2012 Air Force Men's Gymnastics Media Guide

AIR FORCE MEN’S GYMNASTICSAIR FORCE MEN’S GYMNASTICS

2012 media guide2012 media guide

2012 INFORMATIONMEET THE FALCONS

2011 SEASON REVIEWPROGRAM HISTORY

AIR FORCE ACADEMY

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Back-to-Back USA Gymnastics Collegiate National Champions | GoAirForceFalcons.com | 2012 Air Force Men’s Gymnastics Media Guide

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMYLocation .................................... USAF Academy, Colo.Founded ............................................................. 1954Enrollment ......................................................... 4,400Colors ..................................................Blue and SilverNickname ....................................................... FalconsAffiliation ............................................NCAA Division IConference .........Mountain Pacific Sports FederationSuperintendent ....................Lt Gen Michael C. GouldDirector of Athletics ........................... Dr. Hans Mueh

COACHING STAFFHead Coach ...............................................Kip Simons Email .................................. [email protected] Office Phone .................................. (719) 333-7667 Office Fax ....................................... (719) 333-7320Assistant Coach ..................................... Jeff Robinson Email ......................... [email protected] Office Phone .................................. (719) 333-4609 Assistant Coach ................................. Chuck Schweiss Email ................... [email protected] Office Phone .................................. (719) 333-6422

SUPPORT STAFFVolunteer Coach ................................ Dave MickelsonOfficer Rep .................... Maj Cathrine MarchesseaultOfficer Rep ..................................... Capt Emily BulgerAthletic Trainer ........................................Mark PetersCadet Manager ..................................... Anna Wallace Cadet Manager ........................................ Kaila Weber

TEAM INFORMATIONTeam Captain .....................................Devin MenefeeHome Facility ................................... Cadet West GymScorers Table Phone ........................... (719) 440-53152011 MPSF Finish .................................................. 5th2011 USAG Finish ...................................................1st2011 NCAA Final Ranking ...................................... 9thLetterwinners R/L ................................................11/7USAG All-Americans R/L ........................................3/3Newcomers .............................................................. 8

MEDIA INFORMATION Assistant SID/Men’s Gymnastics .......... Valerie Perkin Email ............................. [email protected] Office Phone .................................. (719) 333-8283 Office Fax ....................................... (719) 333-3798Website ................................ GoAirForceFalcons.com

Quick Facts | Meet Schedule ................................ 1Media Information | 2012 Roster ...................... 2-3Opponent Information .......................................... 4

Head Coach Kip Simons ...................................... 6-7Assistant Coaches ............................................... 8-9Support Staff ....................................................... 10

Senior Gymnasts............................................. 12-15Junior Gymnasts ............................................. 16-18Sophomore Gymnasts .................................... 19-23Freshman Gymnasts ....................................... 24-27

2011 Season in Review ................................... 30-32Meet-By-Meet Scores .................................... 33-36

USAG National Championship Teams ................. 38National Awards .................................................. 39Program Awards | Coaching Awards................... 40Academic Awards ................................................ 41All-Time Letterwinners ........................................ 42Academy Records ................................................ 43Top Performances .......................................... 43-44

The Academy .................................................. 46-47Air Force Athletics .......................................... 48-49Gymnastics Training Facilities ............................. 50Special Feature .................................................... 51Community Outreach .......................................... 52Capt Torkelson Tribute ........................................ 53Overview of the Scoring System .......................... 54

DATE MEET LOCATION ARENA TIMEJan. 14 Rocky Mountain Open USAF Academy, Colo. Cadet West Gym 6:00 p.m.Jan. 22 at Nebraska Lincoln, Neb. Devaney Center 1:00 p.m.Jan. 28 Minnesota USAF Academy, Colo. Cadet West Gym 5:00 p.m.Feb. 2 at Winter Cup Challenge Las Vegas, Nev. LV Sports Center 2:00 p.m.Feb. 18 at All-Academy Classic San Jose, Calif. Spartan Gym 2:00 p.m.Feb. 24 at Army West Point, N.Y. Gross Center 6:00 p.m.Feb. 26 at Temple Philadelphia, Pa. McGonigle Arena 1:00 p.m.Mar. 2 Illinois-Chicago USAF Academy, Colo. Cadet West Gym 6:00 p.m.Mar. 4 Illinois-Chicago USAF Academy, Colo. Cadet West Gym 1:00 p.m.Mar. 9 at Arizona State Tempe, Ariz. Wells Fargo Center 7:00 p.m.Mar. 17 at Oklahoma Norman, Okla. Lloyd Noble Center 7:00 p.m.Mar. 30 USAG Championships USAF Academy, Colo. Cadet West Gym 5:00 p.m.Mar. 31 USAG Championships USAF Academy, Colo. Cadet West Gym 5:00 p.m.Apr. 7 MPSF Championships USAF Academy, Colo. Cadet West Gym 5:00 p.m.Apr. 19-21 at NCAA Championships Norman, Okla. Lloyd Noble Center 7:00 p.m.

Home competitions are listed in blue.Subject to change | Check GoAirForceFalcons.com for the most up-to-date schedule.

The 2012 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 gymnas-tics coaching staff. Photographs were taken by mem-bers of the Academy’s DenMar Photo Services and Jeff Mills. The front cover features the Falcons’ three returning USAG national champions, Tory Brown, Devin Menefee and James Okamoto. The front and back inside covers display the All-Academy Champi-onship trophy.

QUICK FACTS TABLE OF CONTENTS

2012 AIR FORCE COMPETITION SCHEDULE

CREDITS

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2012 Air Force Men’s Gymnastics Media Guide | GoAirForceFalcons.com | Back-to-Back USA Gymnastics Collegiate National Champions

Take I-25 to the Air Force Academy North Gate entrance (exit 156-B) and con-tinue west. Visitors will be required to have a current government-issued ID (such as a drivers 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).

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 .................................................Valerie PerkinGraphics Coordinator .............................................................. Madeline McGuireBroadcast Executive Producer .......................................................... Brian JermanTelevision Production Assistant ........................................................Adam Parker

Mailing Address ................................................................ 2169 Field House Drive..................................................................................... USAF Academy, CO 80840Website ..................................................................www.GoAirForceFalcons.comOffice Phone ..................................................................................(719) 333-2313Office Fax .......................................................................................(719) 333-3798

Men’s Gymnastics Contact ..............................................................Valerie PerkinEmail ............................................................................. [email protected] Phone ..................................................................................(719) 333-8286Cell Phone .....................................................................................(719) 440-5215

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

WORKING PRESS CREDENTIALS: Press and photo credentials for media can be obtained 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.

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 instructed not to accept calls from any members of the media without prior notification from the athletic media relations office.

Visit the official Air Force athletic website - GoAirForceFalcons.com - for the most up-to-date information regarding the Falcons’ men’s gymnas-tics team and all 27 Air Force sports. Results, statistics, rosters, cadet-ath-lete bios, previews, features, inter-views and meet recaps can be found on the team page.

Executive Director ...................................................................................Al BeairdOffice Phone ..................................................................................(530) 669-7600Media Relations Coordinator ........................................................Darren PrestonEmail ...................................................................................dp725@sbcglobal.net Mailing Address ...................................................................................PO Box 850...................................................................................Woodland, CA 95776-0850 Website ................................................................................. www.mpsports.org

Academy SpiritHQ USAFA/PAIUSAFA, CO 80840Phone: (719) 333-2044

The Gazett e30 S. ProspectColo. Springs, CO 80903Phone: (719) 636-0250

Denver Post101 W. Colfax Ave., 600Denver, CO 80202Phone: (303) 954-1296

KRDO-TV (13) - ABCP.O. Box 1457Colo. Springs, CO 80901Phone: (719) 575-6360

KOAA-TV (5/30) - NBC2200 7th Ave.Pueblo, CO 81003Phone: (719) 630-3930

KKTV (11) - CBS3100 N. Nevada Ave.Colo. Springs, CO 80907Phone: (719) 578-0000

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AIR FORCE ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

MOUNTAIN PACIFIC SPORTS FEDERATION

DIRECTIONS TO CADET WEST GYMNASIUM

AIR FORCE INTERVIEW POLICIES

WWW.GOAIRFORCEFALCONS.COM

PRIMARY MEDIA OUTLETS

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NAME YR HT EVENTS HOMETOWN | HIGH SCHOOL CLUB TEAM PRONUNCIATIONSkyler Awisus Fr. 5-6 SR, PB, HB Reno, Nev. | Reno High Sierra Gymnastics uh-wee-suss Kyle Baker Fr. 5-9 FX, PH, SR, V, PB, HB Union, Ky. | Beechwood Queen City Gymnastics --Tory Brown So. 5-7 FX, PH, SR, V, PB, HB Portland, Ore. | Tigard Multnomah Athletic Club (MAC) --Gared Chapman Fr. 5-4 FX, PH, SR, V, PB, HB Winter Park, Fla. | Winter Park Ace Gymnastics | Orlando Metro gare-udGreg Chaput Fr. 5-7 FX, PH, SR, V, PB, HB Worcester, Mass. | St. John’s Legends Gymnastics chap-uttPatrick Duffy Fr. 5-7 FX, PH, SR, V, PB, HB Albuquerque, N.M. | La Cueva Gold Cup Gymnastics --Nick Gaudlip Fr. 5-7 FX, PH, SR, V, PB, HB Colorado Springs, Colo. | Rampart Colorado Training Center gawd-lipJacob Houder Jr. 5-8 FX, PH, SR, V, PB, HB Pinehurst, Texas | Tomball Cypress Academy of Gymnastics how-der Tyler Huebner Fr. 5-4 PH, SR, PB San Antonio, Texas | Claudia Taylor Johnson Alamo Gymnastics Center heeb-nerAlex Jessop So. 5-9 PH, PB, HB Sylvania, Ohio | St. Francis de Sales Sunrise Gymnastics jess-upDevin Menefee Jr. 5-7 FX, SR, V, PB, HB Houston, Texas | Cypress Creek Cypress Academy of Gymnastics menn-eff-eeTravis Myers Jr. 5-7 PH, PB Woodland Park, Colo. | home school Colorado Training Center --James Okamoto So. 5-6 FX, PH, SR, V, PB, HB Yorba Linda, Calif. | Esperanza South Coast Gymnastics oak-ah-moh-toeCorbin Palmer Fr. 5-9 FX, PH, SR, V, PB, HB Frisco, Texas | Centennial World Olympic Gymnastics --Josh Ramos Fr. 5-3 FX, PH, SR, V, PB, HB Broken Arrow, Okla. | Bishop Kelley Jenks Gymnastics rahm-ohsMac Ritchie Fr. 5-5 FX, PH, SR, V, PB, HB Concord, N.C. | Concord G&J Speedway Gymnastics --Niko Schwab Fr. 5-6 FX, PH, SR, V, PB, HB Aztec, N.M. | Golden Senior (Colorado) 5280 Gymnastics nee-kohJon Spiro Fr. 5-4 FX, PH, SR, V, PB, HB Laguna Niguel, Calif. | Capistrano Connections New Hope Academy spy-rohJared Tomaszewski Sr. 6-3 HB Hoffman Estates, Ill. | William Fremd) -- tom-uh-chef-skeeBen Zaiser Fr. 5-3 FX, PH, SR, V, PB, HB Pittsburgh, Pa. | home school Pittsburgh Northstars zz-eye-sir

HEAD COACH: Kip Simons | Seventh Season | Ohio State, 1994 ASSISTANT COACH: Jeff Robinson | Second Season | Auburn, 1982 | Memphis State, 1983 ASSISTANT COACH: Chuck Schweiss | Fourth Season | Air Force Academy, 1982 VOLUNTEER COACH: Dave Mickelson | 11th Season | Iowa State, 1982



