2013 air force men's gymnastics media guide

Josh Ramos, 2012 parallel barsJosh Ramos, 2012 parallel bars

Mac Ritchie, 2012 high barMac Ritchie, 2012 high bar

Ben Zaiser, 2012 vaultBen Zaiser, 2012 vault

AIR FORCE MEN’S GYMNASTICS

2013 MEDIA GUIDE

DENIS AURELIUS

PATRICK DUFFY

THOMAS OWEIDA

SKYLER AWISUS

NICK GAUDLIP

NICK OWEN

TORY BROWN

TYLER HUEBNER

ZACH OWEN

GARED CHAPMAN

ALEX JESSOP

CORBIN PALMER

GREG CHAPUT

JAMES OKAMOTO

JOSH PYNE

JOSH RAMOS MAC RITCHIE JON SPIRO BEN ZAISER

KIP SIMONSHEAD COACH

JOSH LOESERASST COACH

JEFF ROBINSONASST COACH

WWW.GOAIRFORCEFALCONS.COM 1

2013 AIR FORCE MEN’S GYMNASTICS

QUICK FACTS

Loca on .........................................USAF Academy, Colo.Founded ..................................................................1954Enrollment ..............................................................4,000Nickname ............................................................FalconsColors ......................................................Blue and SilverAffi lia on ................................................NCAA Division IConference ............. Mountain Pacifi c Sports Federa onSuperintendent......................... Lt Gen Michael C. GouldDirector of Athle cs ................................Dr. Hans Mueh

TEAM INFORMATION

2012 MPSF Finish .................................Fourth (335.950)2012 USAG Finish .................................... First (341.950)2012 NCAA Final Ranking ........................................ 12thLe erwinners R-L .................................................... 14-3USAG All-Americans R-L ............................................ 8-2Home Venue .........................................Cadet West GymTeam Captain .....................Tory Brown, James Okamoto

COACHING STAFF

Head Coach ................................................... Kip Simons Season at Air Force ............................................Eighth Email ....................................... [email protected] Offi ce Phone ..........................................719.333.7667Assistant Coach ............................................ Josh Loeser Season at Air Force ...............................................First Email .............................. [email protected] Offi ce Phone ..........................................719.333.6422Assistant Coach ......................................... Jeff Robinson Season at Air Force ............................................. Third Email ............................... jeff [email protected] Offi ce Phone ..........................................719.333.4609

ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

Men’s Gymnas cs Contact ........................Valerie Perkin Email .................................. [email protected] Offi ce Phone ..........................................719.333.8286Website .....................................GoAirForceFalcons.com

2013 COMPETITION SCHEDULE

DATE EVENT LOCATION ARENA TIMEJan. 12 Rocky Mountain Open USAF Academy, Colo. Cadet West Gym 6:00 p.m.Jan. 19 Army USAF Academy, Colo. Cadet West Gym 1:00 p.m.Jan. 26 at Minnesota Minneapolis, Minn. The Sports Pavilion 1:00 p.m.Feb. 1 at Washington Sea le, Wash. Alaska Airlines Arena 7:00 p.m.Feb. 7 at Winter Cup Challenge Las Vegas, Nev. LV Sports Center 2:00 p.m.Feb. 16 at All-Academy Championships Atlanta, Ga. GSU Sports Arena 2:00 p.m.Feb. 23 at Oklahoma Norman, Okla. Lloyd Noble Center 7:00 p.m.Mar. 1 at Illinois-Chicago Chicago, Ill. Physical Educa on Bldg 6:00 p.m.Mar. 3 at Illinois-Chicago Chicago, Ill. Physical Educa on Bldg 1:00 p.m.Mar. 8 at Arizona State, with Washington Tucson, Ariz. Sabino High School 7:00 p.m.Mar. 14 Temple USAF Academy, Colo. Cadet West Gym 6:00 p.m.Mar. 16 Washington* USAF Academy, Colo. Cadet West Gym 7:00 p.m.Mar. 29-30 at USAG Na onal Championships Williamsburg, Va. Kaplan Arena 5:00 p.m.Apr. 6 MPSF Championships USAF Academy, Colo. Cadet West Gym 5:00 p.m.Apr. 19 at NCAA Na onal Qualifi er State College, Pa. Rec Hall 1:00 p.m.Apr. 19-21 at NCAA Na onal Championships State College, Pa. Rec Hall 7:00 p.m.

All home meets will be held in Cadet West Gymnasium | *Senior Night Celebra on

TABLE OF CONTENTS

BASIC INFORMATION ..................................................Quick Facts | Meet Schedule.........................................1Media Information ........................................................22013 Roster | Roster Breakdown ..................................3Opponent Information ..................................................4

AIR FORCE COACHING STAFF .......................................Head Coach Kip Simons ............................................. 6-7Assistant Coach Josh Loeser ..........................................8Assistant Coach Jeff Robinson .......................................9Support Staff ...............................................................10

MEET THE FALCONS .....................................................Senior Tory Brown | Team Captain .............................12Senior Alex Jessop .......................................................13Senior James Okamoto | Team Captain ......................14Junior Patrick Duffy .....................................................15Junior Tyler Huebner ...................................................16Junior Nick Owen.........................................................17Junior Mac Ritchie .......................................................18Junior Ben Zaiser .........................................................19Sophomore Skyler Awisus ...........................................20Sophomore Gared Chapman .......................................21Sophomore Greg Chaput .............................................22Sophomore Nick Gaudlip .............................................23Sophomore Corbin Palmer ..........................................24Sophomore Josh Ramos ..............................................25Sophomore Jon Spiro ..................................................26Freshmen Denis Aurelius | Thomas Oweida ...............27Freshmen Zach Owen | Josh Pyne ..............................28

SEASON IN REVIEW .....................................................2012 Season-In-Review ......................................... 30-322012 Meet-By-Meet Scores ................................... 33-38

PROGRAM HISTORY ....................................................USAG Team National Champions ................................40USAG Individual National Champions .........................41USAG All-Americans ....................................................42Program Honors | Coaching Awards ...........................43Academic Awards | Conference Awards .....................44All-Time Letterwinners .......................................... 45-46Academy Records ........................................................47Top-10 Performances ..................................................48

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY ...........................................The Academy Experience ............................................50Senior Leadership ........................................................51Air Force Athletics ................................................. 52-53Gymnastics Training Facility ........................................54Special Feature | Falcons in the Air .............................55Falcons in the Community ...........................................56Capt Torkelson Tribute ................................................57Overview of Gymnastics Scoring .................................58

CREDITS

The 2013 Air Force Men’s Gymnastics Media Guide was written and designed by assistant media relations director Valerie Perkin. Additional editing provided by the Air Force media relations office and the gymnastics coaching staff. Photographs were taken by members of the Academy’s DenMar Photo Services and Jeff Mills. In-dividual photos on the front and back covers represent the Falcons’ five returning USAG national champions.

DIRECTIONS TO CADET WEST GYM

Take I-25 to the Air Force Academy North Gate entrance (exit 156-B) and continue west. Visitors will be required to have a current government-issued ID (such as a driv-ers license) and proof of insurance upon entering the Academy. Turn left onto Parade Loop (second left after the guard post). Follow the road to the right - it turns into Field House Drive. Park in the lots to the east or south of the Cadet Field House. Walk past the Cadet Field House and Falcon Athletic Center to enter the Cadet Gym (doors are north of the outdoor tennis courts).

MOUNTAIN PACIFIC SPORTS FEDERATION

Executive Director ............................................................................................Al BeairdOffice Phone ...........................................................................................(530) 669-7600Media Relations Coordinator .................................................................Darren PrestonEmail ............................................................................................ [email protected] Mailing Address ..............................................PO Box 850; Woodland, CA 95776-0850Website ........................................................................................... www.mpsports.org

2 2013 AIR FORCE GYMNASTICS MEDIA GUIDE

MEDIA INFORMATION

AIR FORCE ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

Associate Athletic Director | Communications ........................................Troy GarnhartAssistant Athletic Director | Media Relations .............................................. Dave TollerAssistant Media Relations Director .......................................................... Nick ArseniakAssistant Media Relations Director ...............................................................Jerry CrossAssistant Media Relations Director ................................................... Melissa McKeownAssistant Media Relations Director (MGYM Contact) ..............................Valerie PerkinGraphics Coordinator ....................................................................... Madeline McGuireBroadcast Executive Producer ................................................................... Brian JermanTelevision Production Assistant ................................................................ Adam Parker

Mailing Address ..............................2169 Field House Drive; USAF Academy, CO 80840Office Phone ............................................................................................. 719.333.2313Office Fax .................................................................................................. 719.333.3798

INTERVIEW & CREDENTIAL POLICIES

INTERVIEWS: Interviews with Air Force coaches and gymnasts must be arraigned through Valerie Perkin in the Air Force Athletic Media Relations Office. All requests must be made at least 24 hours in advance of the desired interview time.

CONTACTING ATHLETES: The private phone numbers and email addresses of Air Force cadet-athletes will not be issued to the media. The cadet-athletes have been in-structed not to accept calls from any members of the media without prior notification from the athletic media relations office. WORKING PRESS CREDENTIALS: Press and photo credentials for media can be ob-tained by contacting Valerie Perkin, assistant athletic media relations director, at (719) 333-8286. Requests should be made at least one day prior to the meet.

GOAIRFORCEFALCONS.COM

Visit the official Air Force athletic website - GoAir-ForceFalcons.com - for the most up-to-date informa-tion regarding the Falcons’ men’s gymnastics team and all 27 Air Force sports. Results, statistics, rosters, cadet-athlete bios, previews, features, interviews and meet recaps can be found on the team page.

LOCAL MEDIA OUTLETS

Academy Spirit The Gazette Denver PostHQ USAFA/PAI 30 S. Prospect 101 W. Colfax Ave., 600USAFA, CO 80840 Colo. Springs, CO 80903 Denver, CO 80202Phone: (719) 333-2044 Phone: (719) 636-0250 Phone: (303) 954-1296

KRDO-TV (13) - ABC KKTV (11) - CBS KOAA-TV (5/30) - NBCP.O. Box 1457 3100 N. Nevada Ave. 2200 7th Ave.Colo. Springs, CO 80901 Colo. Springs, CO 80907 Pueblo, CO 81003Phone: (719) 575-6360 Phone: (719) 578-0000 Phone: (719) 630-3930


2013 TEAM ROSTER

2013 AIR FORCE MEN’S GYMNASTICS ROSTER

NAME YR. HT. EVENTS HOMETOWN | HIGH SCHOOL CLUB TEAM PRONUNCIATIONDenis Aurelius Fr. 5-6 FX-PH-SR-V-PB-HB Plain City, Ohio | Jonathan Alder OSU Boys Team ah-real-usSkyler Awisus So. 5-6 PB-HB Reno, Nev. | Reno High Sierra Gymnas cs uh-wee-sussTory Brown Sr. 5-7 FX-PH-SR-V-PB-HB Portland, Ore. | Tigard Multnomah Athle c Club --Gared Chapman So. 5-5 FX-SR-V-PB-HB Americus, Ga. | Winter Park (Fla) Orlando Metro gare-udGreg Chaput So. 5-7 FX-PH-SR-V-PB-HB Worcester, Mass. | St. John’s Legends Gymnas cs chap-u Patrick Duff y Jr. 5-7 FX-PH Albuquerque, N.M. | La Cueva Gold Cup Gymnas cs --Nick Gaudlip So. 5-7 FX-PH-PB-HB Colorado Springs, Colo. | Rampart Colorado Training Center gawd-lipTyler Huebner Jr. 5-4 PH-SR-PB San Antonio, Texas | Claudia Taylor Johnson Alamo heeb-nerAlex Jessop Sr. 5-9 PH-PB-HB Sylvania, Ohio | St. Francis de Sales Sunrise Gymnas cs jess-upJames Okamoto Sr. 5-6 FX-PH-V-HB Yorba Linda, Calif. | Esperanza South Coast Gymnas cs oak-ah-moh-toeThomas Oweida Fr. 6-1 PB-HB Charlo e, N.C. | Myers Park Zenith Gymnas cs oh-weed-uhNick Owen Jr. 5-6 FX-PH-SR-V Grayson, Ga. | home school Atlanta School of Gymnas cs --Zach Owen Fr. 5-8 FX-PH-SR-V-PB-HB Grayson, Ga. | Grayson Roswell Men’s Gymnas cs --Corbin Palmer So. 5-9 FX-PH-SR-V-PB-HB Frisco, Texas | Centennial World Olympic Gymnas cs --Josh Pyne Fr. 5-3 FX-V Las Vegas, Nev. | Cimarron Memorial Go For It Gymnas cs pineJosh Ramos So. 5-3 FX-PB-HB Broken Arrow, Okla. | Bishop Kelley Jenks Gymnas cs rah-moseMac Ritchie Jr. 5-5 FX-PH-SR-V-PB-HB Concord, N.C. | Concord G&J Speedway Gymnas cs --Jon Spiro So. 5-4 FX-PH-SR-V-PB-HB Laguna Niguel, Calif. | Capistrano Connec ons New Hope spy-rohBen Zaiser Jr. 5-3 FX-SR-V-PB Pi sburgh, Pa. | home school Pi sburgh Northstars zz-eye-sir

Head Coach: Kip Simons | Eighth Season | Ohio State University, 1994Assistant Coach: Josh Loeser | First Season | University of Houston, 2012Assistant Coach: Jeff Robinson | Third Season | Auburn University, 1982Volunteer Coach: Dave Mickelson | 12th Season | Iowa State University, 1982

BY CLASS

SENIOR: Tory Brown | Alex Jessop | James OkamotoJUNIOR: Patrick Duffy | Tyler Huebner | Mac Ritchie | Ben ZaiserSOPHOMORE: Skyler Awisus | Gared Chapman | Greg Chaput | Nick Gaudlip | Corbin Palmer | Josh Ramos | Jon SpiroFRESHMAN: Denis Aurelius | Zach Owen | Thomas Oweida | Josh Pyne

BY STATE

CALIFORNIA: James Okamoto | Jon SpiroCOLORADO: Nick GaudlipGEORGIA: Gared Chapman | Nick Owen | Zach OwenMASSACHUSETTS: Greg ChaputNEVADA: Skyler Awisus | Josh PyneNEW MEXICO: Patrick DuffyNORTH CAROLINA: Mac RItchieOHIO: Denis Aurelius | Alex JessopOKLAHOMA: Josh RamosOREGON: Tory BrownPENNSYLVANIA: Ben ZaiserTEXAS: Tyler Huebner | Corbin Palmer

BY HEIGHT

5-3 TO 5-4: Tyler Huebner | Josh Pyne | Josh Ramos | Jon Spiro | Ben Zaiser5-5 TO 5-6: Denis Aurelius | Skyler Awisus | Gared Chapman | James Okamoto | Nick Owen | Mac Ritchie5-7 TO 5-8: Tory Brown | Greg Chaput | Patrick Duffy | Nick Gaudlip | Zach Owen5-9 TO 6-1: Alex Jessop | Thomas Oweida | Corbin Palmer


2013 OPPONENT INFORMATION

Location .......................................................Tempe, Ariz.Founded ..................................................................1885Enrollment ............................................................72,750Conference ................................................................ n/aNickname ....................................................... Sun DevilsColors ................................................. Maroon and GoldFacility ................................. Aspire Kids Training CenterPresident .............................................Dr. Michael CrowAthletics Director .................................. Steve PattersonHead Coach ................................................Scott Barclay2012 Conf Finish ........................................................ n/a2012 Final Ranking .................................................. 18thGymnastics SID .......................................................... n/aPhone ........................................................................ n/a Email .......................................................................... n/aWebsite .......................... www.sundevilgymnastics.com

Location .................................................West Point, N.Y.Founded ..................................................................1802Enrollment ..............................................................4,000Conference ........................... Eastern Collegiate AthleticNickname .................................................. Black KnightsColors ............................................ Black, Gold and GrayFacility ........................................................Gross CenterSuperintendent ........................... Lt Gen David HuntoonAthletics Director .......................................Boo CorriganHead Coach ......................................... Doug Van Everen2012 Conf Finish .....................................................6th/62012 Final Ranking .................................................. 15thGymnastics SID .......................................... Mady SalvaniPhone ..................................................... (845) 938-3303 Email ................................. [email protected] ..................................www.GoArmySports.com

Location ........................................................ Chicago, Ill.Founded ..................................................................1896Enrollment ............................................................27,309Conference ........................... Eastern Collegiate AthleticNickname ............................................................ FlamesColors .............................Navy Blue and Fire Engine RedFacility .................................Physical Education BuildingChancellor ....................................... Paula Allen-MearesAthletics Director ........................................ Jim SchmidtHead Coach ............................................ Charley Nelson2012 Conf Finish .....................................................3rd/62012 Final Ranking .................................................. 13thGymnastics SID ............................................ Laura WhitePhone ...................................................... (312 996-5880 Email ...................................... [email protected] ........................................ www.UICFlames.com

ARIZONA STATE (CLUB) ARMY ILLINOIS-CHICAGO

Location ........................................... Minneapolis, Minn.Founded ..................................................................1851Enrollment ............................................................51,000Conference ..........................................................Big TenNickname ..............................................Golden GophersColors ................................................. Maroon and GoldFacility .....................................................Sports PavilionPresident ..........................................................Eric KalerAthletics Director ................................Norwood TeagueHead Coach .................................................. Mike Burns2012 Conf Finish .....................................................4th/72012 Final Ranking .................................................... 5thGymnastics SID ............................................ Paul RovnakPhone ..................................................... (612) 625-9379Email ............................................... [email protected] ...................................www.GopherSports.com

Location .................................................. Annapolis, Md.Founded ..................................................................1845Enrollment ..............................................................4,000Conference ........................... Eastern Collegiate AthleticNickname ................................................... MidshipmenColors .............................................. Navy Blue and GoldFacility ................................................ Macdonough HallPresident ................................. Vice Adm Michael MillerAthletics Director .................................... Chet GladchukHead Coach .......................................Dr. Sho Fukushima2012 Conf Finish .....................................................5th/62012 Final Ranking .................................................. 17thGymnastics SID .............................................. Jeff BarnesPhone ..................................................... (410) 293-8771 Email .................................................. [email protected] ........................................www.navysports.com

Location ......................................................Lincoln, Neb.Founded ..................................................................1869Enrollment ............................................................24,610Conference ..........................................................Big TenNickname ....................................................CornhuskersColors ................................................ Scarlet and CreamFacility .................................Bon Devaney Sports CenterChancellor ............................................. Harvey PerlmanAthletics Director ................................... Shawn EichorstHead Coach ............................................ Chuck Chmelka2012 Conf Finish .....................................................7th/72012 Final Ranking .................................................. 10thGymnastics SID ................................. Haley WhisennandPhone ..................................................... (402) 472-2263 Email .................................. [email protected] ............................................ www.Huskers.com

MINNESOTA NAVY NEBRASKA

Location ................................................... Norman, Okla.Founded ..................................................................1890Enrollment ............................................................30,303Conference ............. Mountain Pacific Sports FederationNickname ...........................................................SoonersColors .............................................. Crimson and CreamFacility ..........................Howard McCasland Field HousePresident .....................................................David BorenAthletics Director ....................................Joe CastiglioneHead Coach ..............................................Mark Williams2012 Conf Finish ..................................................... 1st/42012 Final Ranking .....................................................1stGymnastics SID .......................................... Charlie HealyPhone .....................................................chealy@ou.edu Email ....................................................... (405) 325-8234Website ....................................www.SoonerSports.com

Location ................................................ Philadelphia, Pa.Founded ..................................................................1884Enrollment ............................................................39,000Conference ........................... Eastern Collegiate AthleticNickname ................................................................OwlsColors ................................................. Cherry and WhiteFacility .................................................... McGonigle HallPresident .............................................. Neil D. TheobaldAthletics Director ...................................... Bill BradshawHead Coach ...................................................Fred Turoff2012 Conf Finish ..................................................... 1st/62012 Final Ranking .................................................... 9thGymnastics SID ............................................. Steve HelmPhone ..................................................... (215) 204-7446 Email ........................................steve.helm@temple.eduWebsite .........................................www.OwlSports.com

Location ....................................................Seattle, Wash.Founded ..................................................................1861Enrollment ............................................................42,000Conference ................................................................ n/aNickname ........................................................... HuskiesColors ....................................................Purple and GoldFacility .................................... Cascade Elite GymnasticsPresident .................................................Michael YoungAthletics Director .................................Scott WoodwardHead Coach ..................................................Mark Russo2012 Conf Finish ........................................................ n/a2012 Final Ranking .................................................... n/aGymnastics SID .......................................................... n/aPhone ........................................................................ n/a Email .......................................................................... n/aWebsite ................................................... www.wmgf.us

OKLAHOMA TEMPLE WASHINGTON (CLUB)

THE COACHING STAFF


HEAD COACH KIP SIMONS

Olympian and USAG Hall of Fame honoree Kip Simons enters his eighth season as the head coach of the Air Force Academy men’s gymnas cs team. Since taking over the Falcons’ program in 2005, Simons has coached one NCAA All-American (two cer fi cates), one Nissen-Emery fi nalist, three USAG na onal championship teams, nine individ-ual USAG champions (12 tles) and 28 USAG All-Americans (57 cer fi cates), while earning seven coaching awards.

“Coaching here is a dream job,” Simons said. “There is nothing more rewarding than to see my athletes maximize their poten al as gymnasts and then go on to become the best pilots in the na on. A er seven years, I truly believe when you look at academic, gymnas cs and career opportuni es, there is not a be er op on out there than the Air Force Academy.”

It took less than two years for Simons’ presence at Air Force to be felt on the na onal stage. Under his coaching, Greg S ne became the program’s fi rst gymnast to claim mul ple NCAA All-America honors at the same meet, as he placed within the top-eight of the all-around and s ll rings at the 2008 NCAA Championships. Air Force has also qualifi ed numerous gymnasts to the pres gious Winter Cup Challenge, a er sending just three over a prior 20-year span.

The team has also seen a signifi cant bump in their na onal ranking, placing as high as eighth in recent years. Simons has taken the team to the NCAA Na onal Qualifi er during each of the past two seasons, while advancing seven gymnasts to the NCAA semifi nals. In addi on, the men have captured three consecu ve USAG Na onal Championship team tles and have won the All-Academy Championship team tle in back-to-back years.

The Falcons have claimed at least half of the USAG individual event tles during each of the last three na onal meets, as well as the last three tles in the vault and parallel bars. In 2010, Nash Mills (parallel bars, all-around) and Devin Menefee (vault) combined for three individual tles, while Mills (s ll rings, parallel bars), Tory Brown (vault) and James Okamoto (pommel horse) set a program record with four USAG tles. Last season, Ben Zaiser (vault), Josh Ramos (parallel bars) and Mac Ritchie (high bar) swept the fi nal three event tles at the USAG meet.

In seven years at the helm of the Air Force program, Simons has accumulated several coaching accolades. In 2006, he was voted as the Mountain Pacifi c Sports Federa on Coach of the Year. Following the 2008 season, he was selected as the USAG Coach of the Year and the NCAA West Region Coach of the Year. The 2010 season was a banner year for Simons, who was named the USAG Varsity Head Coach of the Year, the NCAA West Region Coach of the Year and the CGA/Collegiate Division Na onal Coach of the Year. Simons claimed his third USAG Coach of the Year and CGA Coach of the Year awards in 2012.

“Here at the Air Force Academy, I apply the same work-ethic that took me to the Olympic Games to mold my cadets into future leaders of character,” he said.

Prior to his appointment at the Academy, Simons spent fi ve seasons with the Cal Bears. He was an assistant coach from 2001-05 and then held the tle of associate head coach for the fi nal year of his stay in Berkeley.

