.7, No. 11 William & Mary (411.4), Springfield (401.4), No. 15 Navy (398.15) ASU (395.5).
In the process, the Owls won team titles in three events, including rings, floor exercise and on the high bar. Temple came up just short of a fourth title by its parallel bars lineup, who took second, while its pommel horse squad earned third and its vault team placed fourth.
Continuing his strong start to his career in Cherry & White, freshman Jon Rydzefski racked up an all-around score of 81.200 to place third among all six-event gymnasts.
Backing up Brana's make-or-break performance on rings, the team was heavily represented in the top 8, as freshman Evan Eigner put up a fourth place score with his 14.4 and Dashiell Sears followed in fifth, closely, with his 14.2.
While one co-captain captured the victory for the Owls, the other in graduate student Evan Burke claimed Temple's only event title by an individual on the night. In the floor exercise, Burke reserved his spot in Saturday's individual finals and spurred the squad to the event victory, as he displayed a routine that was impressive enough to earn him a top score of 15.3.
Burke qualified for the individual finals for the vault, as he earned a fourth place score of 14.2. Joining him, junior John Leonard ranked seventh in the competition with his earned tally of 14.1
Several Owls will join Burke on Saturday night when the West Point Open reconvenes for the Individual Finals.
Temple had several of its gymnasts place as the runner-up in Friday's events.
Taking second place and qualifying for Saturday's competition, senior Michael Bittner scored a 14.450, falling to Army's Garrek Hojan-Clark, who outdid him with a 14.8. Senior Alex Tighe took a 14.150 to claim fifth, which was ahead of teammate Brendan Williams, who rounded out the Owls presence in the top 8 of the event, allowing him to move on to Saturday as well.
Tighe's performance on the high bar proved to be the second-best one among all paritciapnts, as he was awarded a 14.550, putting him just .100 off from Army's Jesse Glenn. Rydzefski gave a critical performance in helping TU take first place as a team on the apparatus. Rydzefski tied Lee Wilkerson with a score of 13.8 to earn his spot into Saturday's competition.
Having a second place team score on parallel bars, Brana, Rydzefski and Tighe carried the Owls, as they were awarded scores that held up for second, third and fourth, respectively.
Temple will send eight gymnasts to Saturday's event final at the West Point Open on Saturday. Competition is scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m.
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