AIR FORCE ACADEMY2012 AIR FORCE MEN’S GYMNASTICS ROSTER

SENIORSJacob HouderDevin MenefeeTyler MyersJ Tomaszewski

JUNIORSTory BrownAlex JessopJames Okamoto

SOPHOMORESKyle BakerPatrick DuffyTyler HuebnerMac RitchieBen Zaiser

FRESHMENSkyler AwisusGared ChapmanGreg ChaputNick GaudlipCorbin PalmerJosh RamosNiko SchwabJon Spiro

CLASS

CALIFORNIAJames OkamotoJon Spiro

COLORADONick GaudlipTravis Myers

FLORIDAGared Chapman

ILLINOISJ Tomaszewski

KENTUCKYKyle Baker

MASSACHUSETTSGreg Chaput

NEVADASkyler Awisus

NEW MEXICOPatrick DuffyNiko Schwab

N CAROLINAMac RItchie

OHIOAlex Jessop

OKLAHOMAJosh Ramos

OREGONTory Brown

PENNSYLVANIABen Zaiser

TEXASJacob HouderTyler HuebnerDevin MenefeeCorbin Palmer

STATE

5-3 TO 5-4Gared ChapmanTyler HuebnerJosh RamosJon SpiroBen Zaiser

5-5 TO 5-6Skyler AwisusJames OkamotoMac RitchieNiko Schwab

5-7 TO 5-8Tory BrownGreg ChaputPatrick DuffyNick GaudlipJacob HouderDevin MenefeeTravis Myers

5-9 TO 6-3Kyle BakerAlex JessopCorbin PalmerJ Tomaszewski

HEIGHT

Skyler Awisus .................................................................................... uh-wee-sussGared Chapman ........................................................................................gare-udGreg Chaput .............................................................................................chap-uttNick Gaudlip .............................................................................................gawd-lipJacob Houder ...........................................................................................how-derTyler Huebner .........................................................................................heeb-nerAlex Jessop ................................................................................................. jess-upDevin Menefee .................................................................................... men-eff-eeJames Okamoto .......................................................................... oak-ah-moh-toeNiko Schwab ............................................................................................. nee-kohJon Spiro .................................................................................................... spy-rohJared Tomaszewski ...................................................................tom-uh-chef-skeeBen Zaiser ............................................................................................... zz-eye-sir

PRONUNCIATION

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Location ................................................ Lincoln, Neb.Founded ............................................................ 1869Enrollment ...................................................... 24,610Conference .................................................... Big TenNickname ..............................................CornhuskersColors ...........................................Scarlet and CreamFacility ........................... Bob Devaney Sports CenterChancellor ................................Harvey Perlman, J.D.Athletics Director ................................ Tom OsborneHead Coach ...................................... Chuck Chmelka2011 Conf Finish ...................................... 4th (MPSF)2011 Final Ranking .............................................10thGymnastics SID .................................. Makayla HipkePhone ............................................... (402) 472-0694Email ...................................... [email protected] ....................................... www.huskers.com

NEBRASKA

Location ......................................Minneapolis, Minn.Founded ............................................................ 1851Enrollment ...................................................... 51,000Conference .................................................... Big TenNickname ........................................Golden GophersColors ............................................Maroon and GoldFacility ............................................... Sports PavilionPresident ....................................Robert H. BruininksAthletics Director .................................... Joel MaturiHead Coach .............................................Mike Burns2011 Conf Finish ...................................................5th2011 Final Ranking ...............................................8thGymnastics SID ...................................... Andy SeeleyPhone ............................................... (612) 625-4090 Email ............................................ [email protected] ............................. www.GopherSports.com

Location ...........................................West Point, N.Y.Founded ............................................................ 1802Enrollment ........................................................ 4,400Conference ......................Eastern Collegiate AthleticNickname .............................................Black KnightsColors .......................................Black, Gold and GrayFacility .................................................. Gross CenterSuperintendent ..................... Lt Gen David HuntoonInterim Athletics Director ............... Col Sam JohnsonHead Coach ................................... Doug Van Everen2011 Conf Finish ...................................................6th2011 Final Ranking .............................................15thGymnastics SID .....................................Mady SalvaniPhone ............................................... (845) 938-3303Email [email protected] ............................ www.GoArmySports.com

Location .............................................Annapolis, Md.Founded ............................................................ 1845Enrollment ........................................................ 4,400Conference ......................Eastern Collegiate AthleticNickname .................................... Midshipmen, MidsColors .........................................Navy Blue and GoldFacility ...........................................Macdonough HallSuperintendent ...................Vice Adm Michael MilerAthletics Director ...............................Chet GladchukHead Coach ..................................Dr. ShoFukushima2011 Conf Finish ...................................................5th2011 Final Ranking .............................................16thGymnastics SID ........................................ Jeff BarnesPhone ............................................... (410) 293-8771Email .............................................barnes@usna.eduWebsite .................................. www.navysports.com

NAVY

Location .......................................... Philadelphia, Pa.Founded ............................................................ 1884Enrollment ...................................................... 39,000Conference ......................Eastern Collegiate AthleticNickname .......................................................... OwlsColors ............................................Cherry and WhiteFacility ...............................................McGonigle HallPresident ................................. Dr. Ann Weaver HartAthletics Director ................................ Bill BradshawHead Coach ............................................. Fred Turoff2011 Conf Finish ..................................................2nd2011 Final Ranking .............................................14thGymnastics SID ........................................Steve HelmPhone ............................................... (215) 204-7446Email .................................. [email protected] ....................................www.owlsports.com

TEMPLE

Location ..............................................Norman, Okla.Founded ............................................................ 1890Enrollment ...................................................... 30.092Conference ..................Mountain Pacific Sports Fed.Nickname ..................................................... SoonersColors ........................................ Crimson and CreamFacility .................... Howard McCasland Field HousePresident ............................................... David BorenAthletics Director .............................. Joe CastiglioneHead Coach ........................................Mark Williams2011 Conf Finish ..................................................2nd2011 Final Ranking ............................................... 1stGymnastics SID ................................... Ben ColdagelliPhone ............................................... (405) 325-8349Email ..........................................bcoldagelli@ou.eduWebsite ..............................www.SonnerSports.com

OKLAHOMA

Location .................................................Tempe, Ariz.Founded ............................................................ 1885Enrollment ...................................................... 72,250Conference ...........................................................n/aNickname ..................................................Sun DevilsColors ............................................Maroon and GoldFacility ............................Aspire Kids Training Center President ....................................... Dr. Michael CrowAthletics Director ........................................Lisa LoveHead Coach .......................................... Scott Barclay2011 Conf Finish ...................................................n/a2011 Final Ranking .............................................18thGymnastics SID .......................................Paula AugerPhone ............................................... (480) 920-3774Email ............................. [email protected] .................... www.sundevilgymnastics.com

ARIZONA STATE

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Location ...................................................Chicago, Ill.Founded ............................................................ 1896Enrollment ...................................................... 27,300Conference ......................Eastern Collegiate AthleticNickname .......................................................FlamesColors ....................... Navy Blue and Fire Engine RedFacility ........................... Physical Education BuildingChancellor ..................................Paula Allen-MearesAthletics Director .........................James W. SchmidtHead Coach .......................................Charley Nelson 2011 Conf Finish ................................................... 1st2011 Final Ranking .............................................12thGymnastics SID ...................................Robbin CooleyPhone ............................................... (312) 413-9340Email ...............................................rcooley@uic.eduWebsite ....................................www.uicFlames.com

ILLINOIS-CHICAGO

MINNESOTA ARMY

March 30-31, 2012 | USAF Academy, Colo.

USAG CHAMPIONSHIPS

MPSF CHAMPIONSHIPS

NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS

April 7, 2012 | USAF Academy, Colo.

April 19-21, 2012 | Norman, Okla.

THE COACHING STAFF

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

2010 USAG Hall of Fame Inductee1988 Junior Pan-Am Champion1991 Big Ten Freshman of the Year1994 Goodwill Games Gold Medalist1994 Nissen-Emery Award Winner1995 Pan-American Gold Medalist1996 Still Rings National Champion1996 OlympianTwo-time World Team MemberTwo-time NCAA All-AmericanFour-time Big Ten ChampionFive-time Junior Olympic Gold MedalistFour-time Ohio State Letterwinner

CAREER COACHING HIGHLIGHTS

2010 CGA Collegiate Head Coach of the Year2008, 2010 West Region Coach of the Year2008, 2010 USAG Coach of the Year2006 MPSF Co-Coach of the Year

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KIP SIMONSHEAD COACH | SEVENTH SEASONOHIO STATE, 1994

Olympian and USAG Hall of Fame selection Kip Simons enters his seventh season as the head coach of the Air Force Academy men’s gymnastics team. Since taking over the Falcons’ program in 2005, Simons has coached one NCAA All-American (two certificates), one Nissen-Emery finalist, six USAG champions (13 titles) and 22 USAG All-Americans (46 certificates), while earning six coaching awards.

“Coaching here is a dream job,” Simons said. “There is nothing more rewarding than to see my athletes maximize their potential as gymnasts and then go on to become the best pilots in the nation. After six years, I truly believe when you look at academic, gymnastics and career opportunities, there is not a better option out there than the Air Force Academy.”

In just six years at the helm of the Air Force program, Simons has accumulated several coaching acco-lades. In 2006, he was voted as the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation 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 National Coach of the Year.

Under Simons’ direction, the 2011 Air Force squad recorded one of the best seasons in program history. The Falcons repeated as the USAG national team champions, won their first All-Academy Championship title since 2000 and made the team’s first appearance at the NCAA National Qualifier since 1998. As a team, Air Force broke Academy records on five of six events, while collecting a program-best total score of 347.500. Individually, three gymnasts set or matched Academy-record scores, while a program-best four gymnasts claimed individual USAG titles. Nash Mills, who defended his title on the parallel bars, also claimed first on the still rings, while James Okamoto and Tory Brown won the pommel horse and vault titles, respectively.

Last season was just another example of how the program has improved since Simons took over.

Air Force claimed its first-ever USAG national title in 2010, while Mills (parallel bars, all-around) and Devin Menefee (vault) combined for three individual USAG titles and eight members competed at the NCAA Championships. In 2009, Simons guided Jake Schonig to his second straight USAG title on the still rings, as well as a place among the national finalists for the Nissen-Emery award. Six of Simons’ gymnasts, including two freshmen, earned spots at the NCAA Championships, while five claimed USAG All-America accolades.

During 2008, he coached Greg Stine to the Academy’s first NCAA All-America certificate in 15 years, as Stine claimed top-eight honors at the NCAA Championships in the all-around and on the still rings. As a team, Air Force claimed a third-place finish at the USAG Collegiate Championships, while Stine (all-around, parallel bars) and Schonig (still rings) claimed USAG titles. In 2007, Air Force claimed its first in-dividual USAG title in three years when Stine finished first on the floor exercise, still rings and all-around.

“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 joining the Academy staff, Simons spent five seasons with the Cal Bears. He was an assistant coach from 2001-05 and then held the title of associate head coach during his final year in Berkeley.

During his tenure at Cal, the Bears finished within the top-two at the MPSF Championships every year, winning the conference title in 2004. Simons helped guide Cal to a pair of third-place finishes at the NCAA Championships and coached 19 top-10 finishers, including four national champions.

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Simons began his collegiate-level coaching career following a stellar career at both the collegiate and national levels. In 1988, Simons dominated the U.S. Junior National Championships and the Junior Pan-American Games, collecting 10 gold medals.

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

A native of Bloomsburg, Pa., he was a four-year member of the All-Big 10 team, while earning four Big 10 Conference titles on the parallel bars (1992, 1994), still rings (1992) and high bar (1993). In addition, Simons picked up two NCAA All-America certificates, as the Buckeyes finished third at the national meet during each of his last three seasons. In September 2006, Simons was inducted into the OSU Athletics Hall of Fame by the Varsity “O” Association.

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 finished fifth at the Atlanta Games.