During his tenure at Cal, the Bears fi nished within the top-two at the MPSF Championships every year, winning the conference tle in 2004. Simons helped guide Cal to a pair of third-place fi nishes at the NCAA Championships and coached 19 top-10 fi nishers, including four na onal champions.

Simons began his collegiate-level coaching career following a stellar career at both the collegiate and na onal levels. In 1988, Simons dominated the U.S. Junior Na onal Championships and the Junior Pan-American Games, collec ng 10 gold medals.

KIP SIMONSHEAD COACH | 8TH YEAR

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

2010 USAG Hall of Fame Inductee1988 Junior Pan-Am Champion

1991 Big Ten Freshman of the Year1994 Goodwill Games Gold Medalist

1994 Nissen-Emery Award Winner1995 Pan-American Gold Medalist

1996 Still Rings National Champion1996 Olympian

Two-time World Team MemberTwo-time NCAA All-AmericanFour-time Big Ten Champion

Five-time Junior Olympic Gold MedalistFour-time Ohio State Letterwinner

CAREER COACHING HONORS

2010, 2011, 2012 CGA Collegiate Head Coach of the Year2008, 2010 West Region Coach of the Year2008, 2010, 2012 USAG Coach of the Year

2006 MPSF Co-Coach of the Year


HEAD COACH KIP SIMONS

During a successful college career at Ohio State, Simons earned numerous honors throughout his four years, including the Big Ten Freshman of the Year and the Nissen-Emery Award, which is given to the na on’s top senior gymnast.

A na ve of Bloomsburg, Pa., he was a four-year member of the All-Big 10 team, while earning four Big 10 Conference tles on the parallel bars (1992, 1994), s ll rings (1992) and high bar (1993). In addi on, Simons picked up two NCAA All-America cer fi cates, as the Buckeyes fi nished third at the na onal meet during each of his last three sea-sons. In September 2006, Simons was inducted into the OSU Athle cs Hall of Fame by the Varsity “O” Associa on.

Following his collegiate career, Simons competed on two world championship teams, as well as the gold-medal winning teams at the 1994 Goodwill Games and the 1995 Pan-American Games. He also represented the United States as a member of the 1996 Olympic team that fi nished fi h at the Atlanta Games.

“I am able to draw on my 10-year na onal and interna onal compe ve career as the founda on to building my program,” Simons con nued. “Having the Olympic Training Center in our backyard is a huge asset to this program. Our coaching staff con nues to stay up-to-date on the most current training and compe ve strategies.”

During the summer of 2010, he was inducted into the USA Gymnas cs Hall of Fame. Joining Simons in the 2010 induc on class was 1996 Olympic team gold medalist Dominique Moceanu, 1992 Olympic team bronze medalist Wendy Bruce-Mar n, 2000 Olympian Jennifer Parilla, two- me U.S. Men’s Olympic team head coach Kevin Mazeika and 2000 U.S. Olympic trampoline coach Robert Null.

Simons was married in May 2009 to the former Kim Rich of Columbus, Ohio.

A HALL OF FAME COACH

Simons was inducted into the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame in August 2010. Joining Simons in the 2010 induction class was Wendy Bruce, Kevin Mazeika, Dominique Moceanu, Robert Null and Jennifer Parilla, as well as Lifetime Achievement award winner Ellen Garlicki Nyemcsi.

“When I reflect on all facets of my life, I realize that the life lessons I have learned and continue to learn are a direct result of my love for the sport of gymnastics. We all know the sport of gymnastics is very infectious. Once you begin heading down the ‘road of gymnastics’, there is no turning back.”Photo by John Cheng


ASSISTANT COACH JOSH LOESER

Former Air Force gymnast Josh Loeser returned to the Academy in the fall of 2012, to begin his fi rst season as an assistant coach for the Falcons’ gymnas cs program.

Loeser joins the Academy staff following a two-year s nt at Refl ex Gymnas cs and Cheer Academy in Pearland, Texas. He spent one year as an assistant coach for boys in Level 4-10, before being promoted to Boy’s Team Direc-tor in June 2011. During his tenure, three Level 10 gymnasts qualifi ed to the Junior Olympic Na onals and the Level 4 team won the Texas South state championships.

Prior to joining the staff at Refl ex Gymnasts and Cheer Academy, Loeser served as an assistant coach for Level 4-10 gymnasts at Gulf Coast Gymnas cs in his hometown of Alvin, Texas, where he coached the boy’s team to the Texas Muscle Man Championship tle in 2009.

He has also coached at several gymnas cs camps over the summer, including two summers with Simons at the Academy’s Falcon Sports Camps. Loeser also worked with three- me Olympian John Roethlisberger at the Flip-Fest Gymnas cs Camp in Crossville, Tenn., where he coached boys and girls from levels 4-10.

A three- me state qualifi er in the all-around for Gulf Gymnas cs during his prep days, Loeser spent three years as a member of the Air Force gymnas cs team. Following his Academy career, he spent two years in the Air Force, serving as an Admissions/Disposi ons Clerk and Member Services Clerk at Lackland AFB, Texas.

Loeser is a 2012 graduate of the University of Houston, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in economics.

JOSH LOESERASSISTANT COACH | 1ST YEAR


ASSISTANT COACH JEFF ROBINSON

Jeff Robinson returns to the gym for his third season as an assistant coach with the Air Force men’s gymnas cs team. He brings over 30 years of experience in gymnas cs to the Falcons’ program, ranging from performance to hands-on teaching and coaching. In addi on, he has served in a variety of capaci es for the USA Gymnas cs Men’s Program for over 25 years.

Robinson has been named the USAG Assistant Coach of the Year during each of his fi rst two seasons at Air Force, while helping the Falcons to two USAG Na onal Championship tles. Since his arrival, fi ve individual records have been set, as well as six team scores.

Since 1986, Robinson has worked with USA Gymnas cs, including three years as the Junior Olympic Program Coordinator (2006-08). He also served two terms as chairman of the men’s age group compe on commi ee, worked on the Task Force for Elite Training Alterna ves commi ee and has served as a guest clinician and pre-senter at numerous USAG Men’s Coaching Workshops and at the USAG Na onal and Regional Congress. Robinson was honored with the Frank Comiskey Service Award during the 2011 Junior Olympic Na onals meet, recogniz-ing the work he has done with the Junior Program over the last 25 years. It is the highest honor awarded to an administrator of the USA Gymnas cs junior program.

He is the co-founder and owner of Gymnas cs University LLC, a gymnas cs business consultancy fi rm that as-sists in areas ranging from facility development and construc on to freelance teaching and coaching to business development and staff development.

Robinson spent many years working in the entertainment division at Walt Disney World Resort. He was a principal performer for mul ple live-ac on shows, including Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular, Fantasmic and Lights, Motors, Ac on Extreme Stunt Show. He also spent fi ve years as a stunt manager, where he recruited and trained new players, evaluated performances, wrote opera onal guidelines and safety procedures and inspected the facility.

He spent 10 years at Orlando Metro Gymnas cs, a club that he co-founded in 1992. As the men’s program director and head coach, Robinson helped develop 10 U.S. Junior and Senior Na onal Team members. He also worked as the head coach for the Barbados Interna onal Men’s Gymnas cs Delega on and served as the personal coach for Francis ‘Shane’ DeFreitas, who competed at the 1995 World Championships, the 1996 I.E.F. World Championships and the 1996 Olympic Games.

He has also served as the boy’s program director and head coach at Brown’s Gymnas cs Central (1984-88) and as the general manager, program director and head coach at Gymnas cs Plus (1983-84).

He has received numerous coaching awards, most recently as a member of the inaugural USA Gymnas cs Region VIII Hall of Fame in 2010. A FIG Level III Brevet Coach, Robinson was named Coach of the Year by the Florida USA Gymnas cs Men’s Program (2003) and by the Seminole County School Board (1989).

Robinson is a 1982 magna cum laude graduate of Auburn University (educa on: physical educa on/biology). He went on to earn a master’s degree in educa on (physical educa on/business) from Memphis State University in 1983.

He and his wife, Kris ne, have a blended family with seven children – Jessica (22), Danielle (20), Megan (19), Mason (18), Christopher (7), Dallas (5) and Garre (5).

JEFF ROBINSONASSISTANT COACH | 3RD YEAR

CAREER COACHING HONORS

2011, 2012 USAG Assistant Coach of the Year


SUPPORT STAFF

Dave Mickelson returns for his 12th season as a volunteer coach for the Air Force men’s gymnas cs team. Mick-elson joined the Falcons a er spending 11 years as the head coach with the Iowa State men’s team, following a six-year s nt as the Cyclones’ assistant coach. Mickelson also serves as the Falcons’ meet director for select home compe ons, including this year’s Mountain Pacifi c Sports Federa on Championships.

During Mickelson’s tenure as head coach, Iowa State produced fi ve NCAA All-Americans, including two NCAA individual champions. As a team, ISU picked up a fourth-place team fi nish at the na onal meet.

As an assistant coach with the Cyclones, Mickelson helped generate 13 NCAA All-Americans, three NCAA indi-vidual champions and one Olympian. In addi on, Iowa State fi nished fourth at the NCAA Championships on three occasions, while also earning a second-place mark during his term as an assistant coach.

Mickelson has served on numerous boards during his career, including the NCAA Men’s Gymnas cs Commi ee, the United States Gymnas cs Federa on Board of Directors and the United States Gymnas cs Federa on Men’s Program Commi ee. In addi on, he was the chair of the NCAA Men’s Gymnas cs Commi ee (1987-91) and spent 10 years as a Na onal Safety Cer fi er for the U.S. Gymnas cs Federa on.

A 1981 graduate of Iowa State, Mickelson earned a degree in physical educa on with an emphasis in athle c ad-ministra on. He was a three-year le erwinner on the Cyclones’ gymnas cs team. During his career, Iowa State earned three Big Eight Conference Championships and two NCAA Championship team tles.

DAVE MICKELSONVOLUNTEER COACH | 12TH YEAR

CHARLES APTCadet Manager

CAPT EMILY BULGEROffi cer Representa ve

VALERIE PERKINMedia Rela ons Director

CAPT JESSICA SCHROEDEROffi cer Representa ve

DEANNE ZAMORAAthle c Trainer

MEET THE FALCONS


SENIOR TEAM CAPTAIN TORY BROWN

JUNIOR YEAR | 2012: Competed on the fl oor exercise, vault, parallel bars and high bar…missed several meets with an injury sustained at the Winter Cup Challenge…claimed event tles on the high bar during the March 4 meet against Illinois-Chicago and the March 9 meet at Arizona State…tallied a season-high 14.250 on that event at Nebraska…scored a career-high 14.600 on the vault during the NCAA Na onal Qualifi er…that mark was the third-highest score in program history using the new scoring system…also recorded a season-high score of 14.200 on the fl oor exercise at the NCAA Na onal Qualifi er…opened the season with a season-best 13.800 on the parallel bars at the Rocky Mountain Open…became the fi rst-ever Air Force gymnast to receive three straight invita ons to the pres gious Winter Cup Challenge.

SOPHOMORE | 2011: USAG Na onal Champion on the vault…matched the Academy record on that event with a 15.950 at the Mountain Pacifi c Sports Federa on Championships…placed seventh at the conference meet with that score…three- me USAG All-American…placed fourth on the fl oor exercise and high bar, in addi on to win-ning the vault tle…claimed six fi rst-place fi nishes on the year…won the vault at the All-Academy Championships, at Springfi eld and at the USAG Championships…also shared tles on the high bar at the all-academy meet and at Brockport…won the parallel bars in the home meet with Army…helped Air Force sweep the event tles in the dual meet with the Black Knights…competed at the Winter Cup Challenge, collec ng three top-four fi nishes in the preliminary round and two career-best scores…fi nished 15th on the vault at the NCAA Championships (Event Pre-liminary)…competed on the fl oor exercise in every team compe on…recorded a career-best 14.900 on the fl oor in the regular season fi nale against Washington…that score is the seventh-highest score in Academy history…also recorded a career-high mark on the parallel bars (14.300) at the meet against Washington…that score is ranked 11th on the Falcons’ all- me list…scored a career-best 14.500 on the high bar at Brockport…that mark is ed for sixth on the program’s all- me list…led the team on the vault, posted the squad’s second-highest scores of the season on the fl oor exercise and parallel bars and ranked third on the team on the high bar.

FRESHMAN YEAR | 2010: Competed in six meets, including the Winter Cup Challenge…placed eighth on the vault at that meet with a career-best score of 15.600…that score is the seventh-best score in Academy history…competed on the fl oor exercise, vault, parallel bars and high bar during the fi rst two team compe ons…scored a season-best 14.150 on the fl oor at the Rocky Mountain Open…added career-best scores on the parallel bars (13.550) and high bar (13.400) at the Minnesota Triangular…also competed on the parallel bars and high bar at Army…was a member of the Falcons’ high bar rota on at the USAG Championships and MPSF Championships.

HIGH SCHOOL | CLUB TEAM: Tigard High School…recipient of the Rotary Award…competed at the club level for Multnomah Athle c Club (MAC)…coached by Shuichi Goto…named 2008 Most Improved Gymnast…two- me Academic All-America honor at the Junior Olympic Na onal Championships…three- me junior na onal quali-fi er…2009 Oregon state gymnas cs champion…fi nished second at the Region 2 Championships.

PERSONAL: Son of Steve and Kelly Brown…has one younger sister, Julia…majoring in management, while earning a minor in Japanese…future career plans include becoming a pilot…served as a four-degree coach…spent the Fall 2011 semester in Japan as a part of the Academy’s semester abroad program…hobbies include paddle boarding, hiking, running and rock climbing…is fl uent in Japanese…favorite event is the high bar, because “learning new skills is the most fun”…member of Cadet Squadron 30.

TORY BROWNSENIOR | 5-7 | PORTLAND, ORE.

**2013 TEAM CAPTAIN**

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

2011 USAG National Champion (vault)Three-Time USAG All-American

Participant at Three NCAA QualifiersAdvanced to the NCAA Championships in 2011

Three-Time Selection to the Winter Cup Challenge

CAREER-BEST MARKS

14.900 | Floor Exercise | vs. Washington | 201114.600 | Vault* | at NCAA Qualifer | 2012

14.300 | Parallel Bars | vs. Washington | 201114.250 | High Bar | at Nebraska | 2012

*using the new vault scoring system that begin in 2012


SENIOR ALEX JESSOP

JUNIOR YEAR | 2012: Competed on the pommel horse during four compe ons, including the conference and na onal championship meets…scored a career-best 13.700 to place seventh at the team fi nals of the USAG Na- onal Championships…that score is ranked 19th on the program’s all- me list…also competed on that event at

the Mountain Pacifi c Sports Federa on Championships and the NCAA Na onal Qualifi er.

SOPHOMORE YEAR | 2011: Par cipated on the fl oor exercise in three compe ons...scored a career-best 13.200 on that event at against Stanford, Illinois and Illinois-Chicago on March 4...matched that score two days later against Ohio State, UIC and Temple...also competed on the pommel horse during the March 6 quad meet, record-ing a debut score of 13.400...also par cipated on the high bar in two meets, pos ng a personal-best 12.300 at the Rocky Mountain Open.

FRESHMAN YEAR | 2010: Earned the team’s Hardest Worker award…competed on the pommel horse and parallel bars during three meets…set a career-high score of 13.250 on the pommel horse at Army…tallied a personal-best 13.700 on the parallel bars at the Springfi eld Triangular meet…also competed on the high bar at Arizona State, collec ng a score of 11.300.

HIGH SCHOOL | CLUB TEAM: St. Francis de Sales High School…2009 Northwest Ohio district diving champion on the men’s one meter…two- me state qualifi er in one-meter diving…maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout all four years…competed at the club level at Sunrise Gymnas cs Academy…coached by Steve Reamy, Chris Brown and Yusaku Hijioka…Junior Olympic na onal qualifi er…was Class 3 Ohio state champion in 2003.

PERSONAL: Son of Leonard and Julie Jessop…has two older brothers, Aus n and Andrew…majoring in civil en-gineering…future plans include becoming a CE offi cer…hobbies include bicycling…favorite event is the high bar, because “I used to be terrifi ed of it, and overcoming that fear took a lot of work”…member of Cadet Squadron 40.

ALEX JESSOPSENIOR | 5-9 | SYLVANIA, OHIO

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

Recipient of the 2010 Air Force Hardest Worker Award

CAREER-BEST MARKS

13.200 | Floor Exercise | at UIC Quad | 201113.700 | Pommel Horse | USAG Team Finals | 2012

13.700 | Parallel Bars | at Springfield | 201012.300 | High Bar | Rocky Mountain Open | 2011


SENIOR TEAM CAPTAIN JAMES OKAMOTO

JUNIOR YEAR | 2012: USAG All-American on the pommel horse and high bar…fi nished second on both events at the USAG Championships…Academy record-holder on that event following a 14.900 at Temple on Feb. 26…posted fi ve addi onal scores ranked within the program’s top 10…competed on that event in every meet…also ranked 10th all- me on the high bar with a career-high 14.250 in the event fi nals of the USAG Championships…competed on the that event during 11 meets…won the pommel horse and high bar tles at the All-Academy Championships to help Air Force to its second straight team tle...was named the Mountain Pacifi c Sports Federa on Gymnast of the Week following that weekend…also received the CGA Gymnast of the Week award and was selected as CollegeSports360 Prime me Performer…repeated as the MPSF Gymnast of the Week on Feb. 28 a er a strong East Coast road trip…broke the Academy record to win the event tle at Temple on Feb. 26…also placed within the top fi ve on the fl oor exercise and high bar at that meet…won the high bar tle two days later at Army and placed second on the pommel horse…advanced to the individual event preliminary round of the NCAA Cham-pionships on the pommel horse a er placing 10th (14.350) at the Na onal Qualifi er…fi nished 21st in the event prelims (14.250)…claimed six event tles, including four on the pommel horse…competed on the fl oor exercise in eight meets…posted a career-best 14.400 at Army…vaulted during 11 meets, collec ng a personal-best 14.200 at Army…became just the third Air Force gymnast to earn mul ple invita ons to the pres gious Winter Cup Chal-lenge…did not compete at that meet due to injury…MPSF academic all-conference selec on.

SOPHOMORE YEAR | 2011: USAG Na onal Champion on the pommel horse…USAG All-American...competed on the pommel horse in every compe on...scored a season-high 14.400 at Nebraska...that score was the highest on the team in 2011 and the fi h-highest score in program history...recorded four of the eight-highest scores in Academy history…scored a 14.300 to win the pommel horse tle at the Rocky Mountain Open…became the third Falcon to win a RMO tle since 2000…earned the Academy’s Athlete of the Week award following the Rocky Mountain Open…scored a 14.250 in the winning eff ort at the USAG Championships…matched that score at the NCAA na onal qualifi er…placed 26th in the event preliminary round of the NCAA Championships (13.750)…won the pommel horse against Army (13.800)…helped Air Force sweep the event tles in the dual meet with the Black Knights…competed at the Winter Cup Challenge, placing ninth in the preliminary round…also debuted on the high bar…scored a personal-best 14.000 on three occasions (at Brockport, at Springfi eld, at USAG Championships/Team Finals)…those scores are ed for 15th on the program’s all- me list…academic all-conference selec on.

FRESHMAN YEAR | 2010: Earned the team’s Freshman of the Year award…USAG All-American on the pommel horse…placed second at the na onal event fi nals…competed at the NCAA Championships on that event…com-peted on the pommel horse in every meet…recorded a career-best score of 14.600 at the team fi nals of the USAG Championships…that score is the third-highest total in Academy history…added fi ve addi onal top-20 pommel horse scores, including four in the top 10…in collegiate debut, became just the second Air Force gymnast to clear the 14.000 mark on that event...competed on the fl oor at the MPSF Championships, earning a score of 13.150.

HIGH SCHOOL | CLUB TEAM: Esperanza High School…Principal’s Award…named Dis nguished Aztec…selected to the Principal’s Honor Roll…competed at the club level for South Coast Gymnas cs Training Center…coached by Xiaoping Li and Jian Shen…four- me Junior Olympic Na onal Qualifi er…three- me J.O. na onal semi-fi nalist on the pommel horse…two- me J.O. na onal semi-fi nalist on the high bar…three- me USAG Academic All-American fi rst-team selec on…named Gymnast of the Year.

PERSONAL: Full name is James Tsurumatsu Okamoto…son of Thomas and Evelyn Okamoto…has two sisters, Ariel and Jean…majoring in management and earning a minor in Japanese…future plans include becoming a fi nancial manager…served as Element Leader, Course Cadre and Assistant Flight Commander…has been named to the Dean’s List during all six semesters…hobbies include rock climbing…made second trip to Japan as a part of the Cadet Summer Language Immersion Program…also took an academic class and worked Basic Cadet Training over the summer…has an uncle that served in the Marines and a grandfather who served in the Army…favorite event is the high bar…member of Cadet Squadron 07.

JAMES OKAMOTOSENIOR | 5-6 | YORBA LINDA, CALIF.

**2013 TEAM CAPTAIN**

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

2011 USAG National Champion (pommel horse)Four-Time USAG All-AmericanThree-Time NCAA Participant

Two-Time NCAA Event Semifinalist (pommel horse)Two-Time Selection to Winter Cup Challenge

Academy Record Holder (pommel horse)MPSF Gymnast of the Week (2012)

CGA Gymnast of the Week (2012) Two-Time MPSF Academic All-Conference Honoree

2010 Air Force Freshman of the Year2010 CGA All-America Scholar-Athlete

CAREER-BEST MARKS

14.400 | Floor Exercise | at Army | 201214.900 | Pommel Horse | at Temple | 2012

14.200 | Vault* | at Army | 201213.150 | Parallel Bars | at Nebraska | 2012

14.250 | High Bar | USAG Event Finals | 2012



JUNIOR PATRICK DUFFY

SOPHOMORE YEAR | 2012: Competed on the pommel horse in every team compe on…scored a season-high 14.050 at the NCAA Na onal Qualifi er…competed on the fl oor exercise during six meets…won the fl oor exercise at Arizona State…scored a career-high 14.400 at that meet…that score is ed for 17th on the Academy’s all- me list…also competed twice on the vault…made collegiate debut against Minnesota, scoring a 13.400…earned aca-demic all-conference honors from the Mountain Pacifi c Sports Federa on.

FRESHMAN YEAR | 2011: Competed on the pommel horse in every team compe on...posted a career-best score of 14.200 at the All-Academy Championships...that is the eighth-highest score in Academy history…also recorded marks on the program’s top-20 all- me list of 13.650 (18th, at Nebraska) and 13.600 (19th, three mes, including the MPSF Championships)…named to the College Gymnas cs Associa on’s Scholar-Athlete team.

HIGH SCHOOL | CLUB TEAM: La Cueva High School…selected as a State of New Mexico Higher Educa on De-partment Recogni on Program Scholar in 2009-10…posted a 4.5 weighted GPA…two- me academic le erwin-ner…member of the Na onal Honor Society…selected for the Na onal Youth Leadership Forum all four years…three-year member of Nobel’s Na onal Society of High School Scholars…named Who’s Who Among High School Students in 2008…competed at the club level for Gold Cup Gymnas cs…coached by Jerry Nickels…member of two state championship teams (2009, 2010)…2009 Gymnast of the Year…four- me USAG Junior Olympic Qualifi er…four- me USAG First-Team Academic All-American…USAG Region I Select Team in 2005, represen ng gymnas- cs from California, Nevada, Hawaii and Arizona…named to the USAG Southern California State All-Star Team

in 2005…two- me selec on to the USAG Nevada State All-Star Team…placed fi rst in the all-around at the USAG Southern California State North Conference meet in 2006…two- me Most Decorated Gymnast Award…two- me par cipant at the Interna onal Gymnas cs Camp…also a ended Falcon Sports Camps in 2009, earning the Best A tude Award.

