Tribe Men’s Gymnasts Captures Fourth Consecutive USAG Collegiate National Title

W&M Senior Jamie Northrup Finishes Second in All-Around

04/10/04 4:17PM

DENTON, TX - William and Mary’s 13th-ranked men’s gymnastics team put the perfect end to what has been and exciting 2004 season by capturing the USA Gymnastics Collegiate National Team Champion-ship on Friday evening in Denton, TX at the event hosted by the University of Texas Woman’s University.

The championship is the team’s fourth consecutive title at the event and sixth in the last seven years.

William and Mary’s team score of 209.650 easily outdistanced runner-up Navy (205.300) and third place fin-isher Air Force (202.800). Springfield College (202.300) and Southern Connecticut State (193.825) rounded out the five team field.

A Tribe individual posted the meet’s top score on four of the six events. Leading the way was sophomore Ramon Jackson (Orlando, FL), the reigning 2004 NCAA Parallel Bar Champion, who won both his specialty event, with a meet high mark of 9.4, and the high bar (9.175). Senior Nissen-Emory Finalist Jamie Northrup took the top honors on the floor exercise with a score of 8.850 and also placed second overall in the all-around compe-tition (52.300). Fellow all-arounder, sophomore Matt Elson (Brookville, WI), won the vault event with a mark of 9.275 and also placed sixth overall with a six-event total of 50.675.

The Tribe advanced at least two individuals to Saturday evening’s Event Finals, which will begin at 7:00 p.m. CST. The top six place-winners in each in each event will receive recognition as a USA-G Collegiate All-American. The following is a complete listing of the Tribe individuals who advanced to the respective event fi-nals.

Floor Exercise
Jamie Northrup (8.850)
Alan Palesko (8.550)

Pommel Horse
Jamie Northrup (8.350)
David Ridings (8.250)

Still Rings
Jeff Jaekle (9.150)
Charles Portz (9.000)

Vault
Matt Elson (9.275)
Ramon Jackson (9.250)

Parallel Bars
Ramon Jackson (9.400)
Stephen Douglass (8.600)

High Bar
Ramon Jackson (9.175)
Matt Roosevelt (8.700)