“I am able to draw on my 10-year national and international competitive career as the foundation to building my program,” Simons continued. “Having the Olympic Training Center in our backyard is a huge asset to this program. Our coaching staff continues to stay up-to-date on the most current training and competitive strategies.”

During the summer of 2010, he was inducted into the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame. Joining Simons in the 2010 induction class was 1996 Olympic team gold medalist Dominique Moceanu, 1992 Olympic team bronze medalist Wendy Bruce-Martin, 2000 Olympian Jennifer Parilla, two-time U.S. Men’s Olympic team head coach Kevin Mazeika and 2000 U.S. Olympic trampoline coach Rob-ert Null.

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

Simons was inducted into the USA Gymnas-tics Hall of Fame in August 2010. The Class of 2010 included Simons, 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.” -- Kip Simons

In 2010, Simons was named the NCAA West Region Head Coach of the Year and the CGA/Collegiate Division National Head Coach of the Year. He was honored at the banquet prior to the NCAA Championships, along with former assistant Brett McClure, who was voted as the NCAA West Region Assistant Coach of the Year. Simons was also honored as the USAG Varsity Head Coach of the Year for the second time in his five-year tenure with the Falcons.



AIR FORCE ACADEMY

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JEFF ROBINSONASSISTANT COACH | SECOND SEASONAUBURN, 1982 | MEMPHIS STATE, 1983

Jeff Robinson is entering his second season as an assistant coach for the Air Force men’s gymnastics team. Robinson brings over 30 years of experience in gymnastics to the Falcons’ program, ranging from performance to hands-on teaching and coaching. He has also worked in a variety of capacities for the USA Gymnastics Men’s Program for over 20 years.

In his first season with the Falcons, Robinson was named the USAG Assistant Coach of the Year, as the Falcons claimed their second USAG team title. Three individual Academy records were set or matched during his first year, while five team marks, as well as the overall team score, were also set.

“I am extremely honored and humbled to become a member of the Air Force men’s gymnastics program,” Robinson said upon his hiring in September 2010. “The tradition of excellence here at the Academy is extremely impressive and I am very proud to now be a part of it.”

Since 1986, Robinson has worked with USA Gymnastics, including three years as the Junior Olympic Pro-gram Coordinator (2006-08). He also served two terms as chairman of the men’s age group competition committee, worked on the Task Force for Elite Training Alternatives committee and has served as a guest clinician and presenter at numerous USAG Men’s Coaching Workshops and at the USAG National and Regional Congress. Robinson was honored with the Frank Comiskey Service Award during the 2011 Junior Olympic Nationals meet, recognizing 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 Gymnastics junior program.

He is the co-founder and owner of Gymnastics University LLC, a gymnastics business consultancy firm that assists in areas ranging from facility development and construction to freelance teaching and coaching to business development and staff development.

Robinson has also spent the last 21 years working in the entertainment division at Walt Disney World Resort. He was a principal performer for multiple live-action shows, including Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular, Fantasmic and Lights, Motors, Action Extreme Stunt Show. He also spent five years as a stunt manager, where he recruited and trained new players, evaluated performances, wrote operational guidelines and safety procedures and inspected the facility.

He spent 10 years at Orlando Metro Gymnastics, 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 National Team members. He also worked as the head coach for the Barbados International Men’s Gymnastics Delegation 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 Gymnastics Central (1984-88) and as the general manager, program director and head coach at Gymnastics Plus (1983-84).

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

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

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CHUCK SCHWEISSASSISTANT COACH | FOURTH SEASONUSAF ACADEMY, 1982

Lt Col (ret.) Chuck Schweiss enters his fourth season as an assistant coach for the Air Force men’s gymnas-tics team. A former four-year letterwinner with the Falcons’ program, Schweiss is a two-time recipient of the USAG Assistant Coach of the Year award.

On the sidelines as Air Force claimed its first-ever national title at the USAG Collegiate Championships in 2010, Schweiss and former assistant coach Brett McClure shared the USAG Assistant Coach of the Year award. Schweiss repeated as USAG Assistant Coach of the Year in 2011, sharing the award with Jeff Rob-inson, as the Falcons picked up their second straight title.

Schweiss joined the Wisconsin Air National Guard following his graduation from high school. From the National Guard, he attended the Air Force Academy Prep School in 1977 and subsequently entered the Air Force Academy in 1978. Schweiss spent four years as a member of the men’s gymnastics program and served as team captain during his senior year. Schweiss graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1982.

After undergraduate pilot training, he served as a T-38 instructor at Williams AFB, Ariz., prior to being selected for Pilot Instructor duty at Randolph AFB, Texas. Schweiss also flew the F-16 during a tour at Ramstein AB, Germany, completing over 30 combat missions in support of Operation Provide Comfort over Northern Iraq.

“Over 500 Academy graduates attend pilot training every year,” Schweiss said. “I wanted to fly since age 12 and the Air Force Academy was the absolute best opportunity to achieve my flying goal.”

Schweiss separated from active duty in 1992, but continued to support the Academy as a liaison officer. He also served as an operations officer for the National Guard Marksmanship Training Unit and worked as an Individual Mobilization Augmentee with the Air Mobility Command Tanker Airlift Control Center at Scott AFB, Ill.

After 20 years of service, he retired from the military in 2000. Four years later, Schweiss re-entered the Air Force Reserve and began his final tour at the Air Force Academy, where he served as an instructor, teaching such courses as boxing, racquetball, SCUBA and unarmed combat. He was promoted to Lieuten-ant Colonel in October 2006 and served as the Chief of Cadet Intramurals from 2008-10. In that position, Schweiss oversaw the 3,300 cadets who participate each semester in 16 different intramural sports.

“I work with the best student athletes in the world,” he continued. “Not only are they great gymnasts, they are also intelligent and highly motivated young men who will become officers of character in our Air Force.”

A senior pilot with over 1,600 hours in the T-38 and over 800 hours in the F-16C, Schweiss has also recorded over 10,000 hours as a pilot with United Airlines. He is currently a Boeing 777 First Officer, domiciled at Washington Dulles.

“Coaching allows me to mold these future officers,” Schweiss said. “Through my experience as a gymnast, officer, fighter pilot and airline pilot, I am able to advise our gymnasts on how to achieve their goals. Whether it’s becoming the best gymnast in the NCAA or becoming a pilot, our Academy provides it all.”

He retired from the Air Force in July 2010.

Schweiss obtained a master’s degree in systems management from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas. He is married to Lt Col (ret.) Susan Schweiss (USAFA Class of 1983). They currently reside in Monu-ment, Colo., with their two children, Erik (20, USAFA Class of 2014) and Sarah (18).



AIR FORCE ACADEMY

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DAVE MICKELSONVOLUNTEER COACH | 11TH SEASONIOWA STATE, 1981

Dave Mickelson returns for his 11th season as a volunteer coach for the Air Force men’s gymnastics team. Mickelson joined the Falcons after spending 11 years as the head coach with the Iowa State men’s team, following a six-year stint as the Cyclones’ assistant coach. Mickelson also serves as the Falcons’ meet director for all home competitions, including this year’s conference championships.

During Mickelson’s tenure as head coach, Iowa State produced five NCAA All-Americans, including two NCAA individual champions.

As a team, ISU picked up a fourth-place team finish at the national meet. As an assistant coach with the Cyclones, Mickelson helped generate 13 NCAA All-Americans, three NCAA individual champions and one Olympian. In addition, Iowa State finished 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 Gymnastics Com-mittee, the United States Gymnastics Federation Board of Directors and the United States Gymnastics Federation Men’s Program Committee. In addition, he was the chair of the NCAA Men’s Gymnastics Committee (1987-91) and spent 10 years as a National Safety Certifier for the U.S. Gymnastics Federation.

A 1981 graduate of Iowa State University, Mickelson earned a degree in physical education with an em-phasis in athletic administration. He was a three-year letterwinner on the Cyclones’ gymnastics team. During his career, Iowa State earned three Big Eight Conference Championships and two NCAA Champi-onship team titles.

CAPT EMILY BULGEROfficer RepresentativeSecond Season

MAJ CATHRINE MARCHESSEAULTOfficer RepresentativeSecond Season

MARK PETERSAthletic TrainerThird Season

ANNA WALLACECadet ManagerFirst Season

KAILA WEBERCadet ManagerSecond Season

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CAREER HIGHS

All-Around ............................................ 79.250Floor Exercise ....................................... 13.700Pommel Horse ...................................... 14.200Still Rings .............................................. 13.650Vault ..................................................... 13.600Parallel Bars .......................................... 14.250High Bar ................................................ 14.100

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

2009 Most Valuable Gymnast2009 Freshman of the YearTwo-Time USAG All-American2009, 2011 MWC Scholar-Athlete2009, 2011 CGA All-America Scholar-Athlete2011 MPSF Academic All-Conference

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JACOB HOUDERSENIOR | 5-8 | ALL-AROUNDPINEHURST, TEXAS | TOMBALL HIGH SCHOOLCYPRESS ACADEMY OF GYMNASTICS

JUNIOR (2011): Returned to the rotation after missing sophomore season with injury...competed on the pommel horse in 11 of 13 team competitions...posted a season-high mark of 13.700 at the All-Academy Championships…named to the USA Gymnastics Scholar-Athlete team…also received academic awards from the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (academic all-conference), Mountain West Conference (scholar-athlete) and College Gymnastics Association (all-America scholar-athlete).

SOPHOMORE (2010): Did not see competitive action due to injury.

FRESHMAN (2009): Received the team’s Most Valuable Gymnast award…also named Freshman of the Year…NCAA participant…competed in every meet for the Falcons…two-time USAG All-American…Acad-emy record holder on the pommel horse…first set the mark at 13.850 at the All-Academy Championships…upped the mark to 14.200 at the Southwest Cup…matched that score one month later at the USAG Cham-pionships (team finals)…holds three of the top four scores in program history…won the pommel horse title at the Southwest Cup…finished fourth on that event at the USAG Championships to claim first USAG All-America certificate…also posted the squad’s top scores of the season on the parallel bars (14.250, at Arizona State) and high bar (14.100, at Navy Open)…won the parallel bars during three competitions, including back-to-back meets at Navy and Temple…also won that event at the Southwest Cup, while placing first on the parallel bars… claimed USAG All-America honors on the high bar with a third-place finish…competed on the floor exercise during six meets, posting a season-high 13.700 in the dual meet at Illinois-Chicago…tallied a 13.650 in only appearance on the still rings at the Rocky Mountain Open…tallied a career-high 13.600 on the vault at Temple…scored a 79.250 in only appearance in the all-around at the Rocky Mountain Open…named a Mountain West Conference Scholar-Athlete…received All-America Scholar-Athlete first-team honors from the College Gymnastics Association.

HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Tomball High School...member of the National Honor Society...graduated Summa Cum Laude...competed at the club level for the Cypress Academy of Gymnastics...coached by Tom Mead-ows and Colby Van Cleave...attended the U.S. Championships on two occasions...six-time Junior Olympic National Qualifier...four-time J.O. National All-Around finalist...three-time Region 3 team member...four-time USAG Academic All-American first-team selection.

PERSONAL: Son of Delyn and Jan Houder...is an only child...majoring biochemistry, while earning a minor in German...future plans include becoming a pilot…served as Safety and Medical NCO for 2010 Basic Cadet Training…four-time selection to the Dean’s List…three-time selection to the Superintendent’s List for ex-cellence in military, academic and athletic excellence…hobbies include reading, playing soccer, listening to blues and gospel music and speed skating…spent the summer working as a gymnastics coach during Falcon Sports Camps and completing the Powered Flight program…competed at the same gymnastics club as classmate Devin Menefee...favorite event is the horizontal bar...member of Cadet Squadron 17.