PERSONAL: Son of Pat and Diana Duff y…father was a 1981 Academy graduate and spent 28 years as a fi ghter pilot, re ring as a Colonel…mother is a 1983 Academy graduate…nickname is “Pa y”…has one younger sister, Katherine…majoring in electrical engineering…future career plans include either becoming a pilot or NSA…served as Confi dence Course Superintendent and Safety NCO.,..named to the Superintendent’s List for excellence in mili-tary, academic and athle c performance…hobbies include “endangering my life, working on cars, Cadet Parades and waterskiing…loves techo music…is one-quarter Japanese…spent part of the summer at Osan AFB, South Korea with the Field Engineering Readiness Laboratory (FERL)…also took leave and worked the second session of Basic Cadet Training…favorite event is the pommel horse…member of Cadet Squadron 12.

PATRICK DUFFYJUNIOR | 5-7 | ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

Two-Time NCAA Participant2011, 2012 CGA All-America Scholar-Athlete

2012 MPSF Academic All-Conference Selection

CAREER-BEST MARKS

14.400 | Floor Exercise | at Arizona State | 201214.200 | Pommel Horse | at All-Academy | 2011

13.400 | Vault* | vs. Minnesota | 2012



JUNIOR TYLER HUEBNER

SOPHOMORE YEAR | 2012: Competed on the s ll rings in every team compe on…recorded a career-best 14.900 to fi nish fi h during the team fi nals of the USAG Na onal Championships…that mark is ranked 17th on the program’s all- me list…recorded another top-20 all- me score (14.800) at the Rocky Mountain Open…won the s ll rings at Arizona State with a mark of 14.500…earned a top-10 fi nish at the Mountain Pacifi c Sports Federa on Championships (14.500).

FRESHMAN YEAR | 2011: Competed on the s ll rings in every team compe on...scored a career-best tally of 14.700 in the regular season fi nale against Washington...that score is one of the top-20 marks in Academy history (19th e).

HIGH SCHOOL | CLUB TEAM: Claudia Taylor Johnson High School…graduated Summa Cum Laude…competed at the club level for Alamo Gymnas cs Center…coached by Yuegin Sun and Brandon Kays…served as team captain…placed eighth on the s ll rings at Na onals.

PERSONAL: Full name is Phillip Tyler Huebner…goes by Tyler…son of Phil and Lori Huebner…has one younger brother, Tate…majoring in Foreign Area Studies…future plans include becoming an A-10 pilot…served as four degree coach…named to the Athle c Director’s List for excellence in athle c performance…spent the summer comple ng Combat Survival Training, Global Engagement and the Space program…hobbies include rock climbing and mountain climbing…grandfather served in the military…favorite event is the s ll rings, because “that’s where I excel”…member of Cadet Squadron 15.

TYLER HUEBNERJUNIOR | 5-4 | SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

Two-Time NCAA Participant

CAREER-BEST MARKS

14.900 | Still Rings | USAG Team Finals | 2012


JUNIOR NICK OWEN

2012: Received a medical turnback from the Academy, while recovering from shoulder surgery.

SOPHOMORE YEAR | 2011: Competed on the pommel horse in every team compe on...posted a career-best 14.200 during the regular season fi nale against Washington...that score is the eighth-highest mark in Academy history…also surpassed the 14-point mark during the Illinois-Chicago Quad on March 4 (14.100)...claimed two fi rst-place fi nishes on the horse (at Springfi eld, vs. Washington).

FRESHMAN YEAR | 2010: Did not see compe ve ac on.

HIGH SCHOOL | CLUB TEAM: Was home schooled…graduated with a 3.99 GPA…competed at the club level for the Atlanta School of Gymnas cs…coached by Nathan Simmons and Spencer Slaton…competed all four years at the Junior Olympic na onal championships…earned Academic All-America honors.

PERSONAL: Full fi rst name is Nicholas, but goes by Nick…son of Michael and Susan Owen…has one younger brother, Zachary, who is a freshman on the Air Force men’s gymnas cs team…majoring in biology…future plans include becoming a public aff airs offi cer…served as Element Leader, Public Aff airs NCO and Flight NCO…was born on New Year’s Day…hobbies include golf…grandfather, George Yoblonsky, is a re red lieutenant colonel…holds a second degree black belt in Taw Kwon Do…favorite event is the pommel horse, because “it is one of the most chal-lenging events in gymnas cs and overcoming that challenge is worth the struggle”…spent the summer complet-ing Opera on Air Force in South Dakota and working Squadron Safety and Medical during Basic Cadet Training…member of Cadet Squadron 37.

NICK OWENJUNIOR | 5-6 | GRAYSON, GA.

CAREER-BEST MARKS

14.200 | Pommel Horse | vs. Washington | 2011


JUNIOR MAC RITCHIE

SOPHOMORE YEAR | 2012: USAG na onal champion on the high bar…Academy record holder on that event…USAG All-American… ed the program standard of 14.900 to defeat the fi eld by 0.650…also the preliminary round with a then-career high mark of 14.650 (the third-best score in program history)…earned the Mountain Pacifi c Sports Federa on Gymnast of the Week and the Air Force Athlete of the Week awards following the USAG Cham-pionships…also took fi rst on the high bar in meets with Minnesota and Illinois-Chicago…earned a top-10 fi nish on that event at the MPSF Championships…added two addi onal scores that ranked within the program’s top 10…competed on the s ll rings in every team compe on…scored a personal-best 14.200 during the Rocky Moun-tain Open… posted a season-best 13.900 on the parallel bars at that meet…par cipated on that event during 11 meets…also competed on the fl oor exercise for fi ve of the fi rst six meets…scored a season-high 14.300 against Minnesota.

FRESHMAN YEAR | 2011: Selected as the team’s Freshman of the Year…competed on the fl oor exercise, parallel bars and high bar in every team compe on…also competed on the s ll rings in 12 of 13 meets…scored a career-best 14.500 on the fl oor exercise in the regular season fi nale against Washington…that score is ranked 15th on the program’s all- me record book…posted a career-best score of 14.200 on the parallel bars at the team fi nals of the USAG Na onal Championships…helped Air Force set a new team mark of 57.700 at that meet…that score is ranked 13th in the program record book…won the high bar tle against Army with a score of 13.700…helped Air Force sweep the event tles in the dual meet with the Black Knights…posted a career-high 14.400 on that event at Springfi eld…that score is the seventh-highest total in Academy history…scored a personal-best 13.900 on the s ll rings at Brockport…also vaulted during three meets…recorded a career-best 15.200 at the Rocky Mountain Open…that score is ed for 16th on the program’s all- me list.

HIGH SCHOOL | CLUB TEAM: Concord High School…competed at the club level for G&J Speedway Gymnas cs…coached by Jie Ding…member of the 2010 regional team…three- me state all-around champion…also won nu-merous individual event tles.

PERSONAL: Full name is Breeden McEachern Ritchie…goes by Mac…son of Jack and Jennifer Ritchie…has one old-er brother, Ben, and one younger brother, George…undecided on a major…hobbies include playing golf…favorite event is the parallel bars, because “I like doing it and I don’t ever get bored of it”…member of Cadet Squadron 27.

MAC RITCHIEJUNIOR | 5-5 | CONCORD, N.C.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

2012 USAG National Champion (high bar)USAG All-American

Two-Time NCAA ParticipantAcademy Record Holder (high bar)MPSF Gymnast of the Week (2012)

2011 Air Force Freshman of the Year

CAREER-BEST MARKS

14.500 | Floor Exercise | vs. Army | 201114.200 | Still Rings | Rocky Mountain Open | 201214.200 | Parallel Bars | at USAG Team Finals | 2011

14.900 | High Bar | USAG Event Finals | 2012


JUNIOR BEN ZAISER

SOPHOMORE YEAR | 2012: USAG na onal champion on the vault…scored a 14.600 to fi nish fi rst at the na- onal meet…claimed USAG All-America honors for the second straight year…also placed fi rst on the vault against

Illinois-Chicago and Arizona State…scored a season-high 14.750 at Nebraska to lead the Falcons…that mark is an Academy standard under the new scoring guidelines for the vault…holds at least a share of four of the program’s top-fi ve all- me scores…earned a top-10 fi nish on that event at the Mountain Pacifi c Sports Federa on Cham-pionships (14.600)…also competed on the s ll rings in every team compe on…recorded a career-best score of 14.600 during the Falcons’ dual with Illinois-Chicago…par cipated on the fl oor exercise during seven meets, including the USAG Championships (team fi nals) and the MPSF Championships…scored a career-high 14.200 in the meet against Minnesota...earned the team’s Most Improved Award.

FRESHMAN YEAR | 2011: USAG All-American on the vault…scored a 15.500 to fi nish fi h at the USAG Na onal Championships...competed on the vault in 12 meets...recorded a career-best score of 15.600 during fi ve compe - ons...fi rst tallied that score at Nebraska...posted that score in four consecu ve meets (at Illinois-Chicago Quad,

at Brockport, at Springfi eld, against Washington)…that mark is the eighth-best score in Academy history…won the vault tles at Nebraska and during the Falcons’ regular season fi nale against Washington.

HIGH SCHOOL | CLUB TEAM: Was home schooled…passed AP tests in chemistry, sta s cs, physics and Calculus AB…two- me USAG Academic All-American…competed at the club level for Pi sburgh Northstars…coached by Sco Carslaw…par cipated at the 2009 Na onals in Cincinna …four- me na onal qualifi er…placed second on the pommel horse at the 2008 state championships…received the Greg Young Award, which goes to someone who shows respect to the coaches.

PERSONAL: Full fi rst name is Benjamin, but goes by Ben…nickname is Benji…son of Barry and Kim Zaiser…has one older sister, Bekah, who was a 2010 All-American gymnast at Florida…also has an older brother, Aaron, who is a 2011 graduate of the Academy and former member of the men’s gymnas cs team…majoring in civil engineering…future plans include becoming a pilot…served as Security NCO…named to the Athle c Director’s List for excel-lence in academic performance…hobbies include paintball and rock climbing…spent part of the summer at Osan AFB, South Korea, with the Field Engineering Readiness Laboratory (FERL)…also served as Element Leader during the fi rst session of Basic Cadet Training and took Biology 315…favorite event is the vault, because “I’m good at it”…member of Cadet Squadron 12.

BEN ZAISERJUNIOR | 5-3 | PITTSBURGH, PA.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

2012 USAG National Champion (vault)Two-Time USAG All-American

Two-Time NCAA ParticipantAcademy Record Holder (vault)

Recipient of the 2012 Air Force Most Improved Award

CAREER-BEST MARKS

14.200 | Floor Exercise | vs. Minnesota | 201214.600 | Still Rings | vs. Illinois-Chicago | 2012

14.750 | Vault* | at Nebraska | 2012


SOPHOMORE SKYLER AWISUS

FRESHMAN YEAR | 2012: Competed on the parallel bars during every team compe on…scored a career-best 14.400 against Minnesota…that score is ranked 10th on the Academy’s all- me list…also broke the 14-point mark at the Rocky Mountain Open (14.200) and at Army (14.000)…also competed on the high bar during 11 meets…posted a career-best 13.700 at Arizona State and again during the USAG Championships (team fi nals).

HIGH SCHOOL | CLUB TEAM: Reno High School…member of the Na onal Honor Society…AP Scholar…served as senior class president…member of the Student Council Leadership Class…member of the Key Club, Future Busi-ness Leaders of America and the Burrito Lovers Club…competed at the club level for High Sierra Gymnas cs…coached by Plamen “Patso” Avramov and Stephanie DeBoor…served as team captain…received the HSG High Performer award in 2011.

PERSONAL: Full name is Skyler James Awisus…nickname is “Spot”…son of Mark and Kim Awisus…has two young-er brothers, Mitchell and Micah…majoring in poli cal science…future plans include becoming a pilot or CRO…served as Athle c Clerk…hobbies include being with friends and family, listening to music and making fun of Tyler Huebner…spent the summer comple ng Expedi onary Survival and Evasion Training (ESET), taking an academic class and going on leave…grandfather served in the Air Force during World War II…favorite event is the parallel bars, because “it has always come naturally to me”…member of Cadet Squadron 20.

SKYLER AWISUSSOPHOMORE | 5-6 | RENO, NEV.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

2012 NCAA Participant

CAREER-BEST MARKS

14.400 | Parallel Bars | vs. Minnesota | 201213.700 | High Bar | 2x, last USAG Team Finals | 2012



SOPHOMORE GARED CHAPMAN

FRESHMAN YEAR | 2012: USAG All-American on the s ll rings…fi nished second at that meet with a score of 15.000…competed on that event in every compe on…recorded a career-high score of 15.100 during the team fi nals of the USAG Championships…that mark is ranked 14th on the program’s all- me list…fi nished fi h (14.550) during a tri-meet with Oklahoma and Nebraska…competed on the vault during nine meets…scored a personal-best 14.400 at Nebraska…that mark is ranked fi h on the program’s all- me list…par cipated on the fl oor exer-cise during four meets…scored a personal-best 13.800 twice…fi rst claimed that mark during the dual meet with Illinois-Chicago and matched that score at Arizona State.

HIGH SCHOOL | CLUB TEAM: Winter Park High School…AP Scholar…served as president of the Interact Club…IB Diploma recipient…member of the Na onal Honor Society, Math Honor Society, Social Studies Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society…competed at the club level for Ace Gymnas cs (coached by John Halle , Mike Turner and Greg Weller) and Orlando Metro Gymnas cs (coached by Casimiro Suarez)…fi ve- me na onal qualifi er (2007-11)…three- me Florida state team member…three- me Region 8 team member…member of the 2010 Region 8 team that won the na onal championship…2008 state champion on the parallel bars…2009 state champion on the fl oor exercise and vault…2009 Region 8 champion on the high bar…received fi rst-team Academic All-American honors for three straight years.

PERSONAL: Full name is Gared Ryan Chapman…nickname is “Meatball”…son of Eddie and Chris ne Chapman…has one younger half-sister, Ann, and one younger half-brother, Will…majoring in electrical engineering and earn-ing a minor in Russian…future plans include going “wherever I am needed”…spent eight years playing in a school orchestra…enjoys wri ng and playing music…comes from a family with a strong military history…has one uncle, Brook “Holly” Rollins, who is currently serving in the Air Force Reserves…spent the summer comple ng soaring, SPACE and Expedi onary Survival and Evasion Training…favorite events are the s ll rings, because “I feel in control and secure”, and the high bar, because “it’s a lot of fun to fl y through the air”…member of Cadet Squadron 20.

GARED CHAPMANSOPHOMORE | 5-4 | AMERICUS, GA.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

USAG All-American (still rings)2012 NCAA Participant

CAREER-BEST MARKS

13.800 | Floor Exercise | 2x, last at Arizona St | 201215.100 | Still Rings | USAG Team Finals | 2012

14.400 | Vault* | at Nebraska | 2012



SOPHOMORE GREG CHAPUT

FRESHMAN YEAR | 2012: USAG All-American on that pommel horse…advanced to the event preliminary round of the NCAA Championships on that event a er placing ninth (14.400) in the Na onal Qualifi er…that mark was a career-best and the sixth-highest score in program history…earned a top-10 fi nish on that event at the Moun-tain Pacifi c Sports Federa on Championships..…won the parallel bars during the fi rst road meet at Nebraska (14.350)…posted a career-high score of 14.400 on that event at the Rocky Mountain Open…that score is ed for 10th on the Academy’s all- me list…also competed on the fl oor exercise during fi ve meets…posted a career-high 14.000 at the fi rst dual meet with Illinois-Chicago.

HIGH SCHOOL | CLUB TEAM: St. John’s High School…competed on the varsity wrestling team as a freshman…competed at the club level for Legends Gymnas cs…coached by Dewayne Davenport and Debbie Naka…four- me compe tor at Na onals as a member of the Region 6 team.

PERSONAL: Full name is Gregory Arthur Chaput…goes by Greg…nickname is “Squints”...son of Arthur and Dawn Chaput…has one older sister, Colby, who is 2012 Academy graduate…majoring in social sciences…future career plans include becoming a pilot or CRO...served as Training Clerk…a ended the Academy’s Prep School…won the pommel horse and all-around at the regional meet while a ending the prep school…hobbies include playing basketball with friends, video games with the guys on the team and relaxing on the beach at home…spent the summer taking two academic classes and comple ng Expedi onary Survival and Evasion Training (ESET)…favorite event is the pommel horse, because “it’s one of the events that you have to put the most work into, prac cing circles and keeping a good line, but in the end, a er doing millions of drills and trying to perfect your circle, it all pays off when you learn a new skill or hit your rou ne in a clutch situa on”...would like to add that “accomplishing all that we had as a young team was exci ng and I look forward to the freshmen coming in this year to help us achieve even greater things”…member of Cadet Squadron 01.

GREG CHAPUTSOPHOMORE | 5-7 | WORCESTER, MASS.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

USAG All-American (pommel horse)2012 NCAA Participant

2012 NCAA Event Semifinalist (pommel horse)

CAREER-BEST MARKS

14.000 | Floor Exercise | vs. Illinois-Chicago | 201214.400 | Pommel Horse | at NCAA Qualifier | 2012

14.400 | Parallel Bars | Rocky Mtn Open | 2012


SOPHOMORE NICK GAUDLIP

FRESHMAN YEAR | 2012: USAG All-American on the fl oor exercise…competed on that event in every compe- on…posted a career-best 14.700 at Army...that score is ranked 11th on the Academy’s all- me list…posted

four addi onal scores that are ranked among the program’s top-20…placed sixth at the USAG na onal meet with a score of 13.600…member of the pommel horse lineup during eight meets…scored a career-best 13.750 in the team fi nals of the USAG Na onal Championships…competed on the parallel bars in seven meets…scored a career-best 13.800 on three occasions (against Illinois-Chicago, at Arizona State, at NCAA Na onal Qualifi er)…also performed on the high bar three mes…scored a personal-high 13.600 at the Temple Tri-Meet.

HIGH SCHOOL | CLUB TEAM: Rampart High School…member of the student council for four years…served as student body president during senior year...also served as president of the Na onal Honor Society…competed at the club level for the Colorado Training Center…coached by Ron Brant…placed ninth on the high bar at the 2011 Junior Olympic Na onals…fi nished second in the all-around at the 2011 Region IX Championships…fi ve- me qualifi er to the Junior Olympic Na onals…four- me fi rst-team Academic All-American.

PERSONAL: Full name is Nicholas Frank Gaudlip…goes by Nick…nickname is “Bieber”…son of Fred and Beth Gaud-lip…father is re red Air Force…has one older brother, Aus n…majoring in biology (premed)…future plans include becoming a combat rescue offi cer…has lived “pre y much everywhere” by growing up in a military family…was born in England and has dual ci zenship…hobbies include golf, fi shing and drawing…favorite quote is “When are champions made? Every day at prac ce”…completed Jump over the summer…favorite event to train on is the pommel horse, because “it is defi nitely the most diffi cult, so new skills are the most rewarding”…favorite event for compe on is the high bar, because “it’s a crowd pleaser and I feed on the energy of everybody watching”…member of Cadet Squadron 39.

NICK GAUDLIPSOPHOMORE | 5-7 | COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

USAG All-American (floor exercise)2012 NCAA Participant

CAREER-BEST MARKS

14.700 | Floor Exercise | at Army | 201213.750 | Pommel Horse | USAG Team Finals | 2012

13.800 | Parallel Bars | 3x, last NCAA Qualifier | 201213.600 | High Bar | at Temple | 2012


SOPHOMORE CORBIN PALMER

FRESHMAN YEAR | 2012: Earned the team’s Most Valuable Gymnast award…USAG All-American on the fl oor exercise and parallel bars…fi nished second on both events…competed on the pommel horse, vault and high bar during every team compe on…scored a career-high 13.700 on the pommel horse in the dual meet with Min-nesota…that mark is ranked 19th on the program’s all- me list…recorded a career-best 14.400 to win the vault tle at Army…that score is ed for fi h on the team’s all- me list…matched that score on the high bar to fi nish

second at Nebraska…that mark (career-best) is ranked seventh all- me…competed on the fl oor exercise during the fi nal 12 meets…scored a career-best 14.500 to pace the Falcons at Oklahoma (eighth-place fi nish)…that score is ranked 15th on the program’s all- me list…par cipated on the parallel bars in 11 meets...posted a career-high 14.350 to lead Air Force on that event at the Mountain Pacifi c Sports Federa on Championships…that mark is ed for 11th on the program’s all- me list.

HIGH SCHOOL | CLUB TEAM: Centennial High School…competed at the club level for World Olympic Gymnas cs Academy…coached by Sergei Pakanich.

PERSONAL: Full name is Corbin Dodd Palmer…son of Tony and Kelly Palmer…has one older brother, Colton, and one younger brother, Conner…majoring in biology…future plans include working in the medical fi eld…a ended the Academy’s Prep School…hobbies include gymnas cs and going to the movies…Eagle Scout…loves to camp and spend me outdoors…favorite event is the high bar, because “the release moves and skills are the most fun out of all the events. I love to fl y high”…member of Cadet Squadron 05.

CORBIN PALMERSOPHOMORE | 5-9 | FRISCO, TEXAS

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

2012 AIr Force Most Valuable PlayerTwo-Time USAG All-American

2012 NCAA Participant

CAREER-BEST MARKS

14.500 | Floor Exercise | at Oklahoma | 201213.700 | Pommel Horse | Minnesota | 2012

14.400 | Vault* | at Army | 201214.350 | Parallel Bars | MPSF Championships | 2012

14.400 | High Bar | at Nebraska | 2012



SOPHOMORE JOSH RAMOS

FRESHMAN YEAR | 2012: USAG na onal champion on the parallel bars…earned USAG All-America honors on that event…also won the parallel bars at fi ve other meets…paced the squad on the parallel bars (15.000)…that mark is the second-highest score in program history…took fi rst on the fl oor exercise at the All-Academy Championships, at Army and at Arizona State…led the team on that event with a career-best mark of 14.700…fi rst achieved that score at the All-Academy Championships…matched that score the following week against Army…that score is ed for 11th on the Academy’s all- me list…also competed on the high bar in every team compe on…recorded a mark of 14.300 during the fi rst home dual with Illinois-Chicago…that score is ed for ninth on the all- me list…also competed on the vault (career-best 14.100, at Army) fi ve mes and the s ll rings once…earned the CGA Athlete of the Week award a er claiming three event tles during the Falcons’ trip to Temple and Army …won the fl oor exercise and parallel bars at Army, while earning fi rst on the parallel bars at Temple and became just the second Air Force gymnast to reach the 15-point mark on the parallel bars in the meet with the Owls.

HIGH SCHOOL | CLUB TEAM: Bishop Kelley High School…member of the Na onal Honor Society…honor roll selec- on…member of the Na onal Society of High School Scholars…competed at the club level for Jenks Gymnas cs…

coached by Neptali Narvaez…two- me Oklahoma state champion (2009, 2010)…three- me member of the Re-gion 3 team (2007, 2009, 2010)…qualifi ed to three Junior Olympic meets (2008-10).

PERSONAL: Full name is Steven Joshua Ramos…goes by Josh…nickname is Jimmy…son of Pete and Elaine Ramos…has two younger sisters, Megan and Mika…majoring in biology…future career plans include a ending medical school and becoming an orthopedic surgeon…named to the Superintendent’s List for excellence in military, aca-demic and athle c performance…hobbies include gymnas cs, guitar, piano, video games and hanging out with friends…favorite event is the parallel bars, because “it’s my best event”…member of Cadet Squadron 04.

