After posting one of the program's best seasons in school history, which included an Eastern Collegiate Athletic Association title, a NCAA Championship appearance and the program's sixth College Gymnastics Association national academic team title, the William and Mary men's gymnastics squad enters the 2015 campaign looking to build upon the tremendous success it achieved a year ago. Although the graduation of a talented three-member senior class, which was led by three-time NCAA All-American Landon Funiciello, will certainly pose a test, the Tribe's roster includes a number of capable gymnasts who are ready to meet the challenge. Among those who will be helping lead this year's team will be senior captains Michael Deitz and J.J. Jindra, who have both established themselves as tremendous leaders and competitors both in and out of the gym throughout their collegiate careers.
A fixture in W&M's floor exercise, vault and high bar lineups, Deitz ranks among the program's top 10 in all three events. Additionally, the Manassas, Va., native posted the team's top hit percentage last season and earned the bronze medal on high bar at the 2014 USAG Collegiate National Championships after recording the program's second-best score ever in the event. He also garnered the Bruce Davidson Scholarship last spring, which is the given to an outstanding rising senior at W&M who excels in an Olympic sport. A three-time All-American Scholar-Athlete, Deitz has also distinguished himself outside the gym by leading various volunteer projects and chairing the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) service committee.
After establishing himself as the Tribe's top point scorer last season, Jindra will once again lead the team as an all-arounder in 2015. Honored as the ECAC Rookie of the Year following his freshman campaign, the Fairfax, Va., native has earned USA Gymnastics Collegiate All-America distinction in all-around and high bar. Additionally, he ranks among the Tribe's top 10 in all-around, rings, high bar and parallel bars. An outstanding student, Jindra is a three-time Academic All-American Scholar-Athlete and will graduate with a degree in finance this spring.
One of the most outstanding performers in school history on pommel horse, senior Peter Ten Eyck returns for his senior season poised to challenge for the conference title in the event after being edged for the gold medal by just .05 last season. The Cincinnati, Ohio native has also developed remarkably on rings and should be a significant contributor with the lineup, which lost three of the program's all-time best performers to graduation. Ten Eyck has matched his performance in the gym with success in the classroom and has garnered first-team Academic All-American Scholar-Athlete accolades.
Another of W&M's top performers on pommel horse is senior Jason Wang, who is the defending ECAC champion and school record holder in the event. The Tigard, Ore., native combines a dynamic swing with an artistic element that is thrilling to watch. Wang's spindle actions combined with perfectly lined travels, both with and without twisting variations, gives him a fast and free-flowing routine packed with difficulty. The two-time USA Gymnastics Collegiate All-American has also distinguished himself in the classroom and has earned Academic All-American Scholar-Athlete honors three times while pursuing a neuroscience/pre-med major.
The five-member junior class is led by NCAA All-American Neal Courter, who has established himself as one of the nation's top performers on vault. In addition to placing third and 11th in the event at the NCAA Championships during the past two seasons, he finished fourth and outscored all of the members of the 2012 Olympic team at the Proctor and Gamble U. S. Championships/World Games trials in 2013. A former ECAC Rookie of the Year, Courter also placed 10th on floor exercise at the U.S. Championships last fall and has won three USA Gymnastics Collegiate national titles – two on vault and one on floor exercise. The Baton Rouge, La., native also excels on high bar and has garnered USA Gymnastics Collegiate All-America honors in the event twice. Courter is also an outstanding student and is a two-time first-team Academic All-American Scholar-Athlete.
After earning USA Gymnastics Collegiate All-America honors in all-round and ranking as the team's No. 3 point scorer last season, junior Keaton Ackerman should continue his ascent as one of Tribe's top gymnasts this spring. In addition to ranking third on W&M's all-time pommel horse list, he also ranks among the program's top-10 lists in all-around and vault. The Penfield, N.Y., native has also distinguished himself in the classroom and is a two-time first-team Academic All-American Scholar-Athlete.
One of the Tribe's best performers on floor exercise, junior Simon Casey ranks ninth all-time at W&M in the event and is a powerful tumbler and has excellent twisting ability. The Natick, Mass., native is also an important member of the pommel horse lineup and could also contribute on vault as he hones in on a double twisting Tsukahara while also working on a handspring double front.
A pair of juniors poised for breakout seasons are Adam Avant and Nick Van Dyke. After missing all of last season due to injuries, Avant is well positioned to make a significant impact on floor exercise, vault, parallel bars and high bar. Van Dyke's hard work and dedication to strength development have resulted in a complete physical transformation that could allow him to compete for spots in the rings, vault and floor exercise lineups.
After competing as an all-arounder for much of his freshman season, sophomore Aria Sabbagh returns looking to make an even greater impact this year. In addition to moving into eighth place in all-around on W&M's all-time list, he ranks ninth on vault. The Kansas City, Mo., native also excelled in the classroom during his rookie campaign and earned first-team All-American Scholar-Athlete honors.
Sophomore Rob Meyer also made an immediate impact during his freshman campaign last season and ranked 10th in the team point standings. In addition to likely being a member of the Tribe's dynamic pommel horse lineup, the Maryville, Tenn., native will also compete on rings and parallel bars.
Although he saw limited action last season, sophomore Mat Turnansky hopes to make an impact on rings this year as he continues to coalesce his strength and swing sequences into a solid routine. The Phoenix, Ariz., native has also shown good improvement on floor exercise and parallel bars and hopes to work his way into those lineups as well. An excellent student, he earned first-team All-American Scholar-Athlete distinction in 2014.
Sophomore Jimmy Guiliano's development on floor exercise, pommel horse and rings has been temporarily disrupted while he pursues rehabilitation this season. However, he will continue to be a vital member of the squad as he provides his teammates with full-fledged support and encouragement as he works his way back.
Bolstering the roster this season will be a talented six-member freshman class that possesses the ability to help the team in various lineups.
Griffin Antle joins the Tribe after becoming the New Hampshire state all-around champion and placing second on pommel horse at the USA Gymnastics Junior Olympic Championships (18-year-old division). His excellent long body line and precision on pommel horse transfers well to his above the bar support swing on parallel bars.
Although he eventually expects to compete as an all-arounder, Mitchell Campbell will initially vie for a spot on high bar, his best event, and parallel bars. The Austin, Texas native is well-grounded and has a very analytical approach to gymnastics that combines well with his solid work ethic.
A former silver medalist at the World Maccabiah Games as a member of the U.S. Gymnastics Team, Jake Feldmann will initially make his biggest impact on floor exercise, vault and parallel bars, while he will also train on rings.
Unfortunately, Jake Honsberger will likely miss the majority of his freshman season rehabilitating a foot injury suffered during his senior year of high school. Once healthy, he will concentrate his efforts on pommel horse, rings and vault.
Jeremiah McReynolds will be a valuable addition to the Tribe's roster and could compete in as many as three lineups – rings, high bar and parallel bars. A surprisingly powerful gymnast, he possesses the potential to develop in all-around as he progresses with his basic pommel horse technique and works on his visual cueing mechanics for flipping and twisting skills.
Ryan Metzger's best event is rings where his is working toward consolidating everything on his swing technique while simultaneously developing his strength. Additionally, his floor exercise will be carried by his Manna and presses while he works to develop his tumbling.