CAREER HIGHS

All-Around .......................................................Floor Exercise ....................................... 13.850Pommel Horse .................................................Still Rings .............................................. 15.350Vault ..................................................... 15.950Parallel Bars .....................................................High Bar ................................................ 13.600

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

2010 USAG National Champion (vault)Two-Time USAG All-AmericanThree-Time NCAA ParticipantAcademy Record Holder (vault)

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DEVIN MENEFEESENIOR | 5-7 | FLOOR, RINGS, VAULT, PARALLEL BARS, HIGH BARHOUSTON, TEXAS | CYPRESS CREEK HIGH SCHOOLCYPRESS ACADEMY OF GYMNASTICS

SENIOR (2012): Team captain.

JUNIOR (2011): Competed on the still rings in every competition...scored a 14.800 to finish 12th in the first session of the NCAA National Qualifier…qualified to the semifinals of the NCAA Championships with that score…tallied a season-high 14.900 during the team finals of the USAG Championships...also posted marks of 14.800 on three occasions, including a pair of winning efforts at the All-Academy Champion-ships and at Brockport…also won the still rings title outright at against Army (14.100) and at Minnesota (14.500)…helped Air Force sweep the event titles in the dual meet with the Black Knights…..participated on the vault in 10 meets...posted a season-high mark of 15.700 at the Illinois-Chicago Quad on March 6...also competed on the high bar during seven competitions...scored a career-best 13.600 at Brockport…added a score of 13.500 at Illinois-Chicago.

SOPHOMORE (2010): USAG National Champion on the vault…became just the second Air Force gymnast to earn a national vault title…set Academy record with a 15.950 on the winning vault…USAG All-American on that event…holds a share of the top three vault scores in Academy history…participated at the NCAA Championships on the still rings and vault…competed on those two events in every team competition…posted the eighth-best still rings score in Academy history (15.350) against Illinois-Chicago…also recorded the program’s 10th-highest score on that event (15.250) during a triangular meet with Stanford and Illi-nois-Chicago…won the still rings at four competitions…also won the vault at two…competed on the floor exercise in seven meets…collected a career-best 13.850 on that event at the Southwest Cup.

FRESHMAN (2009): Competed in every meet for the Falcons, including the NCAA Championships…Acad-emy record holder on the vault…USAG All-American on that event…first set program vault standard of 15.800 in a winning effort at the Southwest Cup…it was just the second collegiate vault of career…im-proved that mark to 15.850 at the MPSF Championships…finished seventh on that event for the squad’s best individual finish at the conference meet…posted a career-best 14.450 on the still rings at the USAG Championships…became just the fourth Air Force gymnast to crack the Falcons’ top-20 scoring list…com-peted on the floor exercise, posting a season-best mark of 13.700 at Illinois-Chicago…also participated on the high bar, scoring a career-high 13.200 at Navy and again at the USAG Championships…that is tied for the 18th highest score in Academy history…originally set personal-best marks on three of four events at the Pacific Coast Classic…helped Air Force to five of the top six spots on the still rings in the win over Army.

HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Cypress Creek High School...four-time Academic All-American...competed at the club level for Cypress Academy of Gymnastics...coached by Tom Meadows and Colby Van Cleave...three-time national semifinalist on the still rings...won the Texas state still rings championship in 2007...team recorded three top-three team finishes at the national meet, including a first-place finish...five-time com-petitor at the Junior Olympic National Championships.

PERSONAL: Son of Richard and Michelle Menefee...nickname is “TC”…has one older brother, Dillon...majoring in mechanical engineering...future career plans include becoming a pilot or developmental engineer…served as Assistant Director of Operations for squadron, Deputy Course Commander during Basic Cadet Training and Land Speed Capstone Team Lead…has also served as C Flight NCO, Major Train-ing Events NCO and Athletic Clerk…received Prop and Wings...hobbies include building, music and rock climbing...built two electric guitars...competed at the same club as classmate Jacob Houder...spent the first summer session doing research for a brand new Land Speed Capstone project that included going to California for races at El Mirage and learning the ins and outs of electrical vehicles and Land Speed Racing…also completed the Powered Flight program, taking solo flight on the Fourth of July, and served as the Deputy Course Commander for all seven courses at Jack’s Valley during BCT…both grandfathers served in the military...favorite event is the still rings, because “I love the strength needed and the performance”…member of Cadet Squadron 38.



AIR FORCE ACADEMY

CAREER HIGHS

All-Around .......................................................Floor Exercise ..................................................Pommel Horse ...................................... 11.800Still Rings .........................................................Vault ................................................................Parallel Bars .......................................... 13.600High Bar ...........................................................

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

2009 Hardest Worker2011 CGA All-America Scholar-Athlete2011 MWC Scholar-Athlete2011 MPSF Academic All-Conference

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TRAVIS MYERSSENIOR | 5-7 | POMMEL, PARALLEL BARSWOODLAND PARK, COLO. | HOME SCHOOLCOLORADO TRAINING CENTER

JUNIOR (2011): Participated on the parallel bars in four competitions, recording a career-best 13.600 at the Illinois-Chicago Quad on March 6...also competed on the pommel horse in two meets...named to the USA Gymnastics Scholar-Athlete Team…also earned academic honors from the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (academic all-conference), Mountain West Conference (scholar-athlete) and College Gymnas-tics Association (all-America scholar-athlete).

SOPHOMORE (2010): Did not see competitive action.

FRESHMAN (2009): Did not see competitive action…shared the team’s Hardest Worker Award.

HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Was home schooled...graduated with a 4.0 GPA...qualified for the National Chem-istry Olympiad...competed at the club level for the Colorado Training Center...coached by Ron Brant...two-time qualifier for the Junior Olympic Nationals...two-time All-America first-team selection...picked up a third-place finish at the 2008 Colorado Open...finished fourth at the 2008 Black Jack Invitational.

PERSONAL: Full name is Travis Ray Myers...son of Don and Lenora Myers...has two younger brothers, Stef-fen and Leo...also has two younger sisters, Lizzie and Allyson...majoring in mathematics and chemistry...future plans include becoming a pilot…served as Academic NCO...named to the Superintendent’s List for excellence in military, academic and athletic excellence…two-time member of the Dean’s Aces List…plays the French horn in the Academy’s Cadet Orchestra…received Jump Wings in 2009, after jumping out of a plane five times...grandmother, Jacqueline Johnson, served in the Army...favorite book is ‘The Lord of the Rings’...spent part of the summer completing Operation Air Force in South Korea…favorite event is the pommel horse, because “it is long and tiring to learn a new skill, but that makes it more rewarding”...member of Cadet Squadron 33.

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Back-to-Back USA Gymnastics Collegiate National Champions | GoAirForceFalcons.com | 2012 Air Force Men’s Gymnastics Media Guide2012 INFORMATION

MEET THE FALCONS2011 SEASON REVIEW

PROGRAM HISTORYAIR FORCE ACADEMY

JARED TOMASZEWSKISENIOR | 6-3 | HIGH BARHOFFMAN ESTATES, ILL. | WILLIAM FREMD HIGH SCHOOL

JUNIOR (2011): Trained at the U.S. Olympic Training Center…coached by Ron Brant and Vitaly Marinitch.

SOPHOMORE (2010) - FRESHMAN (2009): Served as the cadet manager for the Air Force men’s gymnastics team.

HIGH SCHOOL: William Fremd High School…two-year varsity letterwinner in gymnastics…served as co-captain of team during senior year…participated at the 2007 Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Boys Gymnastics State Championships…two-year varsity letterwinner in football…named to the “A” Honor Roll all four years…recipient of the IHSA Outstanding Academic Achievement Award.

PERSONAL: Full name is Jared C.J. Tomaszewski…son of Steve Tomaszewski and Gail Lencioni …has two older brothers, Steve and Kyle, that both graduated from the Air Force Academy…Steve is a 2009 USAFA graduate, who received his master’s degree from Indiana in space policy analysis and is attending Intel School in San Angelo, Texas…Kyle is a 2011 Academy graduate, who majored in astronautical engineering…also has one younger sister, Abigail, who is a junior at William Fremd High School…majoring in civil engi-neering and earning a minor in Arabic…future career plans include becoming a civil engineering officer…served as Wing Safety NCO, Confidence Course CIC and Squadron Executive Officer…named to the Dean’s List ever semester…hobbies include golfing and Frisbee…spent six weeks this summer in Rabat, Morocco, to study Arabic through the Cadet Summer Language Immersion Program…also served as the commander of the confidence course in Jack’s Valley…favorite event is the high bar, because “first off, it’s one of the only events that I fit on, and it is both dangerous and fun. There is never a dull moment when you’re on the bar, which makes workouts always interesting, and there is such a wide variety of elements that can be incorporated into routines”…member of Cadet Squadron 38.

CAREER HIGHS

All-Around .......................................................Floor Exercise ....................................... 14.900Pommel Horse .................................................Still Rings .........................................................Vault ..................................................... 15.950Parallel Bars .......................................... 14.300High Bar ................................................ 14.500

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

2011 USAG National Champion (Vault)Three-Time USAG All-AmericanTwo-Time NCAA Participant2010, 2011 Participant at Winter CupAcademy Record Holder (Vault)

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TORY BROWNJUNIOR | 5-7 | ALL-AROUNDPORTLAND, ORE. | TIGARD HIGH SCHOOLMULTNOMAH ATHLETIC CLUB

SOPHOMORE (2011): USAG National Champion on the vault…matched the Academy record on that event with a 15.950 at the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championships…placed seventh at the confer-ence meet with that score…three-time USAG All-American…placed fourth on the floor exercise and high bar, in addition to winning the vault title…claimed six first-place finishes on the year…won the vault at the All-Academy Championships, at Springfield and at the USAG Championships…also shared titles 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 titles in the dual meet with the Black Knights…competed at the Winter Cup Challenge, collecting three top-four finishes in the preliminary round and two career-best scores…finished 15th on the vault at the NCAA Championships (Event Preliminary)…competed on the floor exer-cise in every team competition…recorded a career-best 14.900 on the floor in the regular season finale 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-time list…scored a career-best 14.500 on the high bar at Brockport…that mark is tied for sixth on the program’s all-time list…led the team on the vault, posted the squad’s second-highest scores of the season on the floor exercise and parallel bars and ranked third on the team on the high bar.

FRESHMAN (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 floor exercise, vault, parallel bars and high bar during the first two team com-petitions…scored a season-best 14.150 on the floor 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 rotation at the USAG Championships and MPSF Championships.

HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Tigard High School…recipient of the Rotary Award…competed at the club level for Multnomah Athletic Club (MAC)…coached by Shuichi Goto…named 2008 Most Improved Gymnast…two-time Academic All-America honor at the Junior Olympic National Championships…three-time junior na-tional qualifier…2009 Oregon state gymnastics champion…finished 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…completed Operation Air Force at Lackland AFB, Texas, over the summer…received a ride in an F-16 during Ops…also worked Falcon Sports Camps and took leave…hobbies include paddle boarding, hiking, running and rock climbing…is fluent in Japanese…favorite event is the high bar, because “learning new skills is the most fun”…member of Cadet Squadron 30.

CAREER HIGHS

All-Around .......................................................Floor Exercise ....................................... 13.200Pommel Horse ...................................... 13.400Still Rings .........................................................Vault ................................................................Parallel Bars .......................................... 13.700High Bar ................................................ 12.300

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

2010 Hardest Worker

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ALEX JESSOPJUNIOR | 5-9 | POMMEL, PARALLEL BARS, HIGH BARSYLVANIA, OHIO | ST. FRANCIS DE SALES HIGH SCHOOLSUNRISE GYMNASTICS ACADEMY

SOPHOMORE (2011): Participated on the floor exercise in three competitions...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, recording a debut score of 13.400...also participated on the high bar in two meets, posting a personal-best 12.300 at the Rocky Mountain Open.

FRESHMAN (2010): Earned the team’s Hardest Worker award…competed on the pommel horse and par-allel 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 Springfield Triangular meet…also competed on the high bar at Arizona State, collecting a score of 11.300.