JOSH RAMOSSOPHOMORE | 5-3 | BROKEN ARROW, OKLA.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

2011 USAG National Champion (parallel bars)USAG All-American (parallel bars)

2012 NCAA Participant2012 Air Force Freshman of the Year

CGA Gymnast of the Week (2012)2012 CGA All-America Scholar-Athlete

CAREER-BEST MARKS

14.700 | Floor Exercise | 2x, last at Army | 201213.600 | Still Rings | Rocky Mountain Open | 2012

14.100 | Vault* | at Army | 201215.000 | Parallel Bars | at Temple | 2012

14.300 | High Bar | vs. Illinois-Chicago | 2012



SOPHOMORE JON SPIRO

FRESHMAN YEAR | 2012: Competed on the s ll rings during nine compe ons…recorded a career-high 14.300 during the fi rst home dual with Illinois-Chicago…also surpassed the 14-point mark against Minnesota (14.000) at Temple (14.100) and during the second meet with UIC (14.200)…also competed on the pommel horse in four meet…scored a personal-best 13.200 in the fi rst UIC meet.

HIGH SCHOOL | CLUB TEAM: Capistrano Connec ons Academy…competed at the club level for New Hope Acad-emy of Gymnas cs in Fountain Valley, California…coached by Guonian Wu…ranked third in the na on on the s ll rings two years in a row (2010, 2011)…fi ve- me qualifi er to the Junior Olympic Na onals…ranked fi rst on the s ll rings and second on the pommel horse in Region 1 (California, Hawaii, Nevada, Arizona) during 2011…four- me USA Gymnas cs Academic All-American…member of the Level 10 team that won the state championship…also a member of the club team that won the Iron Man Compe on (top club in Southern California).

PERSONAL: Full name is Jonathan Sco Spiro…goes by Jon…nickname is “Hollywood”…son of Sco and Patsy Spiro…has one younger brother, Nick, who is also a gymnast…majoring in law……hobbies include going to the beach, anything on the water and being tan…also plays the electric guitar…completed Expedi onary Survival and Evasion Training (ESET) over the summer…also took academic classes and went on leave…has one grandfather who was enlisted in the Air Force for 27 years…also has a grandfather that served in the Air Force for several years as a fl ight surgeon…favorites events are the s ll rings and pommel horse…member of Cadet Squadron 20.

JON SPIROSOPHOMORE | 5-4 | LAGUNA NIGUEL, CALIF.

CAREER-BEST MARKS

13.200 | Pommel Horse | Illinois-Chicago | 201214.300 | Still Rings | Illinois-Chicago | 2012


FRESHMEN DENIS AURELIUS & THOMAS OWEIDA

HIGH SCHOOL | CLUB TEAM: Jonathan Alder High School…le ered in tennis…ranked as the fi rst singles varsity tennis player all four years…graduated with a 3.96 GPA…competed at the club level on the OSU Boys Team…coached by DeRon McIntyre…made the top 36 at na onals as a senior…also fi nished second in the state that year…earned Academic All-America honors for four years.

PERSONAL: Full name is Denis Robert Aurelius…son of Glen and Dori Aurelius…is a triplet (sisters Krista and Lind-si)…currently undecided on a major…future plans include becoming a pilot…hobbies include playing all sports, including basketball, football and tennis…favorite event is the s ll rings, because “it’s fun”…member of Cadet Squadron 08.

DENIS AURELIUSFRESHMAN | 5-6 | PLAIN CITY, OHIO

HIGH SCHOOL | CLUB TEAM: Myers Park High School…competed in track and fi eld…regional qualifi er in the discus throw…also played strong safety for the varsity football team…member of the swim team…member of the Na onal Honor Society…graduated in the top 10 percent of class (approximately 662 students)…competed at the club level for Zenith Gymnas cs…coached by Stass Savitch…na onal qualifi er…state qualifi er.

PERSONAL: Full name is Thomas Joseph Oweida…son of Sami and Lynne Oweida…has three older sisters – Mariel, Nicole and Katharine…also has one younger brother, Philip…currently undecided on a major…half Lebanese…favorite event is the parallel bars, because “that is my best event”…member of Cadet Squadron 01.

THOMAS OWEIDAFRESHMAN | 6-1 | CHARLOTTE, N.C.


FRESHMEN ZACH OWEN & JOSH PYNE

HIGH SCHOOL | CLUB TEAM: Grayson High School…played soccer through sophomore year…competed at the club level for Roswell Men’s Gymnas cs…coached by Nathan Simmons…won the state tle in 2012…placed fi rst at HNI…recipient of the Mike Raines Award.

PERSONAL: Full name is Zachary Aaron Owen…goes by Zach…nickname is “Princess”…son of Mike and Sue Owen…has one older brother, Nick, who is a junior gymnast at the Academy…majoring in poli cal science…future plans include a career in Congress…hobbies include reading the Bible, playing soccer, ea ng sushi and taking walks…CajunFaith…grandfather is a re red lieutenant colonel…favorite event is the high bar, because “you feel free and it’s great to have everyone watching you when you’re doing your release moves”…member of Cadet Squadron 12.

ZACH OWENFRESHMAN | 5-8 | GRAYSON, GA.

HIGH SCHOOL | CLUB TEAM: Cimarron Memorial High School…recipient of the Presiden al Award…also earned the Millennium Scholarship…competed at the club level for Go For It Gym…coached by Nalani Cook…Nevada state champion…regional fi nalist on the vault.

PERSONAL: Full name is Vaughn Joshua Pyne…goes by Josh…nickname is “JJ”…son of Vaughn and Sue Pyne…has three younger siblings – Jus ne, Taya and Riayn…planning to major in either economics or management…hobbies include dancing…fi rst member of family to serve in the military…favorite event is the fl oor exercise, because “it is the least restric ng of the events, and it’s fun to just go all out on the event”…member of Cadet Squadron 03.

JOSH PYNEFRESHMAN | 5-3 | LAS VEGAS, NEV.

2012 SEASON IN REVIEW


2012 SEASON-IN-REVIEW

2012 GYMNASTICS SCHEDULE

Jan. 14 Rocky Mountain Open 2nd of 5 (333.300) vs. No. 1 Oklahoma L, 333.300-343.700 vs. No. 9 Nebraska W, 333.300-331.300 vs. Arizona State* W, 333.300-314.100 vs. Washington* W, 333.300-248.100Jan. 22 at No. 9 Nebraska L, 331.750-336.550Jan. 28 No. 8 Minnesota L, 337.700-345.400Feb. 18 at All-Academy Championships 1st of 3 (327.800) vs. No. 13 Navy W, 327.800-325.650 vs. No. 12 Army W, 327.800-317.600Feb. 24 at No. 15 Army W, 334.000-326.500Feb. 26 at Temple Tri-Meet 2nd of 3 (334.800) at No. 10 Temple L, 334.800-336.300 vs. Brockport* W, 334.800-257.600 Mar. 2 No. 14 Illinois-Chicago W, 338.900-329.500Mar. 4 No. 14 Illinois-Chicago W, 337.300-332.400Mar. 9 at No. 17 Arizona State* W, 335.600-321.600Mar. 17 at Oklahoma Tri-Meet 3rd of 3 (327.950) at No. 1 Oklahoma L, 327.950-352.400 vs. No. 9 Nebraska L, 327.950-341.550Mar. 30 USAG Championships-Team 1st of 4 (341.050) No. 14 William & Mary W, 341.050-331.850 No. 16 Navy W, 341.050-326.900 No. 17 Springfi eld W, 341.050-324.350Mar. 31 USAG Championships-Event No Team ScoresApr. 7 MPSF Championships 4th of 4 (335.950) No. 2 Oklahoma L, 335.950-352.100 No. 3 Stanford L, 335.950-345.950 No. 7 California L, 335.950-335.950Apr. 19 at NCAA Na onal Qualifi er 6th of 6 (333.750) No. 4 Illinois L, 333.750-356.250 No. 1 Oklahoma L, 333.750-356.200 No. 8 Calfornia L, 333.750-351.150 No. 5 Minnesota L, 333.750-343.450 No. 9 Temple L, 333.750-339.450Apr. 20 at NCAA Championships No Team Scores

Home meets in bold at Cadet West Gym.* Meets against club teams do not count in overall record.

AIR FORCE PAIR COMPETE IN NCAA SEMIFINALSJames Okamoto and Greg Chaput competed in the individual event preliminaries at the NCAA Championships on Apr. 20. Okamoto, who advanced to the event preliminaries of the national meet for the second straight year, scored a 14.250 on the pommel horse to tie for 24th, while Chaput scored a 12.000 on the same event to place 47th.

FALCONS TAKE SIXTH AT NATIONAL QUALIFIERWith a score of 333.750, 12th-ranked Air Force finished sixth during the NCAA National Qualifier on April 19. It marked the second straight year that the Falcons qualified to the national meet, having broken a 13-year drought one season earlier.

FALCONS FINISH FOURTH AT MPSFAir Force amassed a score of 335.950 to finish fourth at the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championships on April 7. Devin Menefee earned the Falcons’ best finish of the night, as he placed sixth on the still rings (14.900) in his final home competition. Menefee was one of two top-10 finishers for Air Force on the rings, as Tyler Huebner tied for 10th with a 14.500. James Okamoto (14.100, eighth) and Greg Chaput (14.000, 10th) finished within the top 10 on the pom-mel horse, while Ben Zaiser and Mac Ritchie both finished 10th on the vault (14.600) and high bar (14.150), respectively.

RITCHIE EARNS WEEKLY HONORSMac Ritchie was named the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Gymnast of the Week and the Air Force Athlete of the Week award after claiming his first USAG high bar title. The sophomore tied the Academy record of 14.900 to win his first career USAG national title by a 0.650 margin on March 31. Ritchie, who scored a then-career mark 14.650 to win the preliminary competition by 0.450, helped the Falcons to their third straight USAG team title.

AIR FORCE COACHES EARN USAG AWARDSKip Simons was named the USAG Varsity Coach of the Year at the conclusion of the USAG Champi-onships, while Jeff Robinson and Chuck Schweiss shared the USAG Varsity Assistant Coach of the Year award. It is the third such award for Simons, who also claimed the honor in 2008 and 2010. Robinson and Schweiss shared the honor last year, while Schweiss shared the honor with former assistant Brett McClure in 2010.

FALCONS SET PROGRAM RECORD IN USAG HONORSA program-best nine Falcons claimed USAG All-America status, based on their top-six finishes in the event finals of the USAG Championships. Corbin Palmer (floor exercise, parallel), James Oka-moto (pommel horse, high bar), Nick Gaudlip (floor exercise), Greg Chaput (pommel horse), Gared Chapman (still rings), Devin Menefee (still rings), Ben Zaiser (vault), Josh Ramos (parallel bars) and Mac Ritchie (high bar) earned USAG All-American honors.

AIR FORCE TRIO EARNS USAG TITLESThree Falcons claimed USAG national titles during the event finals on March 31. Ben Zaiser (vault), Josh Ramos (parallel bars) and Mac Ritchie (high bar) each claimed their first USAG national title. Zaiser’s title on the vault marked the third straight year that an Air Force gymnast has won the USAG title on that event, while Ramos’ win marked the fourth time in five years that the Falcons have claimed the parallel bars title. Ritchie became the first Falcon since Erin Montague in 1999 to win the USAG high bar title.

FALCONS WIN THIRD STRAIGHT USAG TITLEBacked by a season-high score of 341.050, Air Force successfully defended its USAG team title on March 30. It is the third straight year that the Falcons have claimed the USAG title, defeating Wil-liam and Mary (331.850), Navy (326.900) and Springfield (324.350).

HIGH FLYING HIGH BARAir Force opened the USAG Championships on the high bar, recording five of the six top scores and the fourth-best team score in Academy history (56.950). Mac Ritchie (14.650), James Okamoto (14.150), Tory Brown (14.100), Josh Ramos (14.050) and Corbin Palmer (14.000) helped Air Force dominate the top of the leaderboard on that event.

MORE NEWS FROM THE USAG CHAMPIONSHIPSBacked by matching 15.100 marks from Devin Menefee and Gared Chapman, the Falcons set an Academy record team score of 59.450 on the still rings during the team finals on March 30. Mene-fee, Chapman, Tyler Huebner (14.900, fifth) and Ben Zaiser (14.350, seventh) all finished within the top 10 of that event. Air Force also claimed five of the top-six scores on the pommel horse, behind Greg Chaput’s winning score of 14.000. James Okamoto (13.850, third-tie), Nick Gaudlip (13.750, sixth), Alex Jessop (13.700, seventh) and Corbin Palmer (13.650, eighth) all placed within the top 10 on that event.

2012 Team Captain Devin Menefee2012 Team Captain Devin Menefee

AIR FORCE FINISHES THIRD AT OKLAHOMAJames Okamoto and Gared Chapman finished fifth on the pommel horse and still rings, respectively, to lead the Falcons (327.950) at a tri-meet against Oklahoma (352.400) and Nebraska (341.550) on March 17. Okamoto scored a 14.050 on the pommel, while Chapman collected a 14.550 on the rings. Corbin Palmer posted the squad’s top scores on both the floor (14.500) and parallel bars (13.500).

FALCONS EARN EASY WIN AT ARIZONA STATEBacked by five of the six event titles, Air Force defeated Arizona State by a 14-point margin (335.600-321.600) on March 9. The Falcons’ 335.700 is their highest road total of the season. In addition, five Falcons set or matched career-best marks at ASU. Patrick Duffy improved his score on the floor exercise by nearly two points to 14.400, while Tory Brown set a vault mark of 14.300 and Skyler Awisus tallied a 13.700 on the high bar. In addition, Nick Gaudlip (parallel bars, 13.800) and Gared Chapman (floor, 13.800) each matched their personal-best scores.

TAKING FIVE OF SIXAir Force claimed five of the six event titles at Arizona State, including a sweep of the first three events. Josh Ramos and Patrick Duffy shared the top spot on the floor exercise (14.400), while James Okamoto won the pommel horse (13.800) and Tyler Huebner took first on the still rings with a score of 14.500. In the final three events, Ben Zaiser scored a 14.500 to win the vault, while Tory Brown took first on the high bar with a score of 14.200.

FALCONS SWEEP UIC DURING HOME STANDAir Force successfully defended its home floor over the March 2-4 weekend, sweeping Illinois-Chicago by 338.900-329.500 (March 2) and 337.300-332.400 (March 4) margins. The Falcons finished the regular season with a 3-2 home record against Division I programs (5-2 overall).

HIGH FLYING HIGH BARAir Force claimed the top five scores on the high bar during the March 4 meet. Tory Brown scored a 14.200 to win the event, while Josh Ramos and Mac Ritchie tied for second with matching marks of 14.000. Corbin Palmer finished fourth with a score of 13.800 and James Okamoto tied for fifth with a 13.600.

DOUBLING IT UPDevin Menefee collected event titles on the still rings (14.600) and vault (14.700) during the March 4 meet with Illinois-Chicago.

MORE WINS FROM THE FALCONSIn addition to the titles from Tory Brown (high bar) and Devin Menefee (rings, vault), Josh Ramos won the p-bars (14.200) and James Okamoto took first on the horse during the March 4 competition. The victories came two nights after Mac Ritchie (high bar), Menefee (rings), Ben Zaiser (vault) and Ramos (p-bars) claimed first-place finishes at the March 2 meet.

MOVING ON UPMac Ritchie recorded the sixth-best high bar score in Academy history (14.500) to win that event during the March 2 meet with UIC. As a team, the Falcons posted their highest team score of the season (338.900). The Falcons improved their team score by over one point to better the mark of 337.700 that they set at the Acad-emy against Minnesota on Jan. 28.

FALCONS CLAIM WEEKLY AWARDSJosh Ramos was named the CGA Gymnast of the Week (Feb. 29) and James Oka-moto earned his second straight MPSF Gymnast of the Week award (Feb. 28). Ramos claimed three event titles during the Falcons’ East Coast swing, while Oka-moto earned two titles and set the Academy pommel horse record.

DID YOU KNOW?It is the second straight week that the Falcons have claimed Gymnast of the Week awards from the MPSF and CGA. James Okamoto earned both titles on Feb. 22, while he and Josh Ramos split the titles this week.

THE RAMOS ROUND-UPJosh Ramos won the floor exercise (14.700) and parallel bars (14.900) against Army, while placing first on the parallel bars (15.000) at the Temple Tri-Meet. He became just the second Falcon to reach the 15-point mark on the parallel bars, easily winning the event by a 0.900 margin and moving into second on the pro-gram’s all-time list. He also claimed top-five finishes on the vault and high bar against the Black Knights, while tying for third on the floor exercise at Temple.

WHAT DID YOU DO THIS WEEKEND?James Okamoto broke the Academy record on the pommel horse, scoring a career-best 14.900 to win the Temple Tri-Meet on Feb. 26 ... just two days after winning the high bar at Army (Feb. 24). The junior easily won the pommel horse at Temple, improving his overall score by 0.300, while tying for third on the floor (13.800) and fourth on the high bar (13.700). Against Army, Okamoto won the high bar with a 14.000 – a mark just 0.100 off his career – while placing second on the horse.

FALCONS NET STRONG SCORE AT TEMPLEAir Force tallied its second-highest score of the season (334.800) to finish second at Temple on Feb. 26. James Okamoto (pommel horse), Josh Ramos (parallel bars) and Devin Menefee (still rings) won their respective event titles, while the Falcons collected four of the top five placements on the rings. In addition to Menefee’s tie for first (14.600), Tyler Huebner tied for third (14.200) and Jon Spiro and Gared Chapman finished fourth (14.100) and fifth (14.000), respectively.

AIR FORCE TAKES EASY WIN OVER ARMYTaking four of the six event titles, Air Force defeated Army by nearly eight points (334.000-326.500) on Feb. 24. Josh Ramos (floor, parallel bars), Corbin Palmer (vault) and James Okamoto (high bar) combined for four event titles as the Falcons bettered the Black Knights for the second straight week. Nick Gaudlip (floor), Oka-moto (pommel horse) and Gared Chapman (rings) also claimed runner-up spots.

DID YOU KNOW?Air Force has won the last five duals against its service academy counterpart from West Point, as well as the past two All-Academy Championship titles.

OKAMOTO CLAIMS WEEKLY AWARDSJames Okamoto was named Gymnast of the Week by the MPSF and CGA after win-ning the pommel and high bar at the All-Academy Championships. He matched his career-best score on the pommel (14.600), while tallying a 14.000 on the high bar. He was also honored as a CollegeSports360.com “Primetime Performer”.

FALCONS RETAIN ALL-ACADEMY TITLEClaiming four of the six event titles, Air Force claimed its second straight team title at the All-Academy Championships on Feb. 18. The Falcons scored a total of 327.800 to defeat service academy rivals from Navy (325.650) and Army (317.600).

TAKING DOWN THE COMPETITIONAir Force claimed four event titles at the All-Academy Championships, including two from James Okamoto (pommel horse,14.600; high bar, 14.000). Josh Ramos and Devin Menefee won the floor (14.600) and rings (14.800), respectively.

MORE NOTES FROM THE AACJosh Ramos matched his career best of 14.600 to win the floor, bettering the field by nearly one point. Ben Zaiser and Corbin Palmer each picked up three top-five finishes, including a tie for third on the vault (14.200). Zaiser tied for second on the rings (14.100) and finished fourth on the floor (13.650), while Palmer finished fifth on the floor (13.600) and tied for the same placement on the high bar (13.300).



2012 All-Academy Champions2012 All-Academy Champions



2012 HONORS

USAG Head Coach of the YearKip Simons

USAG Assistant Coach of the YearJeff Robinson, Chuck Schweiss

USAG National ChampionsJosh Ramos ....................................PBMac Ritchie ................................... HBBen Zaiser ........................................V

USAG All-AmericansGared Chapman............................. SRGreg Chaput ................................. PHNick Gaudlip .................................. FXDevin Menefee .............................. SRJames Okamoto ......................PH, HBCorbin Palmer .......................... FX, PBJosh Ramos ....................................PBMac Ritchie ................................... HBBen Zaiser ........................................V

CGA Collegiate Coach of the YearKip Simons

CGA All-Academic TeamPatrick DuffyJacob HouderTravis MyersJames OkamotoJosh Ramos

MPSF Academic All-ConferencePatrick DuffyJacob HouderTravis MyersJames Okamoto

MW Scholar-AthleteJacob HouderTravis Myers

Winter Cup Challenge ParticipantsTory BrownJames Okamoto

CGA Gymnast of the WeekDevin Menefee ........................Dec. 8James Okamoto ..................... Feb. 22Josh Ramos ............................ Feb. 28

MPSF Gymnast of the WeekJames Okamoto ........Feb. 21, Feb. 28Mac Ritchie .............................. Apr. 3

MVP ............................ Corbin PalmerTop Freshman ................ Josh RamosMost Improved ................ Ben ZaiserHardest Worker ............Travis Myers

DID YOU KNOW?Injury forced both Air Force competitors out of the lineup at the Winter Cup Challenge, but Tory Brown became the first Falcon to ever earn three straight invitations to the prestigious national meet. In addition, James Okamoto became just the third to claim two selections to the Winter Cup Challenge.

FALCONS NET SEASON-HIGH AGAINST MINNESOTADevin Menefee won the still rings and Mac Ritchie tied for first on the high bar, as the Falcons recorded a season-high team score of 337.700 during a dual meet with Minnesota (345.400) on Jan. 28. Menefee scored a 15.000 to easily win the still rings rings, while Ritchie matched his career-high mark of 14.400 to tie for the top spot on the high bar.

THE YOUNG WILL LEADFreshmen paced the Falcons in two events in the Jan. 28 meet against Minnesota. Nick Gaudlip and Josh Ramos tied for sec-ond on the floor with matching marks of 14.600, while Skyler Awisus tied for third on the parallel bars with a 14.400. With his score on the parallel bars, Awisus moved into ninth on the program’s all-time list, while the 14.600 marks by Gaudlip and Ramos on the floor exercise are tied for 13th.

SPLITTING THE SEASONAir Force split the regular season with Nebraska, following a 336.550-331.750 loss to the Huskers on Jan. 22. The Falcons opened the season by defeating Nebraska 333.300-331.300 at the Rocky Mountain Open on Jan. 14 for the program’s first victory over the Huskers since 1969.

AIR FORCE PAIR TAKES FIRST AT NEBRASKADevin Menefee and Greg Chaput claimed event titles for the Falcons during their competition at Nebraska on Jan. 22, as Menefee won the still rings (14.600) and Chaput took first on the parallel bars (14.350). Menefee, who bettered the field by .450 points, led Air Force to three of the top five spots on the rings, as Ben Zaiser and Gared Chapman finished fourth and fifth, respectively. Chaput also paced the Falcons to three top-five finishes, with Jacob Houder and Josh Ramos finishing third and fifth, respectively.

HIGH BAR HIGHSAir Force collected four of the top-six places on the high bar during the dual meet at Nebraska on Jan. 22. Corbin Palmer improved his score to 14.400 to finish second, while Jacob Houder used a career-best 14.350 to place third. Tory Brown tied for fourth with a season-high 14.250, while James Oka-moto placed sixth with a career-high 14.100.

DID YOU KNOW?The Falcons’ No. 9 placement on Jan. 16 was the second-high-est ranking in Academy history.

FALCONS TAKE SECOND AT ROCKY MOUNTAIN OPENAir Force opened the 2012 season with a second-place finish at the annual Rocky Mountain Open, behind a combined score of 333.300 – its best season-opening score ever. Josh Ramos (floor) and Greg Chaput (parallel bars) finished second in their respective events to pace the Falcons, while Devin Menefee tied for third on the rings with a career-best 15.400.

BUT WAIT, THERE’S MOREAs a team, Air Force scored a 59.200 on the still rings at the Rocky Mountain Open … the third-highest event score in Acad-emy history. The Falcons also recorded the fifth-best parallel bars score (56.600) in program history at that meet.

