W&M Sinks Navy in Men’s Gymnastics

Tribe Established Team Season Best Score

03/06/05 7:14PM

Wiliamsburg, VA - As has been the case for the better part of the last three decades, the Tribe’s men’s gymnastics squad always seems to improve as the season wears on under the tutelage of head coach Cliff Gauthier. The 2005 season seems to be no different, as the Tribe notched its season high score of 209.8 en-route to a resounding dual meet win over visiting United States Naval Academy (204.150) this afternoon in William and Mary Hall.

The Tribe, ranked 12th in the lastest polls, improved its record to 10-7 on the year and positions itself for a crucial weekend of competition coming up next Friday and Sunday.

As a team, the College swept all six events from the 14th-ranked Midshipmen. Individually, William and Mary had at least two individuals in the top three of all six events and produced five outright event champions.

Junior Ramon Jackson (Orlando, FL) led the squad in scoring for the sixth-straight meet as he put to-gether an all-around score of 52.50. This score is made even more impressive when the considering it includes a fall on his specialty event (parallel bars), which resulted in his having his first routine of the season not count towards the team total (was 25 of 25 coming into the event). Jackson was able to put the fall behind him quickly, as he came back and worked an outstanding high bar set which earned him a meet-high mark of 9.05 (which ties his season best, as well). He was also the meet’s individual high scorer on the vault as well, as he flipped to a mark of 9.35.

Freshman David Locke (Natick, MA) started the ball rolling for the team, as he rolled to a team-season best mark of 9.0 on the floor exercise. His performance came right on the heels of Dave Ridings’ (Parkton, MD) own personal best mark of 8.8 on the same event.

Despite Locke’s heroics, the Tribe clung to the lead by just a half a point, until the pommel horse corps stepped up. Led by junior team co-captain Owen Nicholls (Anchorage, AK), the Tribe stretched its advantage out more than a full point by posting a team total of 33.75 (to Navy’s 32.250). Nicholls earned the win with a mark of 8.65, while sophomores Chris Portz (Humble, TX) and Dave Ridings (Parkton, MD) tied for second overall with a mark of 8.6.

The still rings saw the Tribe add nearly another full team point, as junior Jeff Jaekle (Strattford, CT) anchored the corps by muscling his way to a team season and personal-best mark of 9.45. The mark was the single highest for the College on the afternoon, yet, ironically, it didn’t win the event, as Navy’s Sean Blackman took top honors with an outstanding mark of 9.5. The Tribe was able to off-set Blackman’s big number by receiving a large score of its own from Jackson, who powered out a personal best mark of 9.2.

Both teams were sharp on the vault, as each broke the 36-point barrier, but once again, Jackson proved to be the difference, as he flew to a meet best mark of 9.35. He was nearly matched by fellow sophomore Matt Elson (Brookfield, WI), who placed third overall with a score of 9.100.

As close as the two teams were in the vault event, they couldn’t have been much different on the parallel bars, as the Tribe assumed a commanding lead by posting a team score of 34.200 in the event, compared to Navy’s 32.900. As previously mentioned, the Tribe didn’t even count Jackson score on the event in which he is the reigning national champion, as he fell during his set and was forced to take a 7.85. Freshman Andrew Hunt (Upper Black Eddy, PA) took full advantage of the opening left by Jackson and recorded his first collegiate event title by swinging to a personal best mark of 8.7. Elson was not far behind, as he turned in a respectable mark of 8.55 to claim second overall.

While the event was no longer in doubt by the time the high bar event was contested, some late drama by Jackson, Aaron Ingram (Holden, MA) and senior team co-captain Steve Douglass (Clarks Summit, PA) powered the team to its team season best score. When Douglass stood under the bar, the team already had seen the first three athletes take falls. Needing a strong home score to keep pace for a potential NCAA bid, Douglass came through with his best routine of the season and scored a strong 9.0. Jackson followed with his usual clutch performance and nailed his set as well, by tying his season personal best with a mark of 9.05. Ingram closed the meet on a strong note as he also flew to his personal best, with a mark of 8.65. The trio swept the top three spots in the event and put the perfect finish to what was a solid afternoon for the College.

William and Mary’s next action will come next Friday evening, as it will play host to Army at 7:00 p.m..

Team Scoring
1 No. 12 William and Mary 209.800
2 No. 14 Navy 204.150

Top Three Individuals
Floor Exercise
1T Dave Locke WM 9.000
1T Brandon Cook Navy 9.000
3 Ramon Jackson WM 8.800

Pommel Horse
1 Owen Nicholls WM 8.650
2T Dave Ridings WM 8.600
2T Chuck Portz WM 8.600

Still Rings
1 Sean Blackman Navy 9.500
2 Jeff Jaekle WM 9.450
3 Ramon Jackson WM 9.200

Vault
1 Ramon Jackon WM 9.350
2 Josh Blackman Navy 9.200
3 Matt Elson WM 9.100

Parallel Bars
1 Andrew Hunt WM 8.700
2 Matt Elson WM 8.550
2 Grant Regelin Navy 8.550

Horizontal Bar
1 Ramon Jackson WM 9.050
2 Steve Douglass WM 9.000
3 Aaron Ingram WM 8.650

All-Around
1 Ramon Jackson WM 52.500
2 Josh Blackman Navy 51.050
3 Matt Elson WM 50.050