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

PERSONAL: Son of Leonard and Julie Jessop…has two older brothers, Austin and Andrew…majoring in civil engineering…future plans include becoming a CE officer…hobbies include bicycling…favorite event is the high bar, because “I used to be terrified of it, and overcoming that fear took a lot of work”…member of Cadet Squadron 40.

CAREER HIGHS

All-Around .......................................................Floor Exercise ....................................... 13.150Pommel Horse ..................................... 14.600Still Rings .........................................................Vault ................................................................Parallel Bars ....................................................High Bar ............................................... 14.000

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

2010 Freshman of the Year2011 USAG National Champion (Pommel)Two-Time USAG All-AmericanTwo-Time NCAA Participant2011 Participant of Winter Cup2010 CGA All-America Scholar-Athlete2011 MPSF Academic All-Conference

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JAMES OKAMOTOJUNIOR | 5-6 | ALL-AROUNDYORBA LINDA, CALIF. | ESPERANZA HIGH SCHOOLSOUTH COAST GYMNASTICS TRAINING CENTER

SOPHOMORE (2011): USAG National Champion on the pommel horse…USAG All-American...competed on the pommel horse in every competition...scored a season-high 14.400 at Nebraska...that score was the highest on the team in 2011 and the fifth-highest score in program history...recorded four of the eight-highest scores in Academy history…scored a 14.300 to win the pommel horse title at the Rocky Mountain Open…became the third Falcon to win a RMO title since 2000…earned the Academy’s Athlete of the Week award following the Rocky Mountain Open…scored a 14.250 in the winning effort at the USAG Champi-onships…matched that score at the NCAA national qualifier…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 titles 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 Springfield, at USAG Championships/Team Finals)…those scores are tied for 15th on the program’s all-time list…academic all-conference selection from the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation.

FRESHMAN (2010): Earned the team’s Freshman of the Year award…USAG All-American on the pommel horse…placed second on that event at the national event finals…also competed at the NCAA Champion-ships on that event…competed on the pommel horse in every meet…recorded a career-best score of 14.600 at the team finals of the USAG Championships…that score is the third-highest total in Academy history…added five additional 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 floor exercise at the MPSF Championships, earning a score of 13.150.

HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Esperanza High School…Principal’s Award…named Distinguished Aztec…selected to the Principal’s Honor Roll…competed at the club level for South Coast Gymnastics Training Center…coached by Xiaoping Li and Jian Shen…four-time Junior Olympic National Qualifier…three-time J.O. na-tional semi-finalist on the pommel horse…two-time J.O. national semi-finalist on the high bar…three-time USAG Academic All-American first-team selection…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 career plans include becoming a pilot…served as Element Leader and Element NCO…was named to the Dean’s List for two semesters…hobbies include rock climbing …is a big fan of hardcore music…spent one session of sum-mer in Japan as a part of the Cadet Summer Language Immersion Program…also served as Combat Survival Training cadre and completed Operation Air Force in Georgia…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.

CAREER HIGHS

All-Around .......................................................Floor Exercise ..................................................Pommel Horse .................................................Still Rings .........................................................Vault ................................................................Parallel Bars .....................................................High Bar ...........................................................

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KYLE BAKERSOPHOMORE | 5-9 | ALL-AROUNDUNION, KY. | BEECHWOOD HIGH SCHOOLQUEEN CITY GYMNASTICS CLUB

FRESHMAN (2011): Did not see competitive action.

HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Beechwood High School…posted a 4.0 (or higher) GPA all four years…graduated Summa Cum Laude…recipient of the Commonwealth Diploma…four-time Academic All-American, as a first-team selection…member of the National Honor Society…competed at the club level for Queen City Gymnastics…coached by Keith Pettit, Norm Stulz and Sean Sawyer…two-time qualifier for the Junior Olym-pic National Championships.

PERSONAL: Full name is Kyle William Baker…son of Bill and Wendy Baker…has one younger brother, Kevin, and one younger sister, Kadence…majoring in systems engineering management…member of Cadet Squadron 14.

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All-Around .......................................................Floor Exercise ..................................................Pommel Horse ..................................... 14.200Still Rings .........................................................Vault ................................................................Parallel Bars ....................................................High Bar ..........................................................

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

2011 CGA All-America Scholar-Athlete

PATRICK DUFFYSOPHOMORE | 5-7 | ALL-AROUNDALBUQUERQUE, N.M. | LA CUEVA HIGH SCHOOLGOLD CUP GYMNASTICS

FRESHMAN (2011): Competed on the pommel horse in every team competition...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-time list of 13.650 (18th, at Nebraska) and 13.600 (19th, three times, including the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championships)…named to the College Gymnastics Association’s Scholar-Athlete team.

HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: La Cueva High School…selected as a State of New Mexico Higher Education Depart-ment Recognition Program Scholar in 2009-10…posted a 4.5 weighted GPA…two-time academic letter-winner…member of the National Honor Society…selected for the National Youth Leadership Forum all four years…three-year member of Nobel’s National Society of High School Scholars…named Who’s Who Among High School Students in 2008…competed at the club level for Gold Cup Gymnastics…coached by Jerry Nickels…member of two state championship teams (2009, 2010)…2009 Gymnast of the Year…four-time USAG Junior Olympic Qualifier…four-time USAG First-Team Academic All-American…USAG Region I Select Team in 2005, representing gymnastics from California, Nevada, Hawaii and Arizona…named to the USAG Southern California State All-Star Team in 2005…two-time selection to the USAG Nevada State All-Star Team…placed first in the all-around at the USAG Southern California State North Conference meet in 2006…two-time Most Decorated Gymnast Award…two-time participant at the International Gymnastics Camp…also attended Falcon Sports Camps in 2009, earning the Best Attitude Award.

PERSONAL: Son of Pat and Diana Duffy…father was a 1981 Academy graduate and spent 28 years as a fighter pilot, retiring as a Colonel…mother is a 1983 Academy graduate…nickname is “Patty”…has one younger sister, Katherine…majoring in electrical engineering…served as A3 Element NCO…named to the Superintendent’s List for excellence in military, academic and athletic performance…hobbies include surf-ing, water skiing, extreme sports, and working on cars…loves techo music…is one-quarter Japanese…spent the summer completing Combat Survival Training and the Jump program…also took leave during one summer session…favorite event is the pommel horse…member of Cadet Squadron 12.

CAREER HIGHS

All-Around .......................................................Floor Exercise ..................................................Pommel Horse .................................................Still Rings .............................................. 14.700Vault ................................................................Parallel Bars .....................................................High Bar ...........................................................

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TYLER HUEBNERSOPHOMORE | 5-4 | POMMEL HORSE, STILL RINGS, PARALLEL BARSSAN ANTONIO, TEXAS | CLAUDIA TAYLOR JOHNSON HIGH SCHOOLALAMO GYMNASTICS CENTER

FRESHMAN (2011): Competed on the still rings in every team competition...scored a career-best tally of 14.700 in the regular season finale against Washington...that score is one of the top 20 marks in Academy history (19th tie).

HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Claudia Taylor Johnson High School…graduated Summa Cum Laude…competed at the club level for Alamo Gymnastics Center…coached by Yuegin Sun and Brandon Kays…served as team captain…placed eighth on the still rings at Nationals.

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 Athletic Director’s List for excellence in athletic performance…spent the summer completing 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 still rings, because “that’s where I excel”…member of Cadet Squadron 15.

CAREER HIGHS

All-Around .......................................................Floor Exercise ....................................... 14.500Pommel Horse .................................................Still Rings .............................................. 13.900Vault ..................................................... 15.200Parallel Bars .......................................... 14.200High Bar ................................................ 14.400

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

2011 Freshman of the Year

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MAC RITCHIESOPHOMORE | 5-5 | ALL-AROUNDCONCORD, N.C. | CONCORD HIGH SCHOOLG&J SPEEDWAY GYMNASTICS CLUB

FRESHMAN (2011): Selected as the team’s Freshman of the Year…competed on the floor exercise, parallel bars and high bar in every team competition…also competed on the still rings in 12 of 13 meets…scored a career-best 14.500 on the floor exercise in the regular season finale against Washington…that score is ranked 15th on the program’s all-time record book…posted a career-best score of 14.200 on the parallel bars at the team finals of the USAG National 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 title against Army with a score of 13.700…helped Air Force sweep the event titles in the dual meet with the Black Knights…posted a career-high 14.400 on that event at Springfield…that score is the seventh-highest total in Academy history…scored a personal-best 13.900 on the still rings at Brockport…also vaulted during three meets…recorded a career-best 15.200 at the Rocky Mountain Open…that score is tied for 16th on the program’s all-time list.

HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Concord High School…competed at the club level for G&J Speedway Gymnastics…coached by Jie Ding…member of the 2010 regional team…three-time state all-around champion…also won numerous individual event titles.

PERSONAL: Full name is Breeden McEachern Ritchie…goes by Mac…son of Jack and Jennifer Ritchie…has one older brother, Ben, and one younger brother, George…currently 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.

CAREER HIGHSCAREER HIGHS

All-AroundAll-Around ....................................................... .......................................................Floor ExerciseFloor Exercise .................................................. ..................................................Pommel HorsePommel Horse ................................................. .................................................Still RingsStill Rings ......................................................... .........................................................VaultVault ..................................................... ..................................................... 15.60015.600Parallel BarsParallel Bars ..................................................... .....................................................High BarHigh Bar ........................................................... ...........................................................

CAREER HIGHLIGHTSCAREER HIGHLIGHTS

2011 USAG All-American2011 USAG All-American

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BEN ZAISERFRESHMAN | 5-3 | ALL-AROUNDPITTSBURGH, PA. | HOME SCHOOLPITTSBURGH NORTHSTARS GYMNASTICS CLUB

FRESHMAN (2011): USAG All-American on the vault…scored a 15.500 to finish fifth at the USAG National Championships...competed on the vault in 12 meets...recorded a career-best score of 15.600 during five competitions...first tallied that score at Nebraska...posted that score in four consecutive meets (at Illinois-Chicago Quad, at Brockport, at Springfield, against Washington)…that mark is the eighth-best score in Academy history…won the vault titles at Nebraska and during the Falcons’ regular season finale against Washington.

HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Was home schooled…passed AP tests in chemistry, statistics, physics and Calcu-lus AB…two-time USAG Academic All-American…competed at the club level for Pittsburgh Northstars…coached by Scott Carslaw…participated at the 2009 Nationals in Cincinnati…four-time national qualifier…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 first 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 the men’s gymnastics team…majoring in civil engi-neering…future plans include either becoming a pilot or working in security forces…served as B3 Element NCO…spent the summer hanging out with family and friends from home…hobbies include playing the piano and paintball…favorite event is the floor exercise, because “I get an adrenaline rush when I hit my floor set”…member of Cadet Squadron 12.

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“I chose the Academy because it will give me every-

thing that I am looking for in my life: a chance to

compete in NCAA Gymnastics, an education at one

of the highest-rated schools in the United States,

and the ability to serve my country in the greatest

Air Force in the world.”

SKYLER AWISUSFRESHMAN | 5-6 | STILL RINGS, PARALLEL BARS, HIGH BARRENO, NEV. | RENO HIGH SCHOOLHIGH SIERRA GYMNASTICS

HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Reno High School…member of the National Honor Society…AP Scholar…served as senior class president…member of the Student Council Leadership Class…member of the Key Club, Future Business Leaders of America and the Burrito Lovers Club…competed at the club level for High Sierra Gymnastics…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 “Thor”…son of Mark and Kim Awisus…has two younger brothers, Mitchell and Micah…majoring in mechanical engineering…hobbies include jet skiing and listening to music…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 34.

“I chose the Air Force Academy because it is an op-

portunity to help the country and community. It is a

high-caliber education, with prestige. I know it will

build character and also offer me the opportunity

to continue gymnastics.”

