March 15, 2008

Results

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - The Navy gymnastics team recorded season-best marks in two events to produce its highest score of the year to defeat Temple, 343.95-339.35, on Saturday afternoon in Macdonough Hall. The 13th-ranked Midshipmen improved to 9-6 on the year, while the 12th-ranked Owls saw their record dip to 10-4.

Navy's 343.95-point output on Saturday was 3.15 points than its previous season-best performance against William & Mary two weeks ago in Annapolis. The Midshipmen smashed season highs on the pommel horse (56.55 points) and high bar (57.75 points) to guide their way to victory over the higher-ranked Owls.

The biggest advantage of the day came on the pommel horse, where it out-scored its guests, 56.55-52.2, and owned the four-highest individual marks on the day. Adam Stanton (Jr./Centennial, Colo.) won the event with a score of 14.5, followed by Joe Atzenbeck's (Jr./Broomfield, Colo.) 14.4, Christopher Tam's (Sr./Draper, Utah) 13.95 and Trey James's (Jr./Matthews, N.C.) 13.7. Stanton would also finish second on the still rings with a season-high 14.3-point routine to lead the Mids to a 56.6-56.1 victory on the apparatus.

Navy defeated Temple on the high bar, 57.75-57.45, with the help of four of the day's six-best scores. Tam led all Midshipmen gymnasts with a season-high score of 14.85 from the judges.

The other event victory for the Midshipmen came on the vault, where they owned a 60.05-59.3 advantage. Brandon Cook (Sr./Longmont, Colo.) led all competitors on Saturday with an impressive score of 15.55. Cook would also boast the highest score on the floor exercise with a 15.15-point showing.

All-around gymnasts Dylan Parrott (Fr./Rockwell, N.C.) and Tam each produced season-high totals in placing second and third, respectively, on Saturday. Parrott scored higher than a 14.0 in five of the six disciplines to rack up 85.65 points, while Tam earned a 14.25 or higher in three events to accumulate 85.15 points.

The Midshipmen will close out their regular season on Friday, when they head to the William & Mary Invitational in Williamsburg, Va. The meet is slated for a 7 p.m. start.