William & Mary Athletics

Aria is the complete package when it comes to being a student-athlete and leader. For the second year in a row he not only received USA Gymnastics Collegiate All-American designation in the all-around but also finished the season as our team’s top point scorer.  For three straight years, Aria has earned first team Academic All-American Scholar-Athlete honors from the College Gymnastics Association as well as Provost Award designation for academic excellence at William and Mary. He has also been elected by his teammates to serve as one of our team captains as well as by his peers to serve as the student-athlete representative on the USA Gymnastics Men’s Collegiate Gymnastics Committee. Additionally, he is a member of the Student Athletic Advisory Committee at William and Mary…Over the past two summers, Aria has been involved in breast cancer research first in the University of Kansas Cancer Center’s student summer research training program and then in Houston through the Baylor College of Medicine’s summer medical and research training program. At the end of both summers, he presented his research to the physicians and scientists at each university…Aria also has a knack for analyzing and communicating technical aspects of gymnastics to his teammates which boosts everybody’s progress in the gym and solidifies his position as a consummate teammate. He currently ranks sixth in our all-time record books in the all-around, eighth on high bar, and tenth on vaulting… Aria was coached by Michael Thomas and Jeremy Bourdette at Emerald City Gymnastics…He is a first generation Iranian-American majoring in neuroscience with plans to go on to medical school…Aria’s parents are Fariba Behbod and Behrooz Sabbagh.

2017 Highlights
Earned USA Gymnastics Collegiate All-America honors in all-around (75.7, fourth), on high bar (13.2, second) and parallel bars (12.8, sixth) … Garnered All-ECAC honors on high bar (13.5) by placing fifth … Finished 17th in all-around during the finals at the NCAA Championships … Placed 20th on parallel bars (13.45), 24th on rings (13.15) and 35th on pommel horse (11.2) during the opening session of the qualifying round of the NCAA Championships … Won all-around title (78.2) and recorded season highs on floor (13.6) and pommel horse (12.35) in the Senior Day victory against Army and Temple … Posted career highs in all-around (79.8) and parallel bars (13.65), as well as a season best on high bar (13.6), at Navy … Registered a season-best 13.4 on rings at the ECAC Championship … Tallied a season-high 13.9 on vault in the win against Navy … Earned W&M’s Provost Award for academic excellence … Earned first-team All-American Scholar-Athlete distinction by the College Gymnastics Association …

2016 Highlights
Garnered USA Gymnastics Collegiate All-America honors in all-around with a sixth-place finish (79.0) … Earned All-ECAC distinction in all-around by placing sixth (81.15) … Placed 10th in all-around during the second session of the first day of competition at the NCAA Championships … Won titles in all-around (80.05) and on high bar (14.4) at the State Open … The impressive mark on high bar represented a career best … Also claimed titles in all-around (80.9) and on high bar (14.3) at the New England Championships … Tied for first on parallel bars at Army (2/27) … Won high bar title in win against Navy (3/6) … Posted a career-high 81.35 in all-around at Navy (2/21) ... Also recorded season highs on floor (14.15) and rings (13.8) at the meet … Registered season bests on pommel horse (12.75) and vault (14.35) at the Navy Open … Tallied a career-high 13.75 on parallel bars at the New England Championships … Earned W&M’s Provost’s Award … College Gymnastics Association first-team Academic All-American Scholar-Athlete ...

2015 Highlights
Earned USA Gymnastics Collegiate All-America honors after placing third at the championship meet with a career-high 81.35, which ranks sixth in W&M's record book ... Also earned career highs on rings (14.0), parallel bars (13.6) and high bar (13.65) at the USAG meet … Competed as an individual qualifier in all-around at the NCAA Championships …  Recorded career bests on pommel horse (13.1) and vault (14.4) versus Army … Registered a career-high 14.35 on floor during the first day of competition at the ECAC Championships … Earned W&M’s Provost Award … ECAC All-Academic Team honoree … College Gymnastics Association first-team Academic All-American Scholar-Athlete ...

2014 Highlights
Competed as an all-arounder for much of the season … Best all-around score came at the State Open (77.1) … Posted a season-high 13.85 on floor against Navy on March 2 … Recorded a season-best 14.35 on vault against Temple and Army on March 9 … Earned the W&M Provost's Award ... College Gymnastics Association first-team Academic All-American Scholar-Athlete ...

Career Highlights
• USA Gymnastics Collegiate All-American - all-around (2015, 2016, 2017)
• USA Gymnastics Collegiate All-American - high bar, parallel bars (2017)
• All-ECAC - High Bar (2017)
• W&M Provost's Award (2015, 2017)
• ECAC All-Academic Team (2015)
• First-Team Academic All-American Scholar-Athlete (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017)

Sabbagh's Career Highs
FE - 14.35 at ECAC Championships (3/27/15)
PH - 13.1 vs. Army (3/14/15)
R - 14.0 at USAG Collegiate Championships (3/20/15)
V - 14.4 vs. vs. Army (3/14/15)
PB - 13.65 at Navy (1/28/17)
HB - 14.4 at State Open (1/17/16)
AA - 79.8 at Navy (1/28/17)