GARED CHAPMANFRESHMAN | 5-4 | ALL-AROUNDWINTER PARK, FLA. | WINTER PARK HIGH SCHOOLACE GYMNASTICS CLUB | ORLANDO METRO GYMNASTICS

HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Winter Park High School…AP Scholar…served as president of the Interact Club…IB Di-ploma candidate…member of the National Honor Society, Math Honor Society, Social Studies Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society…competed at the club level for Ace Gymnastics (coached by John Hallett, Mike Turner and Greg Weller) and Orlando Metro Gymnastics (coached by Casimiro Suarez)…five-time national qualifier (2007-11)…three-time Florida state team member…three-time Region 8 team member…member of the 2010 Region 8 team that won the national championship…2008 state champion on the parallel bars…2009 state champion on the floor exercise and vault…2009 Region 8 champion on the high bar…received first-team Academic All-American honors for three straight years.

PERSONAL: Full name is Gared Ryan Chapman…son of Eddie and Christine Chapman…has one younger half-sister, Ann, and one younger half-brother, Will…considers electrical engineering or physics as possible majors…spent eight years playing in a school orchestra…enjoys writing 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 Re-serves…favorite events are the still rings, because “I feel in control and secure”, and the high bar, because “it’s a lot of fun to fly through the air”…member of Cadet Squadron 04.

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“I chose USAFA because the second that I saw the

school, I could just see myself being there. Also, I

was excited to compete on a Division I gymnastics

team. I could see what Kip was doing with the pro-

gram, how he was changing it, and was excited

to be a part of that team. My other reason is my

dream to one day fly and become a fighter pilot.”

GREG CHAPUTFRESHMAN | 5-7 | ALL-AROUNDWORCESTER, MASS. | ST. JOHN’S HIGH SCHOOLLEGENDS GYMNASTICS

HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: St. John’s High School…competed on the varsity wrestling team as a freshman…com-peted at the club level for Legends Gymnastics…coached by Dewayne Davenport and Debbie Naka…four-time competitor at Nationals as a member of the Region 6 team.

PERSONAL: Full name is Gregory Arthur Chaput…goes by Greg…son of Arthur and Dawn Chaput…has one older sister, Colby, who is a senior at the Air Force Academy and was a member of the women’s gymnastics team until injury ended her collegiate career…majoring in business…future plans include becoming a fighter pilot, serve for at least 20 years and then open a gym…attended the Academy’s Prep School…won the pom-mel horse and all-around at regionals…hobbies include playing basketball with friends, relaxing and throwing a Frisbee...favorite event is the pommel horse, because “it’s one of the events that you have to put the most work into, practicing circles and keeping a good line, but in the end, after doing millions of drills and trying to perfect your circle, it all pays off when you learn a new skill or hit your routine in a clutch situation”…member of Cadet Squadron 34.

“I wanted to surround myself with the best and the

academy environment is one that I felt would be

beneficial in many ways.”

NICK GAUDLIPFRESHMAN | 5-7 | ALL-AROUNDCOLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. | RAMPART HIGH SCHOOLCOLORADO TRAINING CENTER

HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: 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 National 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 Nationals…finished second in the all-around at the 2011 Region IX Championships…five-time qualifier to the Junior Olympic Nationals…four-time first-team Academic All-American.

PERSONAL: Full name is Nicholas Frank Gaudlip…goes by Nick…nickname is “Biebs”…son of Fred and Beth Gaudlip…father is retired Air Force…has one older brother, Austin…majoring in biology…future plans include going into the orthopedic surgery field…has lived “pretty much everywhere” by growing up in a military fam-ily…was born in England and has dual citizenship…hobbies include trout fishing, golfing and hunting…favorite quote is “When are champions made? Every day at practice”…favorite event to train on is the pommel horse, because “it is definitely the most difficult, so new skills are the most rewarding”…favorite event for competi-tion is the high bar, because “it’s a crowd pleaser and I feed on the energy of everybody watching”…member of Cadet Squadron 40.

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“The Air Force Academy provides many opportuni-

ties that I knew I could not get anywhere else, and

of course, USAFA is the best service academy.”

CORBIN PALMERFRESHMAN | 5-9 | ALL-AROUNDFRISCO, TEXAS | CENTENNIAL HIGH SCHOOLWORLD OLYMPIC GYMNASTICS ACADEMY

HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Centennial High School…competed at the club level for World Olympic Gymnastics Acad-emy…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 field…at-tended the Academy’s Prep School…hobbies include gymnastics and going to the movies…Eagle Scout…loves to camp and spend time 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 fly high”…member of Cadet Squadron 32.

“I never really considered attending a military

academy before, but the offer for gymnastics was

great. And afterwards, the opportunities are end-

less.”

JOSH RAMOSFRESHMAN | 5-3 | ALL-AROUNDBROKEN ARROW, OKLA. | BISHOP KELLEY HIGH SCHOOLJENKS GYMNASTICS

HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Bishop Kelley High School…member of the National Honor Society…honor roll selection…member of the National Society of High School Scholars…competed at the club level for Jenks Gymnastics…coached by Neptali Narvaez…two-time Oklahoma state champion (2009, 2010)…three-time member of the Region 3 team (2007, 2009, 2010)…qualified to three Junior Olympic meets (2008-10).

PERSONAL: Full name is Steven Joshua Ramos…goes by Josh…son of Pete and Elaine Ramos…has two younger sisters, Megan and Mika…hobbies include video games and playing the guitar and piano…favorite event is the high bar, because “it’s my best event”…member of Cadet Squadron 04.

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“I chose USAFA because I feel like I fit in with the

people and the lifestyle very well. I have wanted to

be in the military since I was five or so and decided

that I would see about going to college at the same

time. It just fit very well overall.”

NIKO SCHWABFRESHMAN | 5-6 | ALL-AROUNDAZTEC, N.M. | GOLDEN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL (COLORADO)5280 GYMNASTICS

HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Golden Senior High School…received leadership and citizenship awards during both sophomore and junior years…competed at the club level for 5280 Gymnastics, the home of Alexander “Sasha” Artemev…coached by Vladimir Artemev and Roman Gryshayev…advanced to the second day of floor exercise competition at the 2010 Nationals…member of the 2010 Region IX team…placed 91st in the all-around at the 2010 national championships.

PERSONAL: Full name is Nicholas William Schwab…goes by Niko…son of William (Tripp) and LeAnne Schwab…has one younger sister, Katya…majoring in chemical engineering…hobbies include fly fishing, archery, target shooting (rifle and pistol) and skydiving…likes to partake in high-adrenaline activities…grandfather served in the military…also has an aunt, uncle and cousin that are in the military…favorite event is the floor exercise, be-cause “I get to be explosive and powerful, and it’s a great chance to ‘fly high’. It is also a fine balance of strength and agility that is hard to find, and the challenge of doing so is exciting”…member of Cadet Squadron 06.

“I chose the Air Force Academy because I wanted

to do something extraordinary with my life. USAFA

provides exciting opportunities to its cadets and

even more opportunities after graduation. They

have an outstanding academic program and the

extra activities, like flying in gliders and jets, para-

chuting, and traveling. They will all be amazing

experiences. Also, 2010 was a great year for the

men’s gymnastics team and I can’t wait to be a

part of that.”

JON SPIROFRESHMAN | 5-4 | ALL-AROUNDLAGUNA NIGUEL, CALIF. | CAPISTRANO CONNECTIONS ACADEMYNEW HOPE ACADEMY OF GYMNASTICS

HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Capistrano Connections Academy…competed at the club level for New Hope Academy of Gymnastics in Fountain Valley, California…coached by Guonian Wu…ranked third in the nation on the still rings two years in a row (2010, 2011)…five-time qualifier to the Junior Olympic Nationals…ranked first on the still rings and second on the pommel horse in Region 1 (California, Hawaii, Nevada, Arizona) during 2011…four-time USA Gymnastics Academic All-American…member of the Level 10 team that won the state champi-onship…also a member of the club team that won the Iron Man Competition (top club in Southern California).

PERSONAL: Full name is Jonathan Scott Spiro…goes by Jon…son of Scott and Patsy Spiro…has one younger brother, Nick, who is also a gymnast…currently undecided on a major…hobbies include boating, fishing and music…also plays the electric guitar…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 flight surgeon…favorites events are the still rings and pommel horse…member of Cadet Squadron 27.

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SKYLER AWISUSFRESHMAN

KYLE BAKERSOPHOMORE

TORY BROWNJUNIOR

GARED CHAPMANFRESHMAN

GREG CHAPUTFRESHMAN

PATRICK DUFFYSOPHOMORE

NICK GAUDLIPFRESHMAN

JACOB HOUDERSENIOR

TYLER HUEBNERSOPHOMORE

ALEX JESSOPJUNIOR

DEVIN MENEFEESENIOR

TRAVIS MYERSSENIOR

JAMES OKAMOTOJUNIOR

CORBIN PALMERFRESHMAN

JOSH RAMOSFRESHMAN

MAC RITCHIESOPHOMORE

NIKO SCHWABFRESHMAN

JON SPIROFRESHMAN

JARED TOMASZEWSKISENIOR

BEN ZAISERSOPHOMORE

2010 SEASON IN REVIEW

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FALCONS BACK AT NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPSMaking its first appearance as a team at the NCAA national meet in 13 years, Air Force scored a 339.700 to finish sixth in the first session of the National Qualifier on April 14. Five Falcons advanced to the event preliminary meet on April 15, with Tory Brown posting the squad’s best finish of the night (15th on the vault with a score of 15.850.

WHAT CAN BROWN DO FOR YOU?Tory Brown matched the Academy vault record of 15.950 to finish seventh on that event at the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championships on April 2. With an improvement of 0.050, Brown tied Devin Menefee’s 2010 mark.

MORE NEWS FROM THE CONFERENCE MEETNash Mills claimed a pair of top-10 finishes during his final home competi-tion. He scored a 14.900 to place seventh on the parallel bars, while collect-ing the same score to tie for 10th on the still rings. Air Force accounted for a team score of 344.800 – the fifth-highest score in program history – to finish fifth at the MPSF Championships.

KEEP ON CLIMBINGJust two weeks after cracking the nation’s top-10 for the first time in program history, the Falcons have improved to eighth in the nation. That ranking, a four-score average of 343.900, is not only the highest in Academy history, but matches the best-ever ranking by a service academy gymnastics team. With three weeks listed among the top 10, the Falcons are currently ranked with the 2003 Army squad for the longest top-10 streak by an academy team.

GOING FOR TWOAfter claiming two USAG national titles, setting an Academy record and help-ing the Falcons to its second straight USAG team championships, Nash Mills was named the MPSF Gymnast of the Week and the Air Force Athlete of the Week. It is the second time of the season – and the fifth of his career – that Mills has claimed the MPSF honor. He has now achieved that title more than any other gymnast in Academy history.

THE MORE YOU KNOWNash Mills broke his own Academy record on the parallel bars during the team competition on March 25, with a 15.200. He became the first Falcon to surpass the 15-point mark on that event, while helping Air Force to its second team title in as many years. On March 26, Mills successfully defended his USAG title on the parallel bars (14.600), while winning his first title on the still rings with a career-best 15.300.

FALCONS EARN INDIVIDUAL USAG AWARDSNash Mills was named the USAG Most Outstanding Senior, while Jeff Rob-inson and Chuck Schweiss were selected as the top assistant coaches. Nash Mills became the sixth Falcon to earn the USAG’s highest award – and the fourth in the last five years to do so. In addition, it is the second straight sea-son that Air Force has taken home the division’s top assistant coaching hon-ors, as Schweiss and former assistant Brett McClure took the honor last year.

A DOMINATING PERFORMANCEOne night after winning the USAG national team title, Air Force claimed four of the six individual event titles. Nash Mills repeated as the parallel bars champion, while winning his first-ever still rings title. The Falcons also had two first-time national champions, as James Okamoto won the pommel horse and Tory Brown finished first on the vault.