MOVING ON UPJust one meet into the season and several Falcons have already placed themselves in the Academy record book. With a 15.400 on the still rings, Devin Menefee recorded the eighth-best score in program history on that event. Greg Chaput, Skyler Awisus and Josh Ramos all impacted the top-20 of the parallel bars, highlighted by a top-10 addition from Chaput (14.400, ninth). Awisus recorded the 13th-highest score (14.200), while Ramos debuted in 15th (14.100). Ramos also moved into the program’s all-time list on the high bar, with a 13.900 (17th). Corbin Palmer’s career-opening score 13.800 is ranked 19th.

HOME SWEET HOMEAir Force will compete at home on six occasions during the 2012 season. Following the season-opening Rocky Mountain Open on Jan. 14 and the Minnesota dual meet on Jan. 28. Air Force returns to the Academy in March to host Illinois-Chicago (Mar. 2, Mar. 4) and USAG Championships (March 30-31). The Falcons will close out the home schedule on Apr. 7, when they host the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championships for the second straight year.

FALCONS MATCH BEST PRESEASON RANKINGAir Force recorded its highest preseason ranking ever, when it was tabbed 11th in the College Gymnastics Association Pre-season Coaches’ Poll. It is the fourth straight year that the Falcons were listed among the nation’s top teams, as well as receiving the highest ranking among the three service acad-emies.

WELCOME TO THE SHOWAir Force added eight talented freshmen to its roster with the addition of Skyler Awisus, Gared Chapman, Greg Chaput, Nick Gaudlip, Corbin Palmer, Josh Ramos, Niko Schwab and Jon Spiro.

ON THE SIDELINESKip Simons is entering his seventh season as head coach of the Air Force men’s gymnastics team. He will be joined in 2012 by fourth-year assistant Chuck Schweiss and second-year coach Jeff Robinson.

LEADING THE WAYSenior Devin Menefee will serve as the captain for the 2012 Falcons. It is just the third time since 2003 – that one gymnast has served as team captain.


2012 MEET-BY-MEET SCORES

COMPETITION FX PH SR V PB HB AARocky Mountain Open -- -- -- -- 14.200 13.100 -- at Nebraska -- -- -- -- 13.000 -- --Minnesota -- -- -- -- 14.400 -- --at All-Academy Championships -- -- -- -- 12.000 13.550 --at Army -- -- -- -- 14.000 12.200 --at Temple, with Brockport -- -- -- -- 13.300 13.200 --Illinois-Chicago -- -- -- -- 13.700 11.600 --Illinois-Chicago -- -- -- -- 13.800 13.200 --at Arizona State -- -- -- -- 13.700 13.700 --at Oklahoma, with Nebraska -- -- -- -- 13.000 13.500 --USAG Team Finals -- -- -- -- 12.800 13.700 --USAG Event Finals -- -- -- -- -- -- --MPSF Championships -- -- -- -- 13.750 13.350 --at NCAA National Qualifier -- -- -- -- 13.950 12.050 --

SKYLER AWISUSFreshman

COMPETITION FX PH SR V PB HB AARocky Mountain Open -- -- -- -- -- -- --at Nebraska -- -- -- -- -- -- --Minnesota -- -- -- -- -- -- --at All-Academy Championships -- -- -- -- -- -- --at Army -- -- -- -- -- -- --at Temple, with Brockport -- -- -- -- -- -- --Illinois-Chicago -- -- -- -- -- -- --Illinois-Chicago -- -- -- -- -- -- --at Arizona State -- -- -- -- -- -- --at Oklahoma, with Nebraska -- -- -- -- -- -- --USAG Team Finals -- -- -- -- -- -- --USAG Event Finals -- -- -- -- -- -- --MPSF Championships -- -- -- -- -- -- --at NCAA National Qualifier -- -- -- -- -- -- --

KYLE BAKERSophomore

COMPETITION FX PH SR V PB HB AARocky Mountain Open 13.600 -- -- 14.100 13.800 12.700 --at Nebraska 13.600 -- -- 14.100 -- 14.250 --Minnesota 13.800 -- -- 14.300 13.700 14.100 --at All-Academy Championships -- -- -- -- -- -- --at Army -- -- -- -- -- -- --at Temple, with Brockport -- -- -- -- -- -- --Illinois-Chicago -- -- -- 13.900 -- 13.600 --Illinois-Chicago -- -- -- 13.900 -- 14.200 --at Arizona State -- -- -- 14.300 -- 14.200 --at Oklahoma, with Nebraska -- -- -- 14.300 -- 13.400 --USAG Team Finals 14.150 -- -- 14.250 13.350 14.100 --USAG Event Finals -- -- -- -- -- -- --MPSF Championships 13.050 -- -- 13.250 13.400 11.700 --at NCAA National Qualifier 14.200 -- -- 14.600 13.550 13.300 --

TORY BROWNJunior

COMPETITION FX PH SR V PB HB AARocky Mountain Open -- -- 14.600 14.000 -- -- --at Nebraska -- -- 13.600 14.400 -- -- --Minnesota -- -- 14.200 13.500 -- -- --at All-Academy Championships -- -- 13.300 13.400 -- -- --at Army -- -- 14.300 -- -- -- --at Temple, with Brockport -- -- 14.00 -- -- -- --Illinois-Chicago 13.800 -- 14.800 14.100 -- -- --Illinois-Chicago 12.700 -- 14.500 14.200 -- -- --at Arizona State 13.800 -- 14.100 13.000 -- -- --at Oklahoma, with Nebraska 13.450 -- 14.550 13.350 -- -- --USAG Team Finals -- -- 15.100 -- -- -- --USAG Event Finals -- -- 15.000 -- -- -- --MPSF Championships -- -- 14.300 13.850 -- -- --at NCAA National Qualifier -- -- 13.250 -- -- -- --

GARED CHAPMANFreshman



COMPETITION FX PH SR V PB HB AARocky Mountain Open -- 12.300 -- -- 14.400 -- --at Nebraska -- 13.000 -- -- 14.350 -- --Minnesota -- 13.100 -- -- 13.300 -- --at All-Academy Championships -- 12.700 -- -- 12.050 -- --at Army -- -- -- -- -- -- --at Temple, with Brockport -- 14.200 -- -- 13.700 -- --Illinois-Chicago 14.000 14.000 -- -- 13.500 -- --Illinois-Chicago 13.400 13.900 -- -- 13.900 -- --at Arizona State -- 13.500 -- -- 13.900 -- --at Oklahoma, with Nebraska 13.500 13.500 -- -- 13.100 -- --USAG Team Finals 12.500 14.000 -- -- 13.700 -- --USAG Event Finals -- 12.650 -- -- -- -- --MPSF Championships -- 14.000 -- -- 14.100 -- --at NCAA National Qualifier 13.400 14.400 -- -- 14.350 -- --at NCAA Championships -- 12.000 -- -- -- -- --

GREG CHAPUTFreshman

COMPETITION FX PH SR V PB HB AARocky Mountain Open 12.700 13.300 -- -- -- -- -- at Nebraska -- 12.500 -- -- -- -- --Minnesota -- 11.500 -- 13.400 -- -- --at All-Academy Championships 12.350 13.850 -- 13.000 -- -- --at Army 12.500 12.900 -- -- -- -- --at Temple, with Brockport 12.700 11.800 -- -- -- -- --Illinois-Chicago -- 13.700 -- -- -- -- --Illinois-Chicago -- 12.600 -- -- -- -- --at Arizona State 14.400 13.800 -- -- -- -- --at Oklahoma, with Nebraska 12.650 12.100 -- -- -- -- --USAG Team Finals -- 13.450 -- -- -- -- --USAG Event Finals -- -- -- -- -- -- --MPSF Championships -- 13.450 -- -- -- -- --at NCAA National Qualifier -- 14.050 -- -- -- -- --

PATRICK DUFFYSophomore

COMPETITION FX PH SR V PB HB AARocky Mountain Open 13.800 -- -- -- -- -- --at Nebraska 12.950 11.450 -- -- -- -- --Minnesota 14.600 12.900 -- -- -- -- --at All-Academy Championships 13.800 -- -- -- -- -- --at Army 14.700 10.300 -- -- 13.600 13.400 --at Temple, with Brockport 13.500 -- -- -- 13.700 13.600 --Illinois-Chicago 13.700 -- -- -- 13.800 -- --Illinois-Chicago 14.600 -- -- -- 13.400 -- --at Arizona State 13.700 12.850 -- -- 13.800 -- --at Oklahoma, with Nebraska 14.400 12.500 -- -- 11.500 12.800 --USAG Team Finals 14.550 13.750 -- -- -- -- --USAG Event Finals 13.600 -- -- -- -- -- --MPSF Championships 14.100 12.450 -- -- -- -- --at NCAA National Qualifier 13.600 12.250 -- -- 13.800 -- --

NICK GAUDLIPFreshman

COMPETITION FX PH SR V PB HB AARocky Mountain Open -- 13.500 -- -- 13.900 13.200 --at Nebraska -- 12.400 -- -- 14.150 14.350 --Minnesota -- 13.300 -- -- 14.100 13.900 --at All-Academy Championships -- -- -- -- -- -- --at Army -- -- -- -- -- -- --at Temple, with Brockport -- -- -- -- -- -- --Illinois-Chicago -- 13.800 -- -- -- -- --Illinois-Chicago -- 13.200 -- -- -- -- --at Arizona State -- 12.550 -- -- -- -- --at Oklahoma, with Nebraska -- -- -- -- -- -- --USAG Team Finals -- -- -- -- -- -- --USAG Event Finals -- -- -- -- -- -- --MPSF Championships -- -- -- -- -- -- --at NCAA National Qualifier -- -- -- -- -- -- --

JACOB HOUDERSenior



COMPETITION FX PH SR V PB HB AARocky Mountain Open -- -- 14.800 -- -- -- -- at Nebraska -- -- 13.350 -- -- -- --Minnesota -- -- 14.100 -- -- -- --at All-Academy Championships -- -- 13.550 -- -- -- --at Army -- -- 13.100 -- -- -- --at Temple, with Brockport -- -- 14.200 -- -- -- --Illinois-Chicago -- -- 14.200 -- -- -- --Illinois-Chicago -- -- 14.300 -- -- -- --at Arizona State -- -- 14.500 -- -- -- --at Oklahoma, with Nebraska -- -- 13.950 -- -- -- --USAG Team Finals -- -- 14.900 -- -- -- --USAG Event Finals -- -- -- -- -- -- --MPSF Championships -- -- 14.500 -- -- -- --at NCAA National Qualifier -- -- 13.400 -- -- -- --

TYLER HUEBNERSophomore

COMPETITION FX PH SR V PB HB AARocky Mountain Open -- -- -- -- -- -- -- at Nebraska -- -- -- -- -- -- --Minnesota -- -- -- -- -- -- --at All-Academy Championships -- 13.050 -- -- -- -- --at Army -- -- -- -- -- -- --at Temple, with Brockport -- -- -- -- -- -- --Illinois-Chicago -- -- -- -- -- -- --Illinois-Chicago -- -- -- -- -- -- --at Arizona State -- -- -- -- -- -- --at Oklahoma, with Nebraska -- -- -- -- -- -- --USAG Team Finals -- 13.700 -- -- -- -- --USAG Event Finals -- -- -- -- -- -- --MPSF Championships -- 12.950 -- -- -- -- --at NCAA National Qualifier -- 12.600 -- -- -- -- --

ALEX JESSOPJunior

COMPETITION FX PH SR V PB HB AARocky Mountain Open -- -- 15.400 13.800 -- -- -- at Nebraska -- -- 14.600 14.100 -- -- --Minnesota -- -- 15.000 13.800 -- -- --at All-Academy Championships -- -- 14.800 14.100 -- -- --at Army -- -- 14.000 13.800 -- -- --at Temple, with Brockport -- -- 14.600 14.200 -- -- --Illinois-Chicago -- -- 15.000 13.300 -- -- --Illinois-Chicago -- -- 14.600 14.700 -- -- --at Arizona State -- -- 14.000 14.300 -- -- --at Oklahoma, with Nebraska -- -- 13.700 13.750 -- -- --USAG Team Finals -- -- 15.100 14.300 -- -- --USAG Event Finals -- -- 14.950 13.150 -- -- --MPSF Championships -- -- 14.900 14.050 -- -- --at NCAA National Qualifier -- -- 13.600 14.500 -- -- --

DEVIN MENEFEESenior

COMPETITION FX PH SR V PB HB AARocky Mountain Open -- 12.500 -- -- -- -- -- at Nebraska -- -- -- -- -- -- --Minnesota -- -- -- -- -- -- --at All-Academy Championships -- 13.150 -- -- 12.050 -- --at Army -- 12.100 -- -- 12.600 -- --at Temple, with Brockport -- 13.100 -- -- -- -- --Illinois-Chicago -- -- -- -- -- -- --Illinois-Chicago -- -- -- -- -- -- --at Arizona State -- -- -- -- -- -- --at Oklahoma, with Nebraska -- 12.400 -- -- 12.500 -- --USAG Team Finals -- -- -- -- -- -- --USAG Event Finals -- -- -- -- -- -- --MPSF Championships -- -- -- -- -- -- --at NCAA National Qualifier -- -- -- -- -- -- --

TRAVIS MYERSSenior



COMPETITION FX PH SR V PB HB AARocky Mountain Open -- 13.600 -- 13.800 -- -- --at Nebraska 12.300 14.200 -- 14.100 13.150 14.100 --Minnesota -- 13.800 -- -- -- -- --at All-Academy Championships -- 14.600 -- 14.050 -- 14.000 --at Army 14.400 14.000 -- 14.200 -- 14.000 --at Temple, with Brockport 13.800 14.900 -- 14.100 -- 13.700 --Illinois-Chicago 13.500 14.400 -- 14.100 -- 13.500 --Illinois-Chicago 13.900 14.200 -- 13.700 -- 13.600 --at Arizona State 13.500 14.100 -- 13.800 -- 13.900 --at Oklahoma, with Nebraska -- 14.050 -- -- -- -- --USAG Team Finals -- 13.850 -- 14.100 -- 14.150 --USAG Event Finals -- 13.400 -- -- -- 14.250 --MPSF Championships 14.200 14.100 -- 14.000 -- 13.900 --at NCAA National Qualifier 13.150 14.350 -- 13.900 -- 12.100 --at NCAA National Qualifier -- 14.250 -- -- -- -- --

JAMES OKAMOTOJunior

COMPETITION FX PH SR V PB HB AARocky Mountain Open -- 12.200 -- 13.500 -- 13.800 -- at Nebraska -- 12.750 -- 14.300 -- 14.400 --Minnesota 14.200 13.700 -- 13.700 -- 13.500 --at All-Academy Championships 13.600 13.100 -- 14.200 13.100 13.300 --at Army 14.400 13.200 -- 14.400 13.900 13.600 --at Temple, with Brockport 12.900 13.400 -- 13.900 13.600 14.200 --Illinois-Chicago 14.400 13.200 -- 14.300 13.600 14.200 --Illinois-Chicago 13.000 13.400 -- 14.200 13.500 13.800 --at Arizona State 14.200 13.300 -- 13.600 12.400 13.400 --at Oklahoma, with Nebraska 14.500 12.950 -- 14.150 13.500 13.250 --USAG Team Finals 14.250 13.650 -- 14.000 14.100 14.000 --USAG Event Finals 14.150 -- -- -- 14.100 -- --MPSF Championships 14.400 13.200 -- 14.200 14.350 9.9000 --at NCAA National Qualifier 14.200 13.300 -- 14.200 13.600 13.300 --

CORBIN PALMERFreshman

COMPETITION FX PH SR V PB HB AARocky Mountain Open 14.000 -- 13.600 -- 14.100 13.900 --at Nebraska 14.000 -- -- -- 14.000 13.400 --Minnesota 14.600 -- -- -- 14.200 13.500 --at All-Academy Championships 14.700 -- -- -- 13.350 12.500 --at Army 14.700 -- -- 14.100 14.900 13.100 --at Temple, with Brockport 13.800 -- -- 13.900 15.000 13.200 --Illinois-Chicago 14.100 -- -- -- 14.100 14.300 --Illinois-Chicago 14.300 -- -- -- 14.200 14.000 --at Arizona State 14.400 -- -- -- 14.300 13.400 --at Oklahoma, with Nebraska 14.150 -- -- 13.550 13.400 12.850 --USAG Team Finals 13.700 -- -- 13.800 14.500 14.050 --USAG Event Finals -- -- -- -- 14.150 -- --MPSF Championships 12.850 -- -- -- 13.550 13.800 --at NCAA National Qualifier 14.350 -- -- 14.050 14.300 13.800 --

JOSH RAMOSFreshman

COMPETITION FX PH SR V PB HB AARocky Mountain Open 12.100 -- 14.200 -- 13.900 13.600 --at Nebraska 12.200 -- 13.200 -- 13.150 13.950 --Minnesota 14.300 -- 13.800 -- 13.600 14.400 --at All-Academy Championships 13.250 -- 12.950 -- 10.700 13.200 --at Army -- -- 13.900 -- 13.800 12.500 --at Temple, with Brockport 11.900 -- 13.500 -- 12.500 14.200 --Illinois-Chicago -- -- 13.900 -- 13.600 14.500 --Illinois-Chicago -- -- 14.000 -- 12.600 14.000 --at Arizona State -- -- 12.800 -- 13.400 12.000 --at Oklahoma, with Nebraska -- -- 12.900 -- -- 12.600 --USAG Team Finals -- -- 13.850 -- 13.400 14.650 --USAG Event Finals -- -- -- -- -- 14.900 --MPSF Championships -- -- 13.600 -- 13.650 14.150 --at NCAA National Qualifier -- -- 12.900 -- -- 14.000 --

MAC RITCHIESophomore



COMPETITION FX PH SR V PB HB AARocky Mountain Open -- -- -- -- -- -- -- at Nebraska -- -- -- -- -- -- --Minnesota -- -- -- -- -- -- --at All-Academy Championships -- -- -- -- -- -- --at Army -- -- -- -- -- -- --at Temple, with Brockpor -- -- -- -- -- -- --Illinois-Chicago -- -- -- -- -- -- --Illinois-Chicago -- -- -- -- -- -- --at Arizona State -- -- -- -- -- -- --at Oklahoma, with Nebraska -- -- -- -- -- -- --USAG Team Finals -- -- -- -- -- -- --USAG Event Finals -- -- -- -- -- -- --MPSF Championships -- -- -- -- -- -- --at NCAA National Qualifier -- -- -- -- -- -- --

NIKO SCHWABFreshman

COMPETITION FX PH SR V PB HB AARocky Mountain Open -- -- -- -- -- -- -- at Nebraska -- -- 11.850 -- -- -- --Minnesota -- -- 14.000 -- -- -- --at All-Academy Championships -- -- 13.750 -- -- -- --at Army -- 12.300 13.200 -- -- -- --at Temple, with Brockport -- 12.400 14.100 -- -- -- --Illinois-Chicago -- 13.200 14.300 -- -- -- --Illinois-Chicago -- 12.500 14.200 -- -- -- --at Arizona State -- -- 13.700 -- -- -- --at Oklahoma, with Nebraska -- -- 13.750 -- -- -- --USAG Team Finals -- -- -- -- -- -- --USAG Event Finals -- -- -- -- -- -- --MPSF Championships -- -- -- -- -- -- --at NCAA National Qualifier -- -- -- -- -- -- --

JON SPIROFreshman

COMPETITION FX PH SR V PB HB AARocky Mountain Open -- -- -- -- -- -- -- at Nebraska -- -- -- -- -- -- --Minnesota -- -- -- -- -- -- --at All-Academy Championships -- -- -- -- -- -- --at Army -- -- -- -- -- -- --at Temple, with Brockport -- -- -- -- -- -- --Illinois-Chicago -- -- -- -- -- -- --Illinois-Chicago -- -- -- -- -- -- --at Arizona State -- -- -- -- -- -- --at Oklahoma, with Nebraska -- -- -- -- -- -- --USAG Team Finals -- -- -- -- -- -- --USAG Event Finals -- -- -- -- -- -- --MPSF Championships -- -- -- -- -- -- --at NCAA National Qualifier -- -- -- -- -- -- --

J. TOMASZEWSKISenior

COMPETITION FX PH SR V PB HB AARocky Mountain Open 12.300 -- 14.400 14.100 -- -- --at Nebraska 13.200 -- 13.700 14.750 -- -- --Minnesota 14.200 -- 14.400 14.300 -- -- --at All-Academy Championships 13.650 -- 14.100 14.200 -- -- --at Army 13.500 -- 14.000 13.200 -- -- --at Temple, with Brockport -- -- 13.400 14.400 -- -- --Illinois-Chicago -- -- 14.600 14.400 -- -- --Illinois-Chicago -- -- 14.000 14.300 -- -- --at Arizona State -- -- 13.400 14.500 -- -- --at Oklahoma, with Nebraska -- -- 13.400 14.250 -- -- --USAG Team Finals 13.450 -- 14.350 14.350 -- -- --USAG Event Finals -- -- -- 14.600 -- -- --MPSF Championships 13.200 -- 13.700 14.600 -- -- --at NCAA National Qualifier -- -- 12.900 13.650 -- -- --

BEN ZAISERSophomore



COMPETITION FX PH SR V PB HB TOTALRocky Mountain Open 54.100 52.900 59.200 56.000 56.600 54.500 333.300at Nebraska 53.750 52.450 55.250 57.550 55.650 57.100 331.750Minnesota 57.500 53.900 57.700 56.100 56.400 55.900 337.700at All-Academy Championships 55.750 54.700 56.200 56.550 50.550 54.050 327.800at Army 58.200 52.400 56.200 56.500 56.600 54.100 334.000at Temple, with Brockport 54.000 55.600 56.900 56.600 56.000 55.700 334.800Illinois-Chicago 56.300 55.900 58.700 56.900 55.200 55.900 338.900Illinois-Chicago 56.200 54.700 57.600 57.400 55.400 56.000 337.300at Arizona State 56.800 54.700 56.300 56.900 55.700 55.200 335.600at Oklahoma, with Nebraska 56.550 53.000 55.950 56.450 53.000 53.000 327.950USAG Team Finals 56.650 55.300 59.450 57.000 55.700 56.950 341.050MPSF Championships 55.900 54.750 57.400 56.850 55.850 55.200 335.950at NCAA National Qualifier 56.350 56.100 53.150 57.350 56.400 54.400 333.750

AIR FORCE

PROGRAM HISTORY


USAG NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

2010: Tory Brown, Garrett Canter, Jacob Houder, Alex Jessop, Dan Klimkowski, Derek Kvedar, Travis Langham, Kyle Mefford, Devin Menefee, Nash Mills, Travis Myers, Chase Nobles, James Okamoto, Nick Owen, Matthew Thorne, Joel Uptmor, Thomas Wilkinson, Brennan Wolford, Aaron Zaiser. Head Coach: Kip Simons. Assistant Coaches: Brett McClure, Lt Col Chuck Schweiss.

2011: Kyle Baker, Tory Brown, Patrick Duffy, Jacob Houder, Tyler Huebner, Alex Jes-sop, Dan Klimkowski, Derek Kvedar, Devin Menefee, Nash Mills, Travis Myers, James Okamoto, Nick Owen, Mac Ritchie, Matt Thorne, Colton Wulf, Aaron Zaiser, Ben Zaiser. Head Coach: Kip Simons. Assistant Coaches: Jeff Robinson, Chuck Schweiss.

2012: Skyler Awisus, Kyle Baker, Tory Brown, Gared Chapman, Greg Chaput, Pat-rick Duffy, Nick Gaudlip, Jacob Houder, Tyler Huebner, Alex Jessop, Devin Menefee, Travis Myers, James Okamoto, Corbin Palmer, Josh Ramos, Mac Ritchie, Niko Schwab, Jon Spiro, Jared Tomaszewski, Ben Zaiser. Head Coach: Kip Simons. Assistant Coaches:Jeff Robinson, Chuck Schweiss.


