Jan. 17, 2008

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - The Navy gymnastics team will kick off its 2008 season this weekend when it heads to the Holleder Center for the West Point Open. The team and all-around competition will be held on Friday night at 7 p.m., with the top-eight performers in each discipline advancing to the individual event finals on Saturday night at 7 p.m.

In addition to Navy and host Army, the West Point Open will feature Temple, Springfield, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Arizona State (club) and select Eastern club teams. Navy comes into the meet ranked among the top-15 schools nationally, alongside Temple and Army.

Following this weekend's action, the Midshipmen will head back to Annapolis to host William & Mary, Springfield and several junior teams in the Navy Open on Saturday, Jan. 26, in Macdonough Hall.

2008 SEASON PREVIEW

When taking a glance back at the 2007 Navy gymnastics campaign, don't be fooled by its record. Despite finishing the year with a 9-11 record in the regular season, the Midshipmen turned it on at the right time.

The Mids placed second at the USAG Collegiate Division Championship and followed with a fourth-place showing in the ECAC Championship. Eight Navy gymnasts earned a total of 12 USAG Collegiate Division All-America honors and four Mids captured a medal at the ECAC Championship. Two weeks later at the NCAA Qualifying Meet, Navy sent seven of its own and nearly advanced to the NCAA Championship.

Building off that momentum at the end of the year, the Midshipmen return nearly their entire squad from a season ago and welcome in seven qualified gymnasts to help create depth and competition at each event that has developed with a successful training regimen this past fall.

Elected by his peers to serve as team captain for this year is senior Jon-Michael Chombeau. The native of Beaverton, Ore., emerged with a strong showing one season ago, earning USAG Collegiate Division All-America kudos on the vault and advanced to the NCAA Qualifying Meet on that apparatus. The First-Team CGA Academic All-American scored an 8.0 or higher eight times on the vault and has shown flashes of superb effort on the pommel horse and parallel bars.

"Jon-Michael broke into the lineup last year and has become a very competitive vaulter," stated 17-year Navy head coach Sho Fukushima. "Improvements on the basics and increased difficulty may find him contributing on the pommel horse and parallel bars."

In addition to Chombeau, Navy will have the luxury of many other senior gymnasts that have delivered in each of their first-three years in Annapolis. Christopher Tam has been a USAG Collegiate Division All-American in the all-around from 2005-07 and has earned the kudos in the floor exercise, pommel horse, parallel bars and high bar at least once during his career. In addition, he finished the year ranked 17th nationally in the all-around and was among the country's top-20 competitors on the high bar and vault during the 2007 slate. The product of Draper, Utah, won an event nine times last season and finished among the top-three gymnasts on 24 occasions.

"Christopher has maintained steadiness in the all-around," commented Fukushima. "He has also developed more difficult skills on each event to make his routines even more competitive."

In the floor exercise and the vault, the Midshipmen have greatly relied upon the services of Brandon Cook. The Longmont, Colo., native has been a USAG Collegiate Division All-American on the floor exercise and vault every year in which he has donned the Navy blue and gold. He moved on to the NCAA Qualifying Meet in both events, where he finished 19th in the floor exercise and 20th on the vault. Cook began the year ranked as the top vaulter in the country and wound up earning a medal at the ECAC Championship in the discipline.

"Brandon is quite strong in the floor exercise and the vault," said Fukushima. "He has made marked improvement on each event during the preseason. He's also looking to compete on the high bar."

On the high bar, Navy has received significant contribution from the efforts of senior Isaac Olson. Hailing from Spokane, Wash., Olson teamed with Tam to pace the Midshipmen on one of their most successful events. Olson is a two-time USAG Collegiate Division All-American and earned a medal at the ECAC Championship last winter, scoring a 9.0 in both meets.

"The physical strength and skill development through the preseason should bring Isaac to the forefront on the still rings and high bar," Fukushima stated. "He may also see some action on the parallel bars."

Senior Ty Fritz was a steady contributor in both the floor exercise and vault last fall and will be counted on to step up once again in 2008. The 2007 CGA First-Team Academic All-American and nearby Easton, Md., native scored an 8.0 or higher seven times in the floor exercise and twice on the vault one season ago. David Ferris competed in four meets last winter, while Rich Mehlmann partook in 10 meets, primarily focusing on the still rings.

"Ty maintains consistency in the floor exercise and vault," Fukushima said. "David has worked hard for three years developing creative routines that fit his ability, which may land him a spot in the lineup for floor exercise or high bar. Rich is a rings specialist that has been dealing with shoulder injuries."

While Navy's senior class has racked up significant honors, the juniors have followed suit and are primed to make their mark in 2008. Joseph Atzenbeck claimed victory in three different events (pommel horse, parallel bars and high bar) and competed in those disciplines at the NCAA Qualifying Meet. The product of Broomfield, Colo., won the pommel horse at the USAG Collegiate Division Championship and placed third on the same apparatus one week later in the ECAC Championship.

"Coming off a shoulder injury, Joseph should make a strong contribution on the pommel horse and parallel bars," stated Fukushima. "With steady improvements in the floor exercise, he should make his way into the lineup."

However, he has competition as not only one of the best gymnasts on the team and the junior class, but also in his home state, as Centennial, Colo., native Adam Stanton has been a key performer in his first-two years on the Yard. Stanton came away victorious on the pommel horse at the ECAC Championship last March and also earned USAG Collegiate Division All-America distinction on the parallel bars. For his efforts all season in those events, he advanced to the NCAA Qualifying Meet alongside Atzenbeck on both apparatuses.

"A great technician on the pommel horse, Adam continues to develop more difficult routines," Fukushima said. "He has also shown improvement, which could pay off on the still rings and parallel bars."

Four other Navy juniors are expected to compete for a spot in the rotation this winter. James Godfrey placed among the top-six gymnasts on the parallel bars last year to earn USAG Collegiate Division All-America honors. Godfrey also posted marks of 8.0 or higher several times in both the floor exercise and the parallel bars in 2007. Trey James surpassed an 8.0 from the judges on the pommel horse, parallel bars and high bar last year, while Ken Lee did the same in the floor exercise, still rings, vault and high bar. Bobby Ryerson also saw action on the still rings twice one season ago and will work for a spot in the lineup in multiple events.

"Superior execution will bring James to the forefront," Fukushima stated. "Trey's hard work this preseason should produce dividends and we expect strong performances on the pommel horse. Ken is the most dynamic vaulter of the group and has developed many skills during the preseason. Bobby is working his way back from shoulder surgery."

Navy's freshman class will have quality leadership to help in their first collegiate gymnastics season. However, the Midshipmen Class of 2011 will also battle for several spots in the rotation and make an immediate impact. Andrew Faulk, Joseph Kramer, Dylan Parrott, Brian Quinn and Grant Waldron all competed at the Junior Olympic Nationals prior to their arrival in Annapolis. Faulk and Kramer each were members of their regional team and could immediately produce for the Mids this winter.

"Andrew was a highly recruited gymnast that has great potential," said Fukushima. "Dylan is an exciting plebe and with improved strength and structure could be one of our top performers. Brian is still developing, but has shown promise on the still rings and parallel bars. As his difficult builds, Grant should work his way into the lineup and maybe able to contribute on the still rings and vault."