DID YOU KNOW?The trio of Nash Mills (still rings, parallel bars), James Okamoto (pommel horse) and Tory Brown (vault) helped Air Force set a program record for the most USAG champions in a single championship meet.

QUICK FACTSWith his win on the parallel bars, Nash Mills became just the fourth Falcon to claim back-to-back titles on the same event, joining Levi Torkelson (p-bars, 1999-00), Greg Stine (all-around, 2007-08) and Jake Schonig (rings, 2008-09).

QUITE THE NIGHTSix Falcons combined for 11 USAG All-America awards. Tory Brown and Colton Wulf paced the Falcons with three accolades apiece. In addition to winning the vault, Brown finished fourth on the floor and high bar, while Wulf was the runner-up on both the high bar and all-around and took third on the floor exercise. Nash Mills added two USAG All-America awards with national titles on the still rings and parallel bars to bring his career total to seven, while Ben Zaiser (vault) and Matt Thorne (parallel bars) each claimed their first.

BACK-TO-BACK CHAMPS!!Air Force successfully defended its USAG national team title on March 25.

TAKING CARE OF BUSINESSThe Academy’s parallel bars records got a major rewrite during the USAG team championship on March 25. Air Force set a new team record of 57.700 (a program improvement by 0.600), as all four scoring finishers surpassed the 14-point mark. The rotation was highlighted by Nash Mills, who scored a 15.200 to break his own Academy standard on that event. In addition, Matt Thorne (14.200), Mac Ritchie (career-best 14.200) and Dan Klimkowski (ca-reer-best 14.100) contributed to the new overall team score.

FOUR RECORDS FALL IN REGULAR SEASON FINALEThe Falcons posted its highest total in Academy history on March 20, record-ing a combined score of 347.500 during their regular season finale. In addi-tion to setting a new overall team score, Air Force also set program standards on the floor exercise (59.600), still rings (59.400) and parallel bars (57.100).

MILLS EARNS ANOTHER WEEKLY HONORNash Mills picked up his third CGA National Gymnast of the Week award on March 23. The senior collected three first-place finishes, as the Falcons set a program-best team total (347.500) against Washington on March 20. He won the still rings with a personal-best score of 15.300, while also winning the parallel bars (14.400) and high bar (14.000).

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Jan. 15 Rocky Mountain Open 4th of 5 (327.300) U.S. Olympic Training Center* L, 327.300-350.750 No. 3 Oklahoma L, 327.300-346.500 No. 9 Nebraska L, 327.300-334.500 Arizona State W, 327.300-321.200Jan. 22 No. 14 Army W, 330.000-307.500 Jan. 30 at No. 10 Nebraska L, 334.400-343.000 Feb. 3-5 at Winter Cup Challenge No Team Scores Feb. 18 at No. 9 Minnesota L, 331.300-345.600 Feb. 20 at All-Academy Championships 1st of 3 (345.000) No. 15 Navy W, 345.000-334.550 No. 14 Army W, 345.000-331.350Mar. 4 at Illinois-Chicago Quad 4th of 4 (338.000) No. 2 Stanford L, 338.000-357.800 No. 3 Illinois L, 338.000-351.600 No. 13 Illinois-Chicago L, 338.000-351.600Mar. 6 at Illinois-Chicago Quad 2nd of 4 (341.600) No. 9 Ohio State L, 341.600-343.700 No. 13 Illinois-Chicago W, 341.600-339.000 No. 11 Temple W, 341.600-332.900Mar. 11 at Brockport Triangular 2nd of 3 (341.400) No. 8 Minnesota L, 341.400-347.400 No. 19 Brockport W, 341.400-299.500 Mar. 13 at Springfield Triangular 1st of 3 (343.300) No. 14 William and Mary W, 343.300-338.800 No. 15 Springfield W, 343.300-330.000Mar. 20 Washington W, 347.500-238.700Mar. 25 at USAG Championships 1st of 5 (345.700) No. 13 William and Mary W, 345.700-344.600 No. 17 Springfield W, 345.700-335.100 No. 16 Army W, 345.700-334.500 No. 15 Navy W, 345.700-332.600Mar. 26 at USAG Championships No Team Scores Apr. 2 MPSF Championships 5th of 5 (344.800) No. 2 Stanford L, 344.800-362.250 No. 1 Oklahoma L, 344.800-360.700 No. 3 California L, 344.800-356.050 No. 11 Nebraska L, 344.800-346.500Apr. 14 at NCAA National Qualifier 6th of 6 (339.700) No. 1 Oklahoma L, 339.700-363.500 No. 4 Illinois L, 339.700-356.000 No. 5 Penn State L, 339.700-356.000 No. 8 Minneosta L, 339.700-346.850 No. 12 Illinois-Chicago L, 339.700-340.000Apr. 15 at NCAA Championships No Team Scores

Home meets in bold will be at Cadet West Gym.* Meet does not count in overall record.

FALLING RECORD WARNINGThe Falcons posted its highest team total in Academy history on March 20, recording a combined score of 347.500 during their regular season finale. In addition to setting a new overall team score, Air Force also set program standards on the floor exercise (59.600), still rings (59.400) and parallel bars (57.100).

WULF SETS ACADEMY RECORD ON FLOORColton Wulf scored a 15.400 to win the floor exercise and move into first on the pro-gram’s all-time list during the Falcons’ meet with Washington on March 20. Wulf’s score – a personal improvement by 0.600 – broke Greg Stine’s 2008 record of 15.200 and be-came just the second Air Force gymnast to better the 15-point mark on that event.

MORE TITLESAir Force swept the titles during its regular season finale with Washington. In addition to Nash Mills’ three titles (still rings, parallel bars, high bar) and Colton Wulf’s Academy-record win on the floor exercise, Nick Owen won his second consecutive pommel horse title (14.200), while Ben Zaiser scored a career-best matching 15.600 to win the vault.

AIR FORCE CLAIMS FIRST TOP-10 RANKINGAir Force cracked the national ranking’s top-10 for the first time in program history on March 14, with a three-score average of 343.300 (10th). They are the first service acad-emy team to enter the top 10 since the 2009 season.

FALCONS TAKE TWO AT SPRINGFIELDWith the third-highest team score in Academy history at 343.300, Air Force easily defeat-ed William and Mary (338.000) and Springfield (330.000) at the Springfield Triangular on March 13. Air Force captured four event titles. Nash Mills won the parallel bars and high bar, while Tory Brown placed first on the vault and Nick Owen won the pommel horse.

IT WAS NICE WHILE IT LASTEDBacked by four of the top five spots on the high bar, the Falcons improved the Academy record on that event for the second straight meet on March 13. Nash Mills won the event with a 14.800, while Colton Wulf placed second with a 14.600. Mac Ritchie and James Okamoto placed fourth (14.400) and fifth (14.000), respectively.

FALCONS BREAK HIGH BAR RECORDHighlighted by the top four scores on the high bar, Air Force shattered the Academy record by nearly one point at Brockport on March 11. All four scoring gymnasts scored above a 14.100, as Tory Brown and Colton Wulf tied for first with matching career-best scores of 14.500 – the fourth-highest individual scores in program history. Nash Mills was the runner-up with a 14.300, while Mac Ritchie tied for third at 14.100.

MORE WINNERS FROM BROCKPORTTory Brown and Colton Wulf were not the only Falcons to win events at the Brockport tri-meet on March 11. Matt Thorne tied for first on the parallel bars with a career-best tally of 14.300 – the eighth-best score in program history – while Devin Menefee matched his season-best mark of 14.800 to win the still rings.

MILLS CLAIMS SECOND CGA HONOR OF THE YEARAfter setting an Academy record on the high bar and winning three event titles at Illinois-Chicago, Nash Mills was named the College Gymnastics Association Gymnast of the Week (Collegiate Division) for the second time this season and the fourth time of his career.

CAUTION, FALLING RECORDSNash Mills used a 14.900 performance on the high bar to break the Academy’s 2008 re-cord by 0.250 points. The senior now owns a share of two Academy records, as Mills used a 14.900 mark on the parallel bars last year to match that program standard.

HIGHER AND HIGHERAir Force also set a new team standard on the vault at 62.800 during the March 6 meet at Illinois-Chicago. It is the second time in three meets that the Falcons have improved the Academy record on the vault. Air Force tallied a 341.600 to place second at the four-team meet that featured Ohio State, Illinois-Chicago and Temple. That score is the second-highest team total of the season and the sixth-highest overall score in Academy history.

2011 GYMNASTICS RESULTS

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Most Valuable GymnastNash Mills

Freshman of the YearMac Ritchie

USAG Assistant Coach of the YearJeff Robinson, Chuck Schweiss

USAG Most Outstanding SeniorNash Mills

USAG National ChampionsTory Brown ......................................VNash Mills ................................ ST, PBJames Okamoto ............................ PH

USAG All-AmericansTory Brown ......................... FX, V, HBNash Mills ................................SR, PBJames Okamoto ............................ PHMac Ritchie ....................................PBColton Wulf ...................... AA, FX, HBBen Zaiser ........................................V

CGA All-Academic TeamPatrick DuffyJacob HouderDerek KvedarTravis MyersAaron Zaiser

MPSF Academic All-ConferenceJacob HoudreTravis MyersJames OkamotoAaron Zaiser

MWC Scholar-AthleteJacob HouderTravis Myers

Winter Cup ParticipantsTory BrownNash MillsJames Okamoto

Visa Championship ParticipantColton Wulf

CGA Gymnast of the WeekNash Mills ... Feb. 23, Mar. 9, Mar. 23

MPSF Gymnast of the WeekColton Wulf ............................. Feb. 1Nash Mills .............................. Feb. 22Nash Mills ............................. Mar. 29

FALCONS CLAIM ALL-ACADEMY TITLEWith a combined score of 345.000, Air Force won the All-Academy Championship title on Feb. 20. Backed by a share of four titles, the Falcons improved their sea-son-best team score by over 10 points to defeat Navy (334.550) and Army (331.350) and claim their first win at the service academy championship since 2000.

MILLS EARNS WEEKLY AWARD TRIFECTANash Mills picked up three weekly awards, after pacing the Falcons to the All-Academy Championship title. Mills was named USAFA Athlete of the Week, MPSF Gymnast of the Week and CGA National Gymnast of the Week. Mills claimed a share of two event titles and won the all-around outright at the All-Academy Championships.

FIRST-PLACE FINISHERSFour Falcons earned at least a share of event titles at the All-Academy Championships on Feb. 20. Nash Mills tied for first on the still rings and parallel bars, en route to winning the all-around. Mills tied with Devin Menefee for the top spot on the rings, while sharing top honors on the parallel bars with Colton Wulf. Tory Brown won the vault outright, while tying for first on the high bar.

MENEFEE WINS STILL RINGSDevin Menefee won the still rings, as the Falcons accumu-lated their second-highest score of the season (331.300) at Minnesota on Feb. 18. The junior tallied a season-high score 14.500 to win the event, pacing Air Force to two of top three scores on the rings. Nash Mills collected a season-best 14.300 to finish third.

BROWN LEADS FALCONS AT WINTER CUPTory Brown had a strong showing at the Winter Cup Chal-lenge on Feb. 3, recording three top-four finishes and two career-best scores. During the first preliminary ses-sion, Brown placed third on the high bar with a career-best 13.650. He also added fourth-place scores on the vault (15.100) and parallel bars (career-best 13.750). His high bar mark is the 14th-best high bar score in Academy history, while his parallel bars tally is ranked 18th on the program’s all-time list.

A SIGN OF THE TIMESThe selection of Nash Mills, Tory Brown and James Oka-moto to the 2011 Winter Cup marked the second straight year that Air Force has sent three gymnasts to the pres-tigious national meet. From 1990-2009, Air Force quali-fied three gymnasts to the annual Winter Cup Challenge. However, over the past two years, four gymnasts – Brown (2010, 2011), Mills (2010, 2011), Okamoto (2011) and Joel Uptmor (2010) – have qualified to the meet a total of six times.