USAG NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

USAG CHAMPIONS

JERRY MICHAEL CLINEAll-Around ............................................... 1994

BRIAN RIZZOLIFloor Exercise .......................................... 1994

ERIN MONTAGUEHigh Bar ................................................... 1999

JAVIN PETERSONStill Rings ................................................. 2000

LEVI TORKELSONParallel Bars ................................... 1999, 2000

AARON JACKSONVault ........................................................ 2003

GREG STINEAll-Around ........................... 2004, 2007, 2008Pommel Horse ......................................... 2004Floor Exercise .......................................... 2007Still Rings ................................................. 2007Parallel Bars ............................................. 2008

JAKE SCHONIGStill Rings ....................................... 2008, 2009

DEVIN MENEFEEVault ........................................................ 2010

NASH MILLSAll-Around ............................................... 2010Still Rings ................................................. 2011Parallel Bars ................................... 2010, 2011

TORY BROWNVault ........................................................ 2011

JAMES OKAMOTOPommel Horse ......................................... 2011

JOSH RAMOSParallel Bars ............................................. 2012

MAC RITCHIEHigh Bar ................................................... 2012

BEN ZAISERVault ........................................................ 2012

Returning USAG champions in blue.

USAG TOP SENIOR

Jerry Michael Cline .................................. 1994Aaron Jackson .......................................... 2003Kurt Antonio ............................................ 2007Greg Stine ................................................ 2008Jake Schonig ............................................ 2009Nash Mills ................................................ 2011

TORYBROWN

JERRY MICHAEL CLINE

AARONJACKSON

DEVINMENEFEE

NASHMILLS

ERINMONTAGUE

JAMESOKAMOTO

JAVINPETERSON

JOSHRAMOS

MACRITCHIE

BRIANRIZZOLI

JAKESCHONIG

GREGSTINE

LEVITORKELSON

BENZAISER


USAG ALL-AMERICANS

1994Jerry Michael Cline .............................. All-Around, Pommel Horse, Rings, Parallel BarsBrian Rizzoli ..............................................................................................Floor ExerciseTroy Belin ...............................................................................................................VaultJim Miller ...........................................................................................................High Bar

1995Brian Rizzoli ..............................................................................................Floor ExerciseDavid Cobb ........................................................................................................High BarBeau Neal ...................................................................................... All-Around, High BarBen Smith ......................................................................................................All-AroundChad Silva ..........................................................................................................High Bar

1996Brian Rizzoli ..............................................................................................Floor Exercise

1997 Ben Smith ..............................................................................All-Around, Floor ExerciseGeoff Jensen .............................................................................................Floor ExerciseCasey Guerrero ........................................................................................Pommel HorseErin Montague ...................................................................................................High Bar

1998Andrew Fisher .....................................................................................All-Around, VaultPeter Lueck ..............................................................................................Pommel HorseRyan Mahoney ........................................................................................... Parallel BarsErin Montague ...................................................................................................High BarJavin Peterson .................................................................................................Still RingsLevi Torkelson..........................................................................................Pommel Horse

1999 Andrew Fisher ...............................................................................................All-AroundLevi Torkelson.................................................. All-Around, Floor Exercise, Parallel BarsJeff Anderson ..........................................................................................Pommel HorseJavin Peterson .................................................................................................Still RingsJason Smith .....................................................................................................Still RingsMikel Daniel ...........................................................................................................VaultErin Montague ...................................................................................................High Bar

2000 Jeff Andersen ..................................................................... All-Around, Still Rings, VaultJames Hayes ............................................................................................... Parallel BarsJavin Peterson .................................................................................................Still RingsLevi Torkelson........................ All-Around, Floor Exercise, Pommel Horse, Parallel Bars

2001 Levi Torkelson....................................................................................................High BarScott Lewis ................................................................................................. Parallel BarsAndrew Fisher ........................................................................................................VaultJustin Jones ..............................................................................................Floor ExerciseAaron Jackson ...........................................................................................Floor ExerciseMatt Kenkel ............................................................................... Still Rings, Parallel BarsStephen Sistare ...............................................................................................Still Rings

2002 Aaron Jackson ................................. All Around, Floor Exercise, Still Rings, Parallel BarsMatthew Kenkel ......................................................................................... Parallel BarsStephen Sistare ...............................................................................................Still Rings

2003Jeff Andersen ................................................All-Around, Still Rings, Vault, Parallel BarsAaron Jackson .......................All-Around, Floor Exercise, Still Rings, Vault, Parallel Bars

2004Jeff Andersen .......................................... All-Around, Still Rings, Parallel Bars, High BarKent Reichle..............................................................................................Floor ExerciseGreg Stine ......... All-Around, Floor Exercise, Pommel Horse, Still Rings, Vault, High Bar

2005Kent Reichle............................................................................................................VaultRyan Stromstad ........................................................................................Floor Exercise

2007 Kurt Antonio ..................................................................................................All-AroundBrian Boardman .....................................................................................................VaultJake Schonig ....................................................................................................Still RingsTyler Sickles .......................................................................................................High BarGreg Stine ................... All-Around, Floor Exercise, Pommel Horse, Still Rings, High BarBrennan Wolford ...................................................................All-Around, Floor Exercise

2008Jake Schonig ....................................................................................................Still RingsTyler Sickles .......................................................................................................High BarGreg Stine ....................... All-Around, Floor Exercise, Still Rings, Parallel Bars, High BarBrennan Wolford ...........................................................................................All-Around

2009 Jacob Houder ...........................................................................Pommel Horse, High BarJosiah Loeser ...................................................................................................Still RingsDevin Menefee .......................................................................................................VaultJake Schonig ....................................................................................................Still RingsJoel Uptmor ..............................................................................................Floor Exercise

2010 Garrett Canter ...................................................................................................High BarDan Klimkowski ...............................................................................................Still RingsDevin Menefee .......................................................................................................VaultNash Mills ..................................... All-Around, Still Rings, Vault, Parallel Bars, High BarChase Nobles ...........................................................................................Pommel HorseJames Okamoto .......................................................................................Pommel Horse

2011Tory Brown ..................................................................... Floor Exercise, Vault, High BarNash Mills .................................................................................. Still Rings, Parallel BarsJames Okamoto .......................................................................................Pommel HorseMatt Thorne ............................................................................................... Parallel BarsColton Wulf ........................................................... Floor Exercise, High Bar, All-AroundBen Zaiser ...............................................................................................................Vault

2012Gared Chapman...............................................................................................Still RingsGreg Chaput ............................................................................................Pommel HorseNick Gaudlip .............................................................................................Floor ExerciseDevin Menefee ................................................................................................Still RingsJames Okamoto .......................................................................Pommel Horse, High BarCorbin Palmer ..................................................................... Floor Exercise, Parallel BarsJosh Ramos ................................................................................................. Parallel BarsMac Ritchie ........................................................................................................High BarBen Zaiser ...............................................................................................................Vault


HONORS & AWARDS

NCAA ALL-AMERICANS

1962....................................... Jim Weaver | Trampoline1964......................................Doug Reynolds | Tumbling1966....................................Terry Higgins | Parallel Bars1972....................................... Bill Ritter | Floor Exercise1973................................................John Tomich | Vault1992.............................................Joel Miller | Still Rings1993........................................Tim Hess | Floor Exercise2008......................... Greg Stine | All-Around, Still Rings

WINTER CUP SELECTIONS

Joel Miller ............................................................... 1992Jeff Andersen .......................................................... 2004Greg Stine ............................................................... 2007Tory Brown ......................................... 2010, 2011, 2012Nash Mills ........................................... 2010, 2011, 2012Joel Uptmor ............................................................ 2010James Okamoto ...................................................... 2011

COACHING AWARDS

CGA NATIONAL HEAD COACH OF THE YEARKip Simons .....................................2010, 2011, 2012

NCAA REGIONAL HEAD COACH OF THE YEARCarl Townsend ................................. 1978 (Midwest)Lou Burkel.............................. 1989, 1992 (Midwest)Lou Burkel.............................................. 2005 (West)Kip Simons ................................... 2008, 2010 (West)

NCAA REGIONAL ASSISTANT COACH OF THE YEARBrett McClure ........................................ 2010 (West)

CGA ASSISTANT COACH OF THE YEARIvan Merritt .......................................................1998

USAG HEAD COACH OF THE YEARKip Simons .....................................2008, 2010, 2012

USAG ASSISTANT COACH OF THE YEARBrett McClure ....................................................2010Chuck Schweiss..............................2010, 2011, 2012Jeff Robinson ...........................................2011, 2012

WAC COACH OF THE YEARLou Burkel................................................1988, 1990

MPSF COACH OF THE YEARKip Simons .........................................................2006

CGA HONOR COACH AWARDLou Burkel..........................................................2006Capt Levi Torkelson ...........................................2010

CGA HONORARY LIFETIME AWARD Karl Schwenzfeier ................................................ n/aLou Burkel..........................................................2008

CGA SPECIAL SERVICE AWARDKarl Schwenzfeier ....................................1973, 1977Larry Fariss ........................................................2001Lou Burkel......................................1989, 1990, 2005Chuck Schweiss..................................................2012

MOST VALUABLE GYMNAST

1965........................................................... Terry Higgins1966........................................................... Terry Higgins1967......................................................... Lawrence Thal1968.............................................................Pat O’Grady1969........................................................Chuck Kennedy1970.............................................................. Rick Solana1971............................................... Anthony Nardecchia1972................................................................. Bill Ritter1973................................................................Steve Hoit1974............................................................ John Tomich1975........................................................ Bruce Edstrom1976.......................................................... Kirk Stephens1977...............................................................Mark Fulks1978...............................................................Mark Fulks1979............................................................Mike Otomo1980............................................................... Don Knauf1981.......................................................... Bob Hamilton1982..................................................Preston Thompson1983........................................................Tom Eannarino1984.........................................................Robert Mondy1985.......................................................... Keith Morgan1986...................................................... Steve Gustafson1987............................................................Frank Shines1988................................................... Marcus Kaneshiro1989............................................................. Sven Brown1990........................................................ Scott Hamilton1991................................................................Joel Miller1992................................................................Joel Miller1993......................................................... Ryan Marshall1994..................................................Jerry Michael Cline1995................................................................Beau Neal1996.............................................................Brian Rizzoli1997................................................................Ben Smith1998............................................................. Peter Lueck1999........................................................ Erin Montague2000.......................................................... Jeff Andersen2001......................................................... Aaron Jackson2002......................................................... Aaron Jackson2003......................................................... Aaron Jackson2004.......................................................... Jeff Andersen2005.......................................................Ryan Stromstad2006............................................................Brian Moore2007...................................................... Brian Boardman2008............................................................... Greg Stine2009.......................................................... Jacob Houder2010................................................................Nash Mills2011................................................................Nash Mills2012......................................................... Corbin Palmer

TOP-SIX AWARDS

1966 ........................ Terry Higgins, Most Valuable Male1986 ......................................Tim Mills, Scholar-Athlete1991 ............................... Erik Bowman, Scholar-Athlete1992 .......................... Joel Miller, Athletic Achievement2003 ........................ Aaron Jackson, Athletic Excellence

NISSEN EMERY FINALISTS

1966........................................................... Terry Higgins1992................................................................Joel Miller2003......................................................... Aaron Jackson2004.......................................................... Jeff Andersen2009............................................................Jake Schonig

TEAM CAPTAINS

1956................................................... Henry Canterbury1957................................................... Henry Canterbury 1958........................................................... Clark Lovrien 1959.......................................................... Thomas Stack 1960................................................................Mike Love 1961......................................................... Paul O’Conner 1962................................................Randy Schamberger 1963..................................... Lloyd Harmon, Jim Weaver 1964............................................................Robert Jobin 1965............................................................William Cole 1966........................................................... Terry Higgins 1967....................................................Rick Weizenegger 1968.............................................................Pat O’Grady 1969........................................................Chuck Kennedy 1970........................................................Chuck Kennedy 1971......................................................Nino Nardecchia 1972..................................................Breck Cunningham 1973..................................................Breck Cunningham 1974....................................................... Phil Nardecchia 1975........................................................ Bruce Edstrom 1976.............................................................Micky Duval 1977.......................................................... Kirk Stephens 1978...............................................................Mark Fulks1979............................................................Mike Otomo 1980............................................................... Don Knauf 1981.......................................................... Mike Spencer 1982....................................................... Chuck Schweiss 1983........................................................Tom Eannarino 1984........................................................Tom Eannarino 1985.......................................................... Keith Morgan 1986...................................................... Steve Gustafson 1987............................................................Frank Shines 1988................................................... Marcus Kaneshiro 1989.............................................................. Chris Mauk 1990.............................................................Ken Kemper 1991.........................................Erik Bowman, Joel Miller 1992................................................................Joel Miller 1993.................................... Brian Copes, Ryan Marshall 1994............................... Jerry Michael Cline, Jim Miller1995................................................................ Troy Belin1996.......................................... Brian Rizzoli, Ben Smith1997............................................................. Mark Wolfe1998................................................................Greg Meis1999............................................................. Jason Smith2000........................................................Nathan Drewry2001.........................................................Andrew Fisher2002...................................... James Hayes, Matt Kenkel2003......................................................... Aaron Jackson2004.......................................Jeff Andersen, Mike Berry2005...................................... Kent Reichle, Brian Moore2006............................................................Brian Moore2007................................Kurt Antonio, Brian Boardman2008..............................Brian Boardman, Kevin Murphy2009.....................................Josiah Loeser, Jake Schonig2010........................... Garrett Canter, Brennan Wolford2011................................................................Nash Mills2012........................................................Devin Menefee2013..................................Tory Brown, James Okamoto


HONORS & AWARDS

NATIONAL ACADEMIC HONORS

CoSIDA ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICANJoel Miller ................................................................1992

NCAA POSTGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP Steve Hoit ................................................................1973Ken Kemper .............................................................1990Joel Miller ................................................................1992

NACDA SCHOLAR-ATHLETE AWARDErik Bowman ...........................................................1991

CGA ALL-ACADEMIC TEAMKen Kemper .............................................................1990Erik Bowman .................................................1990, 1991Joel Miller ............................................1990, 1991, 1992Joel Jenne’ .....................................................1993, 1995Brian Rizzoli .............................................................1994Chad Silva ..................................1994, 1995, 1996, 1997Geoff Jensen ..............................1995, 1996, 1997, 1998Greg Meis ................................................................1995Matt Jensen ...................................................1997, 1998James Hayes III ....................................1999, 2000, 2001Justin Jones .............................................................2000Scott Lewis ..........................................2000, 2001, 2002Aaron Jackson ................................................2002, 2003Patrick McAndrew .........................................2002, 2003Noah Rich ................................................................2003Brian Boardman ..................................2006, 2007, 2008Jake Schonig ........................................2007, 2008, 2009Brennan Wolford ...........................................2007, 2010Aaron Zaiser ..................................................2008, 2011Jacob Houder .......................................2009, 2011, 2012Thomas Wilkinson ...................................................2010James Okamoto .............................................2010, 2012Patrick Duffy ..................................................2011, 2012Derek Kvedar ...........................................................2011Travis Myers ..................................................2011, 2012Josh Ramos ..............................................................2012

WESTERN ATHLETIC CONF.

GYMNAST OF THE YEARChris Mauk ..............................................................1988Ken Kemper .............................................................1990

CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSPaul Comeau, Pommel Horse ..................................1989Scott Hamilton, Vault .............................................1990Jerry Michael Cline, Floor Exercise ..........................1991Joel Miller, Still Rings .....................................1990, 1991

ALL- CONFERENCE TEAMJerry Michael Cline All-Around ............................................................1991 Floor Exercise .......................................................1991Joel Miller Still Rings ....................................................1991, 1992Jim Miller All-Around ............................................................1992

WAC SCHOLARSHIP AWARDErik Bowman .................................................1990, 1991

ALL-ACADEMIC TEAMErik Bowman ...........................................................1991Joel Miller ................................................................1991Brian Stuart .............................................................1991

SCHOLAR-ATHLETES Chris Mauk ..........................................1987, 1988, 1989Ken Kemper .........................................1987, 1989, 1990Erik Bowman .............................1988, 1989, 1990, 1991 Brent Johnson................................................1987, 1988Joel Miller ..................................1989, 1990, 1991, 1992 Brian Stuart .............................................................1990 Jerry Michael Cline ....................1991, 1992, 1993, 1994Joel Jenne’ .................................1992, 1993, 1994, 1995Brock Devos .........................................1993, 1994, 1995Jacque Joffrion ....................................1993, 1994, 1995Brian Rizzoli ...............................1993, 1994, 1995, 1996Ron Marciniak .........................................................1994Chad Silva ..................................1994, 1995, 1996, 1997Mark Wolfe ...................................................1996, 1997Greg Meis ......................................................1995, 1996Mark Emiley.........................................1995, 1996, 1997Geoff Jensen ........................................1995, 1996, 1997Matt Jensen .........................................1995, 1996, 1997

MOUNTAIN PACIFIC SPORTS FED.

ALL-ACADEMIC TEAMJames Hayes ............................................................2002Bill Hermann ............................................................2002Aaron Jackson ................................................2002, 2003Justin Jones .............................................................2002Scott Lewis ..............................................................2002Matthew Joseph ......................................................2003Patrick McAndrew .........................................2003, 2004Kent Reichle.........................................2003, 2004, 2005Matthew Joseph ......................................................2004Noah Rich ................................................................2004Brian Boardman ..................................2006, 2007, 2008Jake Schonig ........................................2007, 2008, 2009Brennan Wolford .................................2008, 2009, 2010Aaron Zaiser ........................................2009, 2010, 2011Jacob Houder .................................................2011, 2012Travis Myers ..................................................2011, 2012James Okamoto .......................................................2011Patrick Duffy ............................................................2012James Okamoto .......................................................2012

GYMNAST OF THE WEEKGreg Stine ...............................................2007 (2x), 2008Nash Mills ..............................2009, 2010 (2x), 2011 (2x)Jake Schonig ............................................................2009Colton Wulf .............................................................2011James Okamoto ................................................2012 (2x)Mac Ritchie ..............................................................2012

ALL-ANNIVERSARY TEAM *Jeff Andersen ..................... competed 1999-00, 2003-04

* The MPSF, which celebrated its 15th year of competi-tion in 2007-08, chose the all-anniversary team based on a vote by the head coaches from the league schools.

MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE

SCHOLAR-ATHLETES James Hayes ..................................................2001, 2002Aaron Jackson ..........................................................2003Patrick McAndrew ...............................2002, 2003, 2004Brian Boardman ............................................2007, 2008Jacob Houder .......................................2009, 2011, 2012Thomas Wilkinson ...................................................2010Travis Myers ..................................................2011, 2012

Chris Mauk, 1988 WAC Gymnast of the Year


ALL-TIME LETTERWINNERS

AAAABEYTA, Derek .....................................88ABSHIRE, Thomas ................................74ALDRICH, Richard ..........................80, 81ALEXANDER, Dana .........................69, 70ANDERSEN, Jeff ................. 99, 00, 03, 04 ANTONIO, Kurt .................. 04, 05, 06, 07ANNANIE, Douglas ...............................88AWISUS, Skyler ..................................12

BBBBAKER, Gary.........................................63BAKER, Kyle .........................................11BELIN, Troy ........................ 92, 93, 94, 95 BELL, Richard ..................... 83, 84, 85, 86BENTON, Julian ..............................03, 04BERRY, Edwin.................................05, 06BERRY, Michael.................. 01, 02, 03, 04BLACK, Jon ...........................................57BOARDMAN, Brian ............ 05, 06, 07, 08BONECK, James ...................................83BOWEN, Thomas ................................57BOWMAN, Erik .................. 88, 89, 90, 91 BRADSHAW, James ..............................58BREWER, George II .................. 80, 81, 82BREWER, Gregory .............. 76, 77, 78, 79BROOKS, Charlie ...................... 85, 86, 87 BROWN, Sven .......................... 87, 88, 89 BROWN, Tory ........................ 10, 11, 12BURLINGAME, Barry ......................66, 67BURNS, Scott .......................................02BUTLER, George....................... 59, 60, 61BUTLER, Michael ...........................66, 67

CCCCANTER, Garrett ................ 07, 08, 09, 10CANTERBURY, Henry ............... 57, 58, 59 CASTLE, Leroy ......................................57CHAPMAN, Gared ..............................12CHAPUT, Greg ...................................12CHASE, Joseph ...............................70, 71CHESTNUT, William .............................81CLAUSON, Vaughn ................... 69, 70, 71CLINE, Jerry Michael .......... 91, 92, 93, 94 CLINE, Paul ....................................93, 94CLOSE, Gary ...................................64, 65COBB, David....................... 92, 93, 94, 95COLE, William .......................... 63, 64, 65 COMEAU, Paul ................... 87, 88, 89, 90COPES, R. Brian ........................ 91, 92, 93 CORBETT, Jason ....................... 97, 98, 99CUNNINGHAM, Breck .............. 71, 72, 73

DDDDALEY, Jerome .....................................63DANIEL, Mikel .................... 98, 99, 00, 01DEANS, Chris ..................................06, 07DEVOS, Brock..................... 92, 93, 94, 95DOUGLAS, David ................ 90, 91, 92, 93DOYLE, Steven ......................... 02, 03, 05DOZIER, Norman ...........................89, 90DREWRY, Nathan ............... 96, 97, 99, 00 DRUECKE, Kipp ..............................08, 09DUDLEY, Garry ......................... 66, 67, 68DUFFY, Patrick .............................11, 12DUNN, Roger .................................63, 64DUVALL, Michael ...........................75, 76

EEEEANNARINO, Tom.............. 81, 82, 83, 84 EASTMAN, William ..............................08EATON, Brian ........................... 69, 70, 71EDSTROM, Bruce ...........................74, 75 EDWARDS, John ...................................63EGLINTON, Gary ............................65, 66

FFFFISHER, Andrew ................. 98, 99, 00, 01FISTER, Bruce .................................63, 64FLICKINGER, James .................. 77, 78, 79FLOOD, William .............................63, 64FRETZS, Robert ..............................69, 70FRUSHOUR, George ................. 65, 66, 67FULKS, Mark ...................... 75, 76, 77, 78

GGGGARBODEN, Andrew .....................85, 86GARRETT, James ................ 71, 72, 73, 74GAUDLIP, Nick ...................................12GIBBONS, William ..........................60, 61GILMORE, Samuel .............. 75, 76, 77, 78GLANDON, Nathan ..............................05GOGGINS, Edward ...............................80GOODMAN, Patrick .......................75, 76GREGORY, Scott .............................82, 83GUERRERO, Casey ............. 96, 97, 98, 99GUSTAFSON, Stephen ....... 83, 84, 85, 86

HHHHALL, Robert ..................................62, 63HAMILTON, Robert .................. 79, 80, 81 HAMILTON, Scott............... 87, 88, 89, 90 HAMMOND, Terry ...............................67HARDEE, Patrick ...................... 62, 63, 64HARMON, Lloyd ....................... 61, 62, 63 HAYES, James III ................ 99, 00, 01, 02HENDRICKS, John .................................60HERMANN, Bill .................. 00, 01, 02, 03HESS, Timothy ................... 90, 91, 92, 93HIGGINS, Terry ........................ 64, 65, 66 HOIT, Stephen ................... 70, 71, 72, 73 HOLLOWAY, Josh .................................03HOUDER, Jacob........................ 09, 11, 12HOUSE, Thomas ....................... 57, 58, 59HOWELL, John ...............................58, 59HUEBNER, Tyler ...........................11, 12HULL, Merton ......................................61HUNT, Thomas .................. 76, 77, 78, 79HYATT, Mark ............................ 72, 73, 74

