Tribe Takes Five Golds in Six Events at Virginia Men’s Gymnastics Championships

Tribe Sophomore Ramon Jackson Captures Three Individual Titles

03/14/04 5:40PM

Williamsburg, VA - William and Mary sophomore Ramon Jackson (Orlando, FL) ended a brilliant two-day run of gymnastics by capturing three event titles in the Virginia State Individual Championships, held today with James Madison University in William and Mary Hall.

Jackson combined with fellow sophomore Matt Elson (Brookfield, WI) and senior team co-captain Jamie Northrup (Newton, MA) to capture five golds in the six total events for the College. Duke sophomore Pete Conduragis (Sharon, MA) claimed the gold on the rings, preventing the College from a clean sweep on the afternoon.

A two-day total, combining yesterday’s scores from the team finals with today’s marks, was used to determine the individual places at the event. The top six individuals earned all-state recognition.

Jackson started the afternoon by turning in an 8.95 on the floor exercise, outdistancing the second-place finisher, JMU’s Lucas Buchholz (Barrington, IL), by a full half-point 8.45. Tribe senior Alan Palesko (Austin, TX) finished turned in a bronze medal finish on the event.

Northrup, who earned the meet’s all-around title on Saturday evening, took home the gold on the pommel horse, by swinging to a mark of 8.9. Tribe sophomore Owen Nicholls (Anchorage, AK) and senior Mike Powell (Bexley, OH) placed second and third, respectively, in the event

Conduragis gave the Dukes’ a gold-medal performance on rings, by turning in a 9.2 mark, which pushed his cumulative total (18.05) past the Tribe’s Jeff Jaekle (Stratford, CT) and Northrup, who finished second and third, respectively.

Elson came into the vault event as the top qualifier (9.15) from yesterday’s competition and flew to an impressive 9.25 mark this afternoon, to run away with the gold. Jackson recorded a second-place finish, while Palesko grabbed his second of three medals on the afternoon by finishing third with a two-day total of 17.975.

As one of the nation’ elite parallel bar performers, Jackson rebounded from a sub-par 8.7 performance a day ago to record a shinning 9.40 this afternoon and run away with the gold on the event by a full-point over Northrup’s second-place total of 17.10. Elson rounded out the top three with a combined score of 16.950 after recording an 8.45 this afternoon.

Jackson also claimed the high bar title, by flying to an 8.75 mark this afternoon. Palesko was rewarded with the silver by knocking out his second-consecutive consistent performance, recording an 8.5 this afternoon to give him a two-total of 17.10. Elson, who had come into the contest with the best qualifying mark (8.95) from Saturday, managed to overcome a fall in today’s competition to still record a third place finish.

The next action for the College will decide its post season fate, as far as a third-straight NCAA bid is concerned, as it will travel to Chicago, IL for the Eastern Conference Athletic Conference Gymnastics Championships.
The team finals will be contested on Saturady, March 20, while the individual titles will be decided on Sunday, March 21.

The following is a complete listing of the athletes who earned all-state recognition this afternoon.

Floor Exercise
Name, School, Two-Day Total
1. Ramon Jackson, WM, 17.900
2. Lucas Buchholz, JMU, 16.925
3. Alan Palesko, WM, 16.850
4. Matt Elson, WM, 16.750
5. Dave Ridings, WM, 16.650
6. Brett Wargo, JMU, 16.550

Pommel Horse
1. Jamie Northrup, WM, 17.300
2. Owen Nicholl, WM, 16.650
3. Mike Powell, WM, 15.8500
4. Matt Elson, WM, 15.400
5. Jason Woodnick, JMU, 15.150
6. Charles Portz, WM, 14.400

Still Rings
1. Pete Conduragis, JMU, 18.050
2. Jeff Jaekle, WM, 17.750
3. Jamie Northrup, WM, 17.650
4. Ramon Jackson, WM, 17.500
5T Charles Portz, WM, 17.450
5T Jason Woodnick, JMU, 17.450

Vault
1. Matt Elson, WM, 18.400
2. Ramon Jackson, WM, 18.050
3. Alan Palesko, WM, 17.975
4. Jamie Northrup,WM, 17.750
5. Steve Douglass, WM, 17.600
6. Pete Conduragis, JMU, 17.500

Parallel Bars
1. Ramon Jackson, WM, 18.100
2. Jamie Northrup, WM, 17.100
3. Matt Elson, WM, 16.975
4. Matt Roosevelt, WM, 16.900
5. Steve Douglass, WM, 16.900
6. Owen Nicholls, WM, 16.750

High Bar
1. Ramon Jackson, WM, 17.600
2. Alan Palesko, WM, 17.100
3. Matt Elson, WM, 16.900
4. Matt Roosevelt, WM, 16.600
5. Jamie Northrup, WM, 16.350
6. Rob Federico, JMU, 16.000