WULF EARNS MPSF HONORColton Wulf claimed his first Mountain Pacific Sports Fed-eration Gymnast of the Week honor on Feb. 1, after pac-ing the Falcons on a pair of events with career-best totals at Nebraska. Wulf scored a career-best tally of 14.650 on the floor exercise – the highest on the team to date and the 10th-best floor exercise score in Academy history – to finish second, while also leading the team with a fifth-place score of 13.900 on the parallel bars. In his col-legiate debut on that event, Wulf posted the best score by an Air Force gymnast this season and the 15th-best parallel bars score in program history.

MOVING ON UPIn just his second meet, Ben Zaiser posted a 15.600 to win the vault title at Nebraska on Jan. 30. That score is the Falcons’ second-highest score of the season and the eighth-best vault total in Academy history.

AIR FORCE DEFEATS ARMYSix different Falcons won event titles, as Air Force de-feated Army on Jan. 22, by a score of 330.000-307.500. Air Force dominated every event, including sweeps of at least the top four spots on the floor, horse and high bar.

GOING SIX-FOR-SIXAir Force took the top spot on all six events. Colton Wulf won the floor exercise with a 14.000 debut, while James Okamoto earned the top spot on the pommel horse (13.800) and Devin Menefee finished first on the still rings (14.100). Nash Mills won the vault with a 15.400, while Tory Brown and Dan Klimkowski tied for first on the parallel bars (13.400) and Mac Ritchie earned the top score on the high bar (13.700). Mills also claimed the top score in his all-around debut, earning a score of 81.100.

DID YOU KNOW?The Falcons claimed their sixth straight win over Army.

GET OUT THE BROOMSAir Force claimed the top five spots in two events, while adding the top four spots in an additional event. James Okamato led Patrick Duffy, Nick Owen, Jacob Houder and Tory Brown to the top five spots on the pommel horse, while Mac Ritchie, Nash Mills, Colton Wulf, Derek Kvedar and Brown claimed the top five scores on the high bar. Wulf, Aaron Zasier, Dan Klimkowski and Brown also com-bined to sweep the top four of the floor exercise.

OKAMOTO WINS POMMEL HORSE TITLEJames Okamoto scored a 14.300 to win the pommel horse title at the Rocky Mountain Open on Jan. 15. Post-ing the squad’s top finish on his signature event for the second straight year, Okamoto became just the third Air Force gymnast to claim an event title at the RMO since 2001. He joined Jake Schonig (still rings, 2008) and Aaron Jackson (floor exercise, 2003) as Falcons who have taken home the top finish at the squad’s season-opening meet.

FALCONS MATCH BEST PRESEASON RANKINGAir Force was tabbed 13th in the CGA Preseason Coach-es’ Poll – matching its highest ranking ever. It is the third straight year that the Falcons were listed among the na-tion’s top teams, as well as receiving the highest ranking among the three service academies.

WHAT I DID OVER MY SUMMER VACATIONColton Wulf had a busy summer. Immediately following six weeks of BCT, Wulf became the first Air Force gym-nast to compete at the Visa National Championships. The freshman finished 16th in the all-around at the Junior Di-vision, highlighted by a seventh-place finish on the rings.

A HALL OF FAME COACHHead coach Kip Simons, a member of the 1996 U.S. Olym-pic Men’s Gymnastics Team, was inducted into the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame on Aug. 13. He was one of six inductees into the prestigious Hall of Fame, joined by Wendy Bruce, Kevin Mazeika, Dominique Moceanu, Rob-ert Null and Jennifer Parilla.

2011 HONORS

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COMPETITION FX PH SR V PB HB AARocky Mountain Open -- -- -- -- -- -- --Army -- -- -- -- -- -- --at Nebraska -- -- -- -- -- -- --at Winter Cup Challenge -- -- -- -- -- -- --at Minnesota -- -- -- -- -- -- --at All-Academy Championships -- -- -- -- -- -- --at Illinois-Chicago, with Stanford, Illinois -- -- -- -- -- -- --at Illinois-Chicago, with Ohio State, Temple -- -- -- -- -- -- --at Brockport -- -- -- -- -- -- --at Springfield College -- -- -- -- -- -- --Washington -- -- -- -- -- -- --at USAG Championships (team finals) -- -- -- -- -- -- --at USAG Championships (event finals) -- -- -- -- -- -- --MPSF Championships -- -- -- -- -- -- --at NCAA Championships (team qualifier) -- -- -- -- -- -- --at NCAA Championships (event prelims) -- -- -- -- -- -- --

COMPETITION FX PH SR V PB HB AARocky Mountain Open 13.800 -- -- 15.900 12.700 13.300 --Army 13.500 -- -- 14.900 13.400 12.800 --at Nebraska 13.950 -- -- 15.200 12.550 10.750 --at Winter Cup Challenge 12.650 -- -- 15.100 13.750 13.650 --at Minnesota 13.800 -- -- 15.600 12.800 11.700 --at All-Academy Championships 14.050 -- -- 15.850 13.200 14.000 --at Illinois-Chicago, with Stanford, Illinois 13.300 -- -- 15.400 13.200 14.100 --at Illinois-Chicago, with Ohio State, Temple 12.600 -- -- 15.700 13.500 12.500 --at Brockport, with Minnesota 14.400 -- -- 15.600 13.300 14.500 --at Springfield, with William and Mary 14.300 -- -- 15.900 12.200 10.700 --Washington 14.900 -- -- 14.600 14.300 13.600 --at USAG Championships (Team Finals) 14.200 -- -- 15.800 13.500 14.100 --at USAG Championships (Event Finals) 14.300 -- -- 15.700 -- 14.200 --MPSF Championships 14.250 -- -- 15.950 14.200 14.150 --at NCAA Championships (team qualifier) 14.050 -- -- 15.900 13.550 14.000 --at NCAA Championships (event prelims) -- -- -- 15.850 -- -- --

COMPETITION FX PH SR V PB HB AARocky Mountain Open -- 12.300 -- -- -- -- --Army -- 13.600 -- -- -- -- --at Nebraska -- 13.650 -- -- -- -- --at Winter Cup Challenge -- -- -- -- -- -- --at Minnesota -- 13.400 -- -- -- -- --at All-Academy Championships -- 14.200 -- -- -- -- --at Illinois-Chicago, with Stanford, Illinois -- 13.500 -- -- -- -- --at Illinois-Chicago, with Ohio State, Temple -- 13.600 -- -- -- -- --at Brockport, with Minnesota -- 13.300 -- -- -- -- --at Springfield, with William and Mary -- 13.500 -- -- -- -- --Washington -- 13.000 -- -- -- -- --at USAG Championships (Team Finals) -- 13.500 -- -- -- -- --at USAG Championships (Event Finals) -- -- -- -- -- -- --MPSF Championships -- 13.600 -- -- -- -- --at NCAA Championships (team qualifier) -- 12.850 -- -- -- -- --at NCAA Championships (event prelims) -- -- -- -- -- -- --

COMPETITION FX PH SR V PB HB AARocky Mountain Open -- 13.000 -- -- -- -- --Army -- 12.800 -- -- -- -- --at Nebraska -- 12.500 -- -- -- -- --at Winter Cup Challenge -- -- -- -- -- -- --at Minnesota -- 12.300 -- -- -- -- --at All-Academy Championships -- 13.700 -- -- -- -- --at Illinois-Chicago, with Stanford, Illinois -- -- -- -- -- -- --at Illinois-Chicago, with Ohio State, Temple -- -- -- -- -- -- --at Brockport, with Minnesota -- 12.900 -- -- -- -- --at Springfield, with William and Mary -- 12.700 -- -- -- -- --Washington -- 13.200 -- -- -- -- --at USAG Championships (Team Finals) -- 13.300 -- -- -- -- --at USAG Championships (Event Finals) -- -- -- -- -- -- --MPSF Championships -- 12.100 -- -- -- -- --at NCAA Championships (team qualifier) -- 12.850 -- -- -- -- --at NCAA Championships (event prelims) -- -- -- -- -- -- --

COMPETITION FX PH SR V PB HB AARocky Mountain Open -- -- 12.800 -- -- -- --Army -- -- 13.700 -- -- -- --at Nebraska -- -- 13.300 -- -- -- --at Winter Cup Challenge -- -- -- -- -- -- --at Minnesota -- -- 13.800 -- -- -- --at All-Academy Championships -- -- 14.200 -- -- -- --at Illinois-Chicago, with Stanford, Illinois -- -- 13.700 -- -- -- --at Illinois-Chicago, with Ohio State, Temple -- -- 14.200 -- -- -- --at Brockport, with Minnesota -- -- 13.600 -- -- -- --at Springfield, with William and Mary -- -- 14.300 -- -- -- --Washington -- -- 14.700 -- -- -- --at USAG Championships (Team Finals) -- -- 14.100 -- -- -- --at USAG Championships (Event Finals) -- -- -- -- -- -- --MPSF Championships -- -- 13.950 -- -- -- --at NCAA Championships (team qualifier) -- -- 14.050 -- -- -- --at NCAA Championships (event prelims) -- -- -- -- -- -- --

KYLE BAKER

Fr.

TORYBROWN

So.

PATRICKDUFFY

Fr.

JACOB HOUDER

Jr.

TYLER HUEBNER

Fr.



AIR FORCE ACADEMY

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COMPETITION FX PH SR V PB HB AARocky Mountain Open 13.100 -- -- -- -- 12.300 --Army -- -- -- -- -- -- --at Nebraska -- -- -- -- -- -- --at Winter Cup Challenge -- -- -- -- -- -- --at Minnesota -- -- -- -- -- -- --at All-Academy Championships -- -- -- -- -- -- --at Illinois-Chicago, with Stanford, Illinois 13.200 -- -- -- -- 11.800 --at Illinois-Chicago, with Ohio State, Temple 13.200 13.400 -- -- -- -- --at Brockport, with Minnesota -- -- -- -- -- -- --at Springfield, with William and Mary -- -- -- -- -- -- --Washington -- -- -- -- -- -- --at USAG Championships (Team Finals) -- -- -- -- -- -- --at USAG Championships (Event Finals) -- -- -- -- -- -- --MPSF Championships -- -- -- -- -- -- --at NCAA Championships (team qualifier) -- -- -- -- -- -- --at NCAA Championships (event prelims) -- -- -- -- -- -- --

COMPETITION FX PH SR V PB HB AARocky Mountain Open 14.000 12.800 13.400 -- 12.900 -- --Army 13.600 11.900 13.400 -- 13.400 -- --at Nebraska 13.350 12.050 13.900 -- 13.650 -- --at Winter Cup Challenge -- -- -- -- -- -- --at Minnesota 13.900 13.100 12.700 -- 13.200 -- --at All-Academy Championships 14.450 13.100 13.500 -- 13.800 -- --at Illinois-Chicago, with Stanford, Illinois -- -- -- -- -- -- --at Illinois-Chicago, with Ohio State, Temple -- -- -- -- -- -- --at Brockport, with Minnesota 14.100 12.900 12.200 -- 13.700 -- --at Springfield, with William and Mary 14.100 12.200 13.900 -- 13.300 -- --Washington 14.500 14.000 14.800 -- 13.100 -- --at USAG Championships (Team Finals) 14.100 13.700 14.300 -- 14.100 -- --at USAG Championships (Event Finals) -- -- -- -- -- -- --MPSF Championships 14.350 12.700 14.300 -- 14.050 -- --at NCAA Championships (team qualifier) 14.400 12.350 14.200 14.200at NCAA Championships (event prelims) -- -- -- -- -- -- --

COMPETITION FX PH SR V PB HB AARocky Mountain Open -- -- -- -- -- 12.500 --Army -- -- -- -- -- 13.000 --at