IIIILLINGSWORTH, Robert .......................67

JJJJACKSON, Aaron ................ 00, 01, 02, 03JENNE, Joel .............................. 93, 94, 95JENSEN, Geoffrey .............. 95, 96, 97, 98JENSEN, Matthew ..........................97, 98JESSOP, Alex .......................... 10, 11, 12JOBIN, Robert .......................... 62, 63, 64 JOFFRION, Jacque .................... 94, 95, 96JOHANSEN, Albert ...............................60JOHNSON, Brent ............................87, 88JOLLY, Lawrence ...................... 57, 58, 59JONES, Justin ........................... 00, 01, 02JOSEPH, Matthew ..........................03, 04

KKKKANESHIRO, Marcus ................ 86, 87, 88 KEMPER, Kenneth .............. 86, 87, 88, 90KENKEL, Matthew .............. 99, 00, 01, 02KENNEDY, Charles .................. 68, 69, 70 KING, Gerald ..................................63, 64KIRK, Charles .................................77, 78KLIMKOWSKI, Dan ............. 08, 09, 10, 11KNAUF, Donald .................. 77, 78, 79, 80 KNOPKE, Carl Jr........................ 66, 67, 68KOPF, Christopher ................... 64, 65, 66KOS, Ronald ...................................61, 62KOZMA, William ..................................65KRAYE, Howard ........................ 60, 62, 63KRESS, John ...................................85, 86KVEDAR, Derek ..............................09, 11

LLLLANGHAM, Travis ................................10LAWLESS, Michael .........................82, 83LEONARD, Michael ........................66, 67LEWIS, Arthur .......................... 58, 59, 60LEWIS, Scott ............................ 00, 01, 02LOBUE, Paul .........................................86LOESER, Joshua ..............................05, 06LOESER, Josiah ................... 06, 07, 08, 09LOVE, Michael ......................... 58, 59, 60 LOVRIEN, Clark ........................ 57, 58, 59 LOWE, Gregory ....................... 68, 69, 70LUSHBAUGH, Robert .....................67, 68

MMMMcANDREW, Patrick ................ 02, 03, 04McCLURE, Kurtis ............................85, 86McLEAN, Daniel ...................................66McKINNEY, Craig ...........................64, 65McNAUGHTON, Mark ..........................04MACPHERSON, John ......................66, 67MAHONEY, Ryan ............................97, 98MAJOR, Michael ..................................93MARKSTEINER, Joseph ..................74, 75MARSHALL, Parker ............ 97, 98, 99, 00MARSHALL, Ryan ............... 89, 90, 92, 93 MARTIN, Michael...........................65, 66MASON, Richard ............................57, 58MAUK, Christopher ................. 87, 88, 89 MEIS, Gregory.................... 95, 96, 97, 98 MENEFEE, Devin ................ 09, 10, 11, 12MILLER, James ................... 91, 92, 93, 94 MILLER, Joel ....................... 89, 90, 91, 92 MILLER, Roy ...................................65, 66MILLS, Michael .................. 77, 78, 79, 80MILLS, Nash ....................... 08, 09, 10, 11MILLS, Timothy ........................ 84, 85, 86MONDY, Robert ................. 81, 82, 83, 84 MONTGOMERY, Paul ............... 79, 80, 81MONTAGUE, Erin ............... 96, 97, 98, 99MOORE, Brian.................... 03, 04, 05, 06MORGAN, Keith ................. 82, 83, 84, 85 MURPHY, Kevin ................. 05, 06, 07, 08MYERS, Travis ................................11, 12

NNNNARDECCHIA, Anthony ............ 69, 70, 71 NARDECCHIA, Philip .......... 71, 72, 73, 74 NEAL, Latimer .................... 93, 94, 95, 96NEFF, Ted .............................................62NEVIN, Michael........................ 76, 77, 78NEWHOUSE, John II .............................63NICKERSON, Eric ..................................70NOBLES, Chase ..............................09, 10

OOOOAKESHOTT, Glenn ................. 68, 69, 70O’CONNELL, William ......................74, 75O’CONNOR, Paul ..................... 59, 60, 61O’GRADY, James ...................... 66, 67, 68 O’ROURKE, James ................................60OKAMOTO, James ................. 10, 11, 12OTOMO, Michael ............... 76, 77, 78, 79OWEN, Nicholas ................................11

PPPPACKER, Frank ...............................63, 64PALMER, Corbin ................................12PAQUETTE, James.............. 71, 72, 73, 74PAYAUYS, Ryan ....................................88PEELE, Eric ......................... 03, 04, 05, 06PETERSON, Javin ...................... 98, 99, 00PFAU, William .......................... 79, 80, 81PLAISTED, Glen .................. 78, 79, 80, 81PODRASKY, David ................................91PORTER, Christopher .....................71, 72PRENDERGAST, Brian .............. 68, 69, 70PROPOGGIO, Ron .............. 81, 82, 83, 84

QQQQUANBECK, Gordon ............................71

RRRRABINS, John .................................72, 73RAMOS, Josh .....................................12RAUSCH, John ................................61, 62REAVES, Irving ...............................81, 82REICHLE, Kent .................... 02, 03, 04, 05REYNOLDS, Douglas .............................64RICH, Noah ....................................03, 04RIGHTMER, Charles .......................82, 83RITCHHART, Kenneth ...........................72RITCHIE, Mac ...............................11, 12RITTER, William ................. 70, 71, 72, 73RIZZOLI, Brian .................... 93, 94, 95, 96 ROBERTS, Jon ......................................06ROBERTSON, Dennis ............................67ROSTAGNO, Anthony .............. 90, 91, 92RUND, Berton .......................... 75, 76, 77

SSSSANDERS, Robert Scott........................78SCHAMBERGER, John ..........................76SCHAMBERGER, Randall .......... 60, 61, 62 SCHEMENAUR, Roger .............. 57, 58, 59SCHONIG, Jacob ................. 06, 07, 08, 09SCHWEISS, Charles ............ 79, 80, 81, 82 SHAFER, Jonathan ................... 57, 58, 59SHEPARD, Richard ...............................58SHINES, Franklin ................ 84, 85, 86, 87 SICKLES, Tyler .................... 05, 06, 07, 08SILVA, Chad ....................... 94, 95, 96, 97SISTARE, Stephen .................... 00, 01, 02


ALL-TIME LETTERWINNERS

SSSSMITH, Benjamin ............... 94, 95, 96, 97SMITH Jason ...................... 96, 97, 98, 99 SMITH, Karl .............................. 66, 67, 68SMITH, Kenneth ...................... 57, 58, 59SMULL, Richard .............................61, 62SOGARD, Jeffrey ...................... 69, 70, 71SOLANA, Richard .................................70SPENCER, Michael ................... 79, 80, 81 SPIRO, Jon .........................................12SQUIER, Craig ......................................68ST. CYR, Christopher ............................82STACK, Thomas ........................ 57, 58, 59STEELE, William ....................... 90, 91, 92STINE, Greg ........................ 03, 04, 07, 08STEPHENS, Dallas ............... 74, 75, 76, 77STROMSTAD, Ryan ........................04, 05STUART, Brian .................... 90, 91, 92, 93STYLES, James ......................................75SULLIVAN, Paul ....................................60

TTTTAYLOR, Randy .................. 77, 78, 79, 80TERRELL, Andrew .................................06THAL, Lawrence ....................... 65, 66, 67THOMPSON, Preston ......... 79, 80, 81, 82 THOMPSON, Robert ............................87THORNE, Matthew ............ 08, 09, 10, 11TOMICH, John ......................................74 TORKELSON, Levi ............... 98, 99, 00, 01TORNOW, Robin ...................... 62, 63, 64TORREANO, Mark .................... 66, 67, 68TRACEY, Robert ....................... 69, 70, 71TRAVIS, Byron ......................................59 TRINIDAD, Pedro ............... 85, 86, 87, 88

UUUUPTMOR, Joel ................................09, 10

VVVVAN DOREN, Peter .................. 92, 93, 94VRETTOS, John......................... 63, 64, 65

WWWWALKER, Philip ....................................71WATKINS, Jerome ................................86WEAVER, James ....................... 61, 62, 63 WEIZENEGGER, Richard .................66, 67 WENGERT, Alix ....................................88WENRICH, Robert .............. 75, 76, 77, 78WHILES, Jared ................................97, 98WHITTENBERG, Karl ................ 66, 67, 68WIEST, David .......................... 58, 59, 60WILHELM, James ...........................60, 61WILKINSON, Mark ................... 76, 77, 78WILKINSON, Thomas ...........................10WINN, Derek .......................................80 WITZEL, Robert ....................................75WOLF, Craig ...................................89, 90WOLFE, Mark ..................... 94, 95, 96, 97WOLFORD, Brennen .......... 07, 08, 09, 10WOOD, Chris .......................................06WULF, Colton.......................................11

YYYYOUNG, Gerard .............................60, 61YUEN, Jeffrey ..................... 80, 81, 82, 83

ZZZZAISER, Aaron .................... 08, 09, 10, 11ZAISER, Ben .................................11, 12ZAMZOW, Mark ................. 75, 76, 77, 78

Returning gymnasts in bold.


ACADEMY RECORDS

ACADEMY RECORDS (1956-2007)

INDIVIDUAL TEAMEvent Score Gymnast Year Score YearFloor Exercise 9.850 Jerry Michael Cline 1993 37.350 1995Pommel Horse 9.600 Jeff Andersen 2000 38.050 2000Still Rings 9.900 Joel Miller 1991 37.750 2000Vault 9.800 Andrew Fisher 2000 37.700 2000Parallel Bars 9.550 Levi Torkelson 1998 37.700 1998High Bar 9.900 Jerry Michael Cline 1994 38.250 1995All-Around 56.350 Jerry Michael Cline 1994 223.125 1998

ACADEMY RECORDS (2008-2011)

INDIVIDUAL TEAM Event Score Gymnast Date Event Score Date EventVault 15.950 Tory Brown 04/02/11 MPSF Championships 62.800 03/06/11 at Illinois-Chicago 15.950 Devin Menefee 03/27/10 USAG Championships -- -- --All-Around 88.200 Greg Stine 03/09/08 Illinois-Chicago 347.500 03/20/11 Washington

Please note: beginning with the 2012 season, vault start values were lowered by one point. The additional catagories for vault, all-around and team total reflect that change.

ACADEMY RECORDS (2008-PRESENT)

INDIVIDUAL TEAM Event Score Gymnast Date Event Score Date EventFloor Exercise 15.400 Colton Wulf 03/20/11 Washington 59.600 03/20/11 WashingtonPommel Horse 14.900 James Okamoto 02/26/12 at Temple 57.500 03/26/10 USAG ChampionshipsStill Rings 15.700 Greg Stine 03/09/08 Illinois-Chicago 59.450 03/30/12 USAG ChampionshipsVault 14.750 Ben Zaiser 01/22/12 at Nebraska 57.550 01/22/12 at NebraskaParallel Bars 15.200 Nash Mills 03/25/11 at USAG Championships 57.700 03/25/11 at USAG ChampionshipsHigh Bar 14.900 Mac Ritchie 03/31/12 USAG Championships 57.800 03/13/11 at Springfield College 14.900 Nash Mills 03/06/11 at Illinois-Chicago -- -- --All-Around -- -- -- -- 341.050 03/30/12 USAG Championships


TOP PERFORMANCES

FLOOR EXERCISE59.600....................................................................................... Washington (03/20/11)58.650...................................................................................Illinois-Chicago (03/07/10)58.350...................................................................................Illinois-Chicago (03/09/08)58.200.............................................................................................. at Army (02/24/12)58.100...................................................................................Illinois-Chicago (03/07/08)

15.400...............................................................Colton Wulf | Washington (03/20/11)15.200........................................................ Greg Stine | at Southwest Cup (03/01/08)15.100............................................................ Greg Stine | Illinois-Chicago (03/09/08)15.050..........................................Greg Stine | at NCAA National Qualifier (04/17/08)15.000........................................................................Greg Stine | at Army (01/01/08)15.000....................................Greg Stine | at USAG Championships-Team (03/28/08)15.000........................................... Greg Stine | at NCAA All-Around Finals (04/18/08)14.950..........................................................Joel Uptmor | Illinois-Chicago (03/07/10)14.950.........................................................................Aaron Zaiser | Army (01/31/09)14.900................................. Colton Wulf | at USAG Championships-Team (03/25/11)14.900............................................................... Tory Brown | Washington (03/20/11)14.900.............................................. Greg Stine | at MPSF Championships (04/05/08)

POMMEL HORSE57.500........................................................................ USAG Championships (03/26/10)56.100................................................................ at NCAA National Qualifier (04/19/12)55.700......................................................... at All-Academy Championships (02/20/11)55.950.............................................................................................. at Army (03/12/10)55.900...................................................................................Illinois-Chicago (03/02/12)

14.900 ................................ James Okamoto | at Temple Quadrangular (02/26/12)14.800................................... Chase Nobles | USAG Championships-Team (03/26/10)14.700........................................................Chase Nobles | Illinois-Chicago (03/07/10)14.600 ......................James Okamoto | at All-Academy Championships (02/12/12)14.600 ...........................James Okamoto | USAG Championships-Team (03/26/10)14.550...................................................................Chase Nobles | at Army (03/12/10)14.400 ..................................Greg Chaput | at NCAA National Qualifier (04/19/12)14.400 ................................................... James Okamoto | at Nebraska (01/30/11)14.350 ............................ James Okamoto | at NCAA National Qualifier (04/19/12)14.300 ................................... James Okamoto | Rocky Mountain Open (01/15/11)14.300...................................................... Chase Nobles | at Arizona State (03/19/10)14.300.......................................... Dan Klimkowski | at Springfield College (03/14/10)

STILL RINGS59.450........................................................................ USAG Championships (03/20/12)59.400....................................................................................... Washington (03/20/11)59.350...................................................................................Illinois-Chicago (03/07/10)59.200.......................................................................Rocky Mountain Open (01/14/12)59.100.........................................................................at Springfield College (02/03/08)

15.700............................................................ Greg Stine | Illinois-Chicago (03/09/08)15.650................................ Jake Schonig | at USAG Championships-Team (03/27/09)15.650..............................................................Jake Schonig | at Nebraska (03/22/08)15.650..........................................Greg Stine | at NCAA National Qualifier (04/17/08)15.600.....................................................Jake Schonig | at Southwest Cup (02/27/09)15.600...................................................Greg Stine | at Springfield College (03/03/08)15.600....................................Greg Stine | at USAG Championships-Team (03/28/08)15.550................................ Jake Schonig | at USAG Championships-Event (03/29/08)15.550................................ Jake Schonig | at USAG Championships-Team (03/28/08)15.500................................ Jake Schonig | at USAG Championships-Event (03/28/09)15.500.......................................... Jake Schonig | at MPSF Championships (04/05/08)15.500.........................................................Jake Schonig | Illinois-Chicago (03/07/08)15.500.................................................Greg Stine | at Pacific Coast Classic (02/23/08)15.500............................................... Jake Schonig | at Springfield College (02/03/08)

* vault and team totals represent new scoring system (2012-present)

VAULT*57.550........................................................................................at Nebraska (01/22/12)57.400...................................................................................Illinois-Chicago (03/02/12)57.350................................................................ at NCAA National Qualifier (04/19/12)57.000........................................................................ USAG Championships (03/30/12)56.900................................................................................. at Arizona State (03/09/12)

14.750 ............................................................ Ben Zaiser | at Nebraska (01/22/12)14.700.....................................................Devin Menefee | Illinois-Chicago (03/04/12)14.600 ....................................Tory Brown | at NCAA Na onal Qualifi er (04/19/12)14.600 ............................................. Ben Zaiser | MPSF Championships (04/07/12)14.600 ....................................Ben Zaiser | USAG Championships-Event (03/31/12)14.500.................................. Devin Menefee | at NCAA Na onal Qualifi er (04/19/12)14.500 ...................................................... Ben Zaiser | at Arizona State (03/09/12)14.400 ....................................................... Ben Zaiser | Illinois-Chicago (03/02/12)14.400 ......................................... Ben Zaiser | at Temple Quadrangular (02/26/12)14.400 ............................................................ Corbin Palmer | at Army (02/24/12)14.400 ................................................... Gared Chapman | at Nebraska (01/22/12)

PARALLEL BARS57.700.................................................................... at USAG Championships (03/25/11)57.550........................................................................ MPSF Championships (04/02/11)57.100....................................................................................... Washington (03/20/11)56.650.............................................................................................Stanford (03/05/10)56.600..................................................................................2x, last at Army (02/24/12)

15.200....................................Nash Mills | at USAG Championships-Team (03/25/11)15.000 .......................................Josh Ramos | at Temple Quadrangular (02/26/12)14.900 ................................................................ Josh Ramos | at Army (02/24/12)14.900.................................................. Nash Mills | MPSF Championships (04/02/11)14.900........................................................... Nash Mills | at Arizona State (02/26/10)14.900....................................Greg Stine | at USAG Championships-Event (03/29/08)14.850.............................................. Greg Stine | at MPSF Championships (04/05/08)14.750.............................................Nash Mills | Stanford, Illinois-Chicago (03/05/10)14.750........................................................................Greg Stine | at Army (01/01/08)14.700...................................................Nash Mills | at Springfield College (03/13/11)14.700........................................................ Greg Stine | at Southwest Cup (03/01/08)

HIGH BAR57.800..................................................................................... at Springfield (03/13/11)57.400.......................................................................................at Brockport (03/11/11)57.100........................................................................................at Nebraska (01/22/12)56.950........................................................................ USAG Championships (03/30/12)56.500.............................................................................................. at Army (03/12/10)

14.900 ..................................Mac Ritchie | USAF Championships-Event (03/31/12)14.900........................................................ Nash Mills | at Illinois-Chicago (03/06/11)14.800...................................................Nash Mills | at Springfield College (03/13/11)14.650 ................................. Mac Ritchie | USAG Championships-Team (03/30/12)14.650...................................................Greg Stine | at Springfield College (02/03/08)14.600................................................ Colton Wulf | at Springfield College (03/13/11)14.550................................................................. Greg Stine | at Nebraska (03/22/08)14.500 ..................................................... Mac Ritchie | Illinois-Chicago (03/02/12)14.500.............................................................. Colton Wulf | at Brockport (03/11/11)14.500 ......................................................... Tory Brown | at Brockport (03/11/11)

ALL-AROUND, TEAM TOTALS*341.050...................................................................... USAG Championships (03/30/12)338.900.................................................................................Illinois-Chicago (03/02/12)337.700........................................................................................Minnesota (01/28/12)337.300.................................................................................Illinois-Chicago (03/04/12)335.950...................................................................... MPSF Championships (04/07/12)

No all-around compe ons have been contested under the new scoring system.

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY


The U.S. Air Force Academy offers a four-year program of instruction and experience designed to educate, train and inspire men and women to become officers of char-acter, motivated to lead the United States Air Force in service to our nation. Each cadet graduates with a bach-elor of science degree and a commission as a second lieutenant in the Air Force.

COURSES OF STUDY

Cadets are exposed to a balanced curriculum that pro-vides the knowledge, skills and responsibilities essen-tial to a career Air Force officer. The entire USAFA ex-perience is integrated and mapped to achieve a set of desired outcomes in every graduate.

The core academic curriculum includes courses in basic sciences, engineering, social sciences and humanities. Cadets take elective courses to complete requirements for one of 32 major areas of study. About 50 percent of the cadets complete majors in science and engineer-ing; the remainder graduate in the social sciences and humanities. Some of the most popular majors include management, aeronautical engineering, foreign area studies, history, behavioral science, civil engineering, astronautical engineering, electrical engineering and engineering mechanics.

FACULTY COMPOSITION

The majority of the Academy’s faculty members, more than 500 total, are Air Force officers. They are selected primarily from career-officer volunteers who have es-tablished outstanding records of performance and dedi-cation. Each has at least a master’s degree and more than 55 percent have doctorates or other terminal de-grees in their field of study.

About 30 percent of the faculty are civilians who bring great depth of disciplinary and educational expertise and provide academic stability and continuity.

Faculty members are intensely focused on cadet learn-ing as an integral part of their officer development. The Air Force Academy has been ranked No. 1 in the na-tion for the most accessible and involved faculty for four years in a row.

To provide greater contributions by a diverse faculty, the Academy has several visiting professors and en-dowed professors who serve one or more years. Offi-cers from other services, as well as officers from allied countries are also members of the faculty. Distinguished civilian and military lecturers also share their expertise with the cadets.

ATHLETIC PROGRAMS

The Academy’s athletic program is designed to improve physical fitness, teach athletic skills and develop leader-ship qualities.

To achieve its goals, the Academy offers some of the most extensive physical education, intramural sports and intercollegiate athletic programs in the nation. Cadets take at least three different physical education courses each year.

MILITARY EDUCATION & TRAINING

An air, space and cyberspace-oriented military educa-tion, training and leadership program begins with basic cadet training and continues throughout the four years. Seniors are responsible for the organizational leader-ship of the cadet wing, while juniors and sophomores seek to develop team and interpersonal leadership and instructional skills.

Cadets are projected into as many active leadership roles as possible to prepare them to be effective Air Force officers.

Fundamental concepts of military organization -- drill, ethics, honor, Air Force heritage and physical training -- are emphasized the first summer during basic cadet training. Freshmen study the military role in United States society, as well as the mission and organization of the Air Force. Sophomores receive instruction in com-munication skills and juniors study combat and opera-tional aspects of the Air Force.

The Academy offers courses in flying, navigation, soar-ing and parachuting, building from basic skills to instruc-tor duties. Some cadets may fly light aircraft with the Cadet Flying Team.

Summer training for cadets is divided into three, three-week training periods. There are a variety of programs available and each cadet is required to complete two training periods each summer with leave during the other period. All new cadets take six weeks of basic ca-det training in their first summer.

Combat survival training is a required three-week pro-gram during cadets’ second summer. For other second-summer training periods, cadets have options such as working with Airmen in an operational unit at an Air Force installation, airborne parachute training, soaring or basic free-fall parachute training.

During their last two summers, all cadets are offered leadership training as supervisors or instructors in the summer programs listed above.

Extracurricular activities also are an integral part of the education program. The cadet ski club, drum and bugle corps, cadet chorale and forensics are a few of the pro-grams available to Academy cadets.

NOMINATIONS

Nominations to the Academy may be obtained through a congressional sponsor or by meeting eligibility criteria in other categories of competition established by law. For information on admission procedures, write to:

HQ USAFA/RRS2304 Cadet Drive, Suite 200

USAF Academy, CO 80840-5025

HISTORY OF THE ACADEMY

In 1948, a board of leading civilian and military educa-tors was appointed to plan the curriculum for an acade-my that would meet the needs of the newly established Air Force. The board determined that Air Force require-ments could not be met by expanding the other service academies and recommended an Air Force Academy be established without delay.

In 1949, then Secretary of the Air Force W. Stuart Sym-ington appointed a commission to assist in selec ng a site and, on April 1, 1954, President Dwight D. Eisen-hower authorized creation of the U.S. Air Force Acad-emy. After considering 580 sites in 45 states, the com-mission narrowed the choice to three locations.

During the summer of 1954, Secretary of the Air Force Harold Talbott selected a site near Colorado Springs, Colo. Colorado contributed $1 million toward purchase of the property.

In July 1955, the first Academy class entered interim fa-cilities at Lowry Air Force Base, Denver, while construc-tion began. It was sufficiently completed for occupancy by the cadet wing in late August 1958. Initial construc-tion cost was $142 million.

Women entered the Academy on June 28, 1976, as members of the class of 1980.

THE ACADEMY EXPERIENCE


SENIOR LEADERSHIP

LIEUTENANT GENERAL MICHAEL C. GOULD, SUPERINTENDENT

Lt Gen Michael C. Gould is Superintendent, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo. He directs a four-year academic, military training, athlec and character development program leading to a bachelor’s degree and commission as an Air Force officer.

The general is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy’s Class of 1976. His career encompasses a wide range of assignments, ranging from head football coach of the Air Force Academy Preparatory School, to serving as Air Force aide to the President of the United States.

He has held numerous command posions at the group, wing and numbered air force level, and was commander of Cheyenne Mountain Operaons Center during 9/11. Prior to his return to the Academy, he was Director of Operaons and Plans, U.S. Transport on Command, Sco Air Force Base, Ill. General Gould is a command pilot with more than 3,000 flying hours in the T-38, T-41, KC-10, C-5, C-17, C-21, C-141 and KC-135R.

The general’s military awards and decoraons include the Disnguished Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Defense Superior Ser-vice Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Air Force Commendaon Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.

VICE SUPERINTENDENTColonel Tamra Rank

COMMANDANT OF CADETSBrigadier General Gregory Lengyel

DEAN OF FACULTYBrigadier General Dana Born

COMMANDER, 10TH ABWColonel Thomas Gibson


AIR FORCE ATHLETICS

Dr. Hans J. Mueh is in his ninth year as the di-rector of athletics at the Air Force Academy. A retired Air Force brigadier general, Mueh was vice dean of faculty for two years prior to his retirement from active duty in the summer of 2004. He was heavily involved in Academy athletics before becoming director of athletics. He was the Academy’s faculty athletics representative from 1996-2004 and was a long-time member of the board of di-rectors for the Air Force Academy Athletics Association.

Since becoming the director of athletics, Mueh has led the Academy to some remark-

able feats. In 2007, the Academy was one of three schools (Michigan St., Boston Col-lege) to reach post-season play in football (2007), men’s basketball and ice hockey (2006-07). It marked the first time a service academy has ever had a team compete in the post-season in all three sports.

In addition, under Mueh’s watch the men’s basketball team has played in an NCAA tournament and the National Invitational Tournament’s Final Four. The ice hockey team won three straight conference championships and made three straight appear-ances in the NCAA tournament. Mueh was on the selection committee that hired current head coach Frank Serratore and led the Academy’s move into the Athletic Hockey Association.

The football program, the Academy’s flagship sport, has gone through a major over-haul under Mueh. He led the transition from the retirement of the legendary Fisher DeBerry after 23 years at the helm to hiring current head coach Troy Calhoun, a 1989 Academy graduate. Calhoun’s impact was immediate, leading the Falcons to a 9-4 overall mark and a second-place finish in the Mountain West Conference in 2007. The Falcons qualified for their first bowl game in five years, playing in the Armed Forces Bowl in 2007. The program then posted back-to-back eight-win seasons and was 9-4 in 2010, while qualifying for bowl games every year. The school has averaged 9,000 bowl tickets sold during the four-year run.

Mueh has also been successful behind the scenes with the administration of the de-partment. Mueh restructured the department with an internal/external model that has streamlined resources and made the department more effective from top to bot-tom. In addition, he has the department on course to become a federally chartered non-profit organization which will lead to more fund-raising opportunities. Mueh was instrumental in the USAFA Endowment and the Holaday Athletic Center, a $15 million indoor training facility that was completed in July 2011.

Mueh has also been active within the conference and the NCAA. He is a part of the NCAA Division I Amateurism Cabinet and has been active on the NCAA’s academics/eligibility compliance cabinet, the men’s golf committee and the Region 7 postgradu-ate scholarship committee. Mueh has been equally active within the conference on various leadership committees. He is currently on the awards and recognition com-mittee and has previously served on the joint council executive committee, and com-mittees on championships, television and sportsmanship.

Before assuming his duties as vice dean at the Academy, Mueh was permanent profes-sor and head of the department of chemistry at the Academy, a position he held since October 1987 where he oversaw the annual design and instruction of 25 undergradu-ate courses for 1,500 cadets annually.

Mueh was born Jan. 8, 1944, in Celle, Germany, and emigrated to the U.S. in 1951. He entered the Air Force in 1962, as a member of the Academy’s eighth graduating class, and graduated with a bachelor of science degree in chemistry in 1966.

While at the Academy, Mueh was a two-year letterwinner in soccer as a goalie. He still holds the Academy record for saves in a game with 30, accomplishing it twice in 1965 against North Carolina and Benedictine. In his junior and senior years, Mueh helped

the Falcons to the Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Soccer League championship and quarterfinal berths in the NCAA tournament. He was a first-team all-league selection in 1965.

Following graduation, Mueh completed two assignments in intelligence before at-tending the University of Wisconsin where he earned his master’s degree in chemistry in 1970. He later earned a doctorate degree in chemistry from Wisconsin in 1976 as a distinguished graduate. Mueh also completed Squadron Officer School, Air Command and Staff College and Air War College.

Between earning the two degrees, Mueh returned to USAFA as an instructor in the department of chemistry from 1970-72. He also served as assistant soccer coach and played semi-pro soccer with the Aurora Internationals in Denver during those two years, leading the Internationals to the Colorado state title in 1971.

He volunteered for duty in Vietnam and served as an intelligence officer in Saigon, Republic of Vietnam and at Nakhon Phanom RTAB, Thailand, in 1972 and 1973.

After earning his doctorate degree, Mueh returned to the Academy in 1976 as an as-sociate professor of chemistry. He remained at the Academy except for a stint in 1985-86 as the special assistant for technical matters at the Defense Intelligence Agency at the Pentagon.

In 1986, he assumed the position of acting head, department of chemistry, before being selected for his position of permanent professor and head of the department of chemistry in 1987. As faculty athletics representative, he was active in both the Western Athletic Conference and Mountain West Conference, and was the Academy’s representative on the transition team to form the new MWC, the only faculty athletics representative on the team.

He competes in golf, racquetball, handball and tennis, and has promoted Air Force Academy intercollegiate sports throughout his tenure, beginning with work as chair-man of the hockey eligibility committee, officer representative to the men’s golf team and five years as the officer representative to the football team.

Mueh is married to the former Sally Flax of Cincinnati, Ohio. They have three children: Kristine, Kurt and Deborah.

The Academy honored the men’s gymnas cs team for their third-straight USAG na onal tle with an on-fi eld presenta on during the Air Force-Hawaii football game on Nov. 10, 2012.

DR. HANS J. MUEH, DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS


AIR FORCE ATHLETICS

COL BART WEISSVice Director of Athletics

COL BILLY WALKERDeputy Director of Athletics

JIM TREGOSenior Associate AD

WILLIAM CARPENTERAssociate AD | Recruiting Support

DERMOT COLLAssociate AD | Development, Government

JOHN COULAHANAssociate AD | Finance

TROY GARNHARTAssociate AD | Information, Communications

MARTI GASSERAssociate AD | Intercollegiate Programs

WAYNE KELLENBENCEAssociate AD | Support

AIR FORCE ATHLETICS

Few schools in the country have an athletic program as extensive as the Air Force Academy’s. The goals of the athletic program are to enhance the physi-cal conditioning of all cadets, to develop the physical skills necessary for of-ficership, to teach leadership in a competitive environment and to build char-acter. There are three subdivisions of the athletic program: intercollegiate athletics, intramurals and physical education.

The intercollegiate program has 17 men’s and 10 women’s NCAA-sanctioned teams, facing some of the top competition in the nation. Men’s teams are football, baseball, basketball, ice hockey, cross-country, fencing, golf, gym-nastics, indoor and outdoor track, lacrosse, rifle, soccer, swimming and div-ing, tennis, water polo and wrestling. The Academy fields women’s teams in basketball, cross-country, fencing, gymnastics, rifle, indoor and outdoor track, swimming and diving, soccer, tennis and volleyball. In addition, the Academy sponsors two non-NCAA programs; boxing and cheerleading.

The majority of the Academy’s men’s and women’s programs compete at the NCAA Division I level in the Mountain West Conference. The Falcons compete in this conference against teams from Boise State, Colorado State, New Mexi-co, San Diego State, TCU, UNLV and Wyoming. All sports also compete against non-conference opponents, including many ranked teams.

The football team competes annually for the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy, which is emblematic of service academy football supremacy. The Falcons have won the trophy 17 times, which is more than any other academy. The winner of the annual rivalry visits the White House to have the trophy presented by the President of the United States.

The USAFA Cadet Field House is one of the most impressive buildings in the country. It’s a modern, versatile structure with seemingly endless uses. The $5.6 million building is five stories high and 396 feet by 426 feet, the size of three football fields laid side by side. The structure is divided into three areas--basketball arena, ice hockey arena and multipurpose area. The three sections have a combined seating capacity of more than 9,000. Clune Arena seats 5,858. The Cadet Ice Rink has a seating capacity of 2,470, while the mul-tipurpose area seats 1,000 fans for track and field competitions.

GEORGE NELSONAssociate AD | Athle c Programs

KAREN WALKERAssociate AD | Human Resources


CADET WEST GYM

The Air Force women’s and men’s gymnastics team train and compete in the Acad-emy’s Cadet West Gymnasium. The gymnastics-only facilty features a competion area and spectator seating, as well as an area dedicated to training.

In the fall of 2011, a second story was added to a part of the main gym, providing a foam landing pit for tumbling routines. Beneath the new structure includes areas for strorage, stationary bikes and athletic training areas.

The set-up can be configured for either a men’s or women’s meet, with a raised floor exercise area and proper “holding areas” for championship meets. The gym features a two-tiered scorers’ table that is wirelessly linked to the judges’ tables located through-out the venue. For daily practices and special dual meet performances, the floor sur-face can hold all equipment for both the men’s and women’s training.

Air Force also has the added benefit of an auxiliary gym that features locker areas for both the men’s and women’s teams. The second floor of the auxiliary gym also fea-tures a high bar apparatus and vaulting runway with foam landing pits.

Overall, the Cadet Gymnasium is a five-level structure, containing 439,951 square feet of useable space. It houses three complete gyms, 12 squash courts, 21 handball/rac-quetball courts and nine basketball courts. There are two swimming pools, an indoor rifle range and four indoor tennis courts, along with separate facilities for gymnastics, cheerleading, wrestling, fencing, boxing, aerobic fitness, weight lifting, scuba, baseball, volleyball and judo. The gymnasium, which also contains an athletic training room, human performance laboratory, lockers for all cadets, and administrative offices of the physical education instructors and support staff, is adjacent to the new Cadet Fitness Center, which opened in 2012.


FALCONS IN THE AIR

The Air Force gymnastics coaches received the pportunity to take glider flights over the Academy with cadet instructors from the 94th Flying Training Squadron. Head coach Kip Simons and assistant coach Jeff Robinson, took to the skies in August 2011.

“Who needs coffee in the morning when you’re pulling 4Gs?” Simons said.

Three cadet instructor pilots guided the coaches through this adventure. Simons flew with junior Matt Cosmo, while Day went up with junior Conner Deebel and Robinson had senior Chad Hennig as his cadet pilot. The cadets conducted a basic pre-flight briefing with their respective coaches and took them to the hangar for a hands-on orientation, before heading out to the flight line.

Cosmo explained the pre-flight briefing that happens in the Midfield Building before every flight to get both crew members on the same page about what will happen and who will be doing what. “Our briefings with the coaches involved whether they were fit to fly, explanation of the ground procedures, explanation of anything they might have to do during the flight, the maneuvers we expect to accomplish, and where we’re going in the air.”

Although the coaches’ briefings were more informal, the cadet instructors then took the coaches into the hangar. “We give them an overview of the controls and what they will head and experience in the flight, so nothing comes as a complete surprise in the air,” Deebel said.

“We got them oriented with the front seat,” Cosmo added. “We showed them what everything did, what and what not to touch, and gave them a general tour of our fleet. On the line, it was all last minute discussion about the maneuvers and finally strapping them in, reminding them what they could do in the front, and accomplish-ing the sortie.”

Once in the air, Deebel explained that every coach should have pulled around 4.5Gs and done some simple aerobatics, such as stalls and wing overs, during their flights, which last around 30 minutes. “They also get a pretty sweet view of the cadet area and mountains along the Front Range,” he added.

“The opportunity for us to get these orientation rides is just another of the great things about working here at USAFA,” Robinson commented. “What a rush!”

During the Falcons’ road trip to Arizona State in 2012, several members of the men’s gymnastics team, including senior team captain Devin Menefee (above), received F-16 incentive flights from pilots in the 308th Fighter Squadron at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz.

Once arriving on base, the Falcons had a whirlwind morning of physicals, training and briefings. In a hands-on classroom environment that included a parachute rig and mock F-16 cockpits, the Falcons received evacuation training, before being fitted for their G-suits, helmets and oxygen masks.

Freshman Josh Ramos (above) was one of several gymnasts that were able to take to the skies onboard an F-16. The Falcons were able to spend around in hour in the air over Luke AFB, while their pilots performed aerial combat maneuvers (“dogfighting”) and broke the sound barrier with ease.

Additional photos from the Falcons’ F-16 experience at Luke AFB can be found in the 2011-12 men’s gymnastics photo gallery at www.GoAirForceFalcons.com.


FALCONS IN THE COMMUNITY

ADOPT-A-SCHOOL

Each year, the Air Force men’s and women’s gymnastics teams visit Monroe Elemen-tary School in Colorado Springs, as a part of the athletic department’s adopt-a-school program. The after-school program allows grade-school children the opportunity to interact with members of each of the Academy’s sports teams throughout the year. Following introductions, a handstand contest between the men’s and women’s teams and a brief tumbling demonstration by Air Force, the Falcons and K-5 students go through some of the pre-practice stretching that the gymnastics team does on a daily basis. The Falcons then divide the students onto two mats and spent the remainder of the time teaching basic tumbling moves, including somersaults, handstands and cartwheels. The students received hands-on attention from the gymnasts, who as-sisted and supported the young students through each new move. At the conclusion of the afterschool program, the students were able to ask questions.

RACE FOR THE CURE

For the fourth straight year, the Air Force men’s and women’s gymnastics teams took to the streets of Denver to participate in the annual Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. The 35 members of the Falcons’ combined program were some of the over 40,000 participants that took part in the 20th anniversary of Denver’s race on Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012. The race began at Confluence Park and continued around Sports Authority Field at Mile High, before concluding near the Pepsi Center and Auraria campus. Junior Tyler Huebner served as the captain for the Falcons’ volunteer efforts at the annual race and Air Force exceeded its goal, earning distinction as one of the race’s Top 100 teams. Denver’s Race for the Cure is one in a series of races that take place every year around the world. The races help raise significant funds and awareness for the fight against breast cancer, celebrate breast cancer survivorship and honor those who have lost their battle with the disease.

MOUNTAIN SHADOWS CLEAN-UP

Members of the Air Force men’s gymnastics team came together this past weekend to help residents of the Mountain Shadows neighborhood in Colorado Springs with a massive cleanup following the Waldo Canyon Fire earlier this summer. “It was a gratifying feeling to help the residents of Mountain Shadows, as they begin to rebuild their homes and community,” head coach Kip Simons commented. “I’m very proud of my team, because they took the initiative to participate in such a meaningful service to the community.” The gymnasts were some of nearly 350 volunteers from the Academy and District-20 that descended on the Mountain Shadows community on Sunday (Aug. 26). During the nine-hour event, volunteers worked in an area that surrounded over 140 homes, chopping down burned trees, clearing dry brush and doing fire mitigation to prevent future burns.


CAPT TORKELSON TRIBUTE

Capt Levi Torkelson, an assistant coach for the men’s gymnastics team, was killed in a tragic automobile accident in San Antonio, Texas, on Dec. 27, 2008.

Torkelson, who was in his second season as an assistant coach for the men’s program, re-turned to the Academy midway through the 2008 season, after completing a six-month deployment to Iraq. In addition to his coach-ing duties with the Falcons’ gymnastics team, Torkelson worked in the athletic depart-ment’s scheduling and grading division.

“Levi was an amazing role model to our team, day in and day out,” head coach Kip Simons said. “His love and passion for the sport was apparent. He was a great officer, coach, young man and friend. He will be greatly missed.”

A four-year letterwinner on the Falcons’ gymnastics team, Torkelson graduated from the Academy in 2001. A decorated gymnast, he was a two-time national champion on the parallel bars at the USAG Championships. A nine-time USAG All-American, Torkel-son is the Academy record-holder on the parallel bars with a score of 9.550. Torkelson remained at USAFA after graduation, serving as an assistant coach for the men’s team during the 2001-02 season.

“Levi was a huge contributor to our gymnastics program, as a competitor and then as a coach, before going out in the Air Force,” said former head coach Lou Burkel, who coached Torkelson from 1998-2001. “He was a very hard worker with excellent tech-nique. He was amazingly strong and could execute skills you would not think possible. His gymnastics credentials speak for themselves. He was also a good person who was caring and thoughtful. Levi was just a wonderful young man who was doing a terrific job for the Air Force. He leaves a big hole in many of our lives.”

Following his time at the Academy, Torkelson spent four years stationed at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, where he served as the Deputy Flight Commander for both the Communications Control Center and Mission Systems Flight. He also served as the Of-ficer in Charge for all geographically separated units controlled by the 435 Communica-tion Group. During his time at Ramstein, he was deployed twice. He spent four months as an Executive Officer in Jacobabad, Pakistan, and a year as the Officer in Charge for Screening and Property Exploitation Cells under the Joint Interrogation and Debriefing Center in Forward Operating Base Abu Ghraib and Victory Base Comply in Iraq.

Torkelson was awarded the Bronze Star and the USAFE Arthur S. Flemming Award. He has also won two Company Grade Officer of the Year Awards from the 435 Communica-tions Squadron and the 86 Communications Squadron.

“He did a fantastic job, not only coaching the gymnastics team but as a physical edu-cation teacher,” said Col Billy Walker, the Academy’s deputy athletic director, who oversees the Falcons’ Olympic sports, as well as the Academy’s Physical Education de-partment. “He was very well respected by the cadets, a great role model and mentor, not only to the cadets he taught in his PE classes, but especially to the cadet-athletes he coached on the gymnastics team.’’

In 2010, Torkelson was posthumously awarded the Honor Coach Certificate by the CGA.

The certificate is awarded to a deceased member of the coaching profession, who was either too young to qualify for the 25 years of service to the sport of gymnastics or had not been nominated for the Honor Coach Award prior to his death. The inscription on the plaque reads “In recognition of his service in coaching and developing gymnasts in the United States. He has gained the respect of his colleagues in the gymnastic world by his inspiring example and accomplishments.”

CAPTAIN LEVI TORKELSON 1979-2008 | FOUR-YEAR LETTERWINNER | TWO-YEAR ASSISTANT COACH


OVERVIEW OF THE SCORING SYSTEM

FLOOR EXERCISEThe floor exercise is an event where the gymnast performs multiple tumbling skills in a row and flips forward, backwards and sideways to achieve three of the special requirements. The fourth requirement is a non-acrobatic skill like a press handstand or circles on the floor. The fifth requirement is the dismount. Look for double flipping and double twisting skills that grab your attention.

POMMEL HORSEPommel horse is one of the hardest events in gymnastics, requiring strength, balance and flexibility. The gymnast continuously does circles, flairs or scissors while perform-ing require¬ments and finishes with a dismount.

STILL RINGSPound per pound, rings is one of the hardest events in any sport. The gymnast per-forms strength moves like the “Iron Cross”, which requires him to hold up to nine times his own body weight. The requirements include holding strength moves, swing-ing to strength moves, swing skills, kip skills and a dismount.

VAULTVault is the most explosive event in gymnastics. The gymnast has a choice of three styles of vaults that include a handspring, roundoff or roundoff onto the board. Like diving, vaults are given ratings based on their difficulty. The harder the vault, the higher the rating the vault receives.

PARALLEL BARSParallel bars is one of the most versatile events in gymnastics. The gymnast must perform skills in support, upper arm support, skills from hanging, basket skills where the gymnast loops around the p-bars and must finish with a dismount. Look for unique twists and flips where the gymnasts earn their difficulty points.

HIGH BARHigh bar is the most exciting event to watch in gymnastics. It requires the gymnast to swing on the bar, then let go of it and catch again. Other requirements include straddle skills, El-grip skills, long hang skills and a dismount. Watch for high flying release moves that remind you of an X-Games style competition.

Prior to the 2008 season, judging men’s gymnastics was based on the 10.0 system. Every routine that you saw had the highest possible score of a 10.0 if it was performed without any deductions and had the highest possible difficulty allowed. Men’s colle-giate gymnastics then adopted the FIG (Federation of International Gymnastics) Scor-ing System of an open-ended Code of Points. Now, when watching USA and college gymnastics, you will see scores like 15.3, 14.8, 13.9 and so on.

Men’s college gymnastics is judged using three components:

First, the gymnast performs his 10 best or hardest skills. These 10 skills each have value parts ranging from A,B,C,D,E,& F. “A” value corresponds to 0.1 points, “B” to 0.2 points, and so on to an “F” that is worth 0.6 points. The gymnast is free to have as much difficulty as he can do in those 10 skills.

Second, of those 10 skills, the gymnast performs five that must be used to fulfill the five special requirements on each event. Every time a requirement is fulfilled, the gymnast is awarded 0.5 points. The gymnast receives a maximum of 2.5 points for all five requirements on each event.

Third, every gymnast is given 10 points for the execution of the event. If the gymnast falls down or breaks form, the judge takes away points from this total.

After the routine is finished the judges go through the following process: First, they add up the difficulty of the 10 highest skills (max unlimited). Next, they add up the special requirements (max 2.5). Then they add 10 points for execution and make any necessary deductions. This gives them a final score.

In the old scoring system, if the gymnast performed a perfect routine it would look like this: 3.5 for difficulty + 2.5 for special requirements + 4.0 for execution with no deductions = 10.0

With the new scoring system, this now looks like: 3.5 difficulty + 2.5 for special re-quirements + 10.0 for execution with no deductions = 16.0 (The difficulty of 3.5 can be more or less depending on the gymnast’s capability).

Special Note: Not all events are necessarily equal now. You will tend to see higher scores on vault and rings and lower scores on pommel horse and parallel bars.

CLASS OF 2013

CLASS OF 2014

CLASS OF 2016

CLASS OF 2015

GYMNASTICS2013 SCHEDULE

Jan. 12 Rocky Mountain Open USAF Academy, Colo.Jan. 19 Army USAF Academy, Colo.Jan. 26 at Minnesota Minneapolis, Minn.Feb. 1 at Washington Sea le, Wash. Feb. 7 at Winter Cup Challenge Las Vegas, Nev. Feb. 16 at All-Academy Championships Atlanta, Ga. Feb. 23 at Oklahoma Norman, Okla. Mar. 1 at Illinois-Chicago Chicago, Ill. Mar. 3 at Illinois-Chicago Chicago, Ill. Mar. 8 at Arizona State, with Washington Tucson, Ariz. Mar. 14 Temple USAF Academy, Colo.Mar. 16 Washington USAF Academy, Colo.Mar. 29-30 at USAG Na onal Championships Williamsburg, Va. Apr. 6 MPSF Championships USAF Academy, Colo.Apr. 19 at NCAA Na onal Qualifi er State College, Pa. Apr. 19-21 at NCAA Na onal Championships State College, Pa.

All home meets will be at Cadet West Gym

James Okamoto, 2011 pommel horseJames Okamoto, 2011 pommel horse

Tory Brown, 2011 vaultTory Brown, 2011 vault

2013 air force men's gymnastics media guide

Documents

o ce phone

assistant coach

army usaf academy

high barmac ritchie

parallel barsmac ritchie

parallel barsjosh ramos

sports pavilion

cadet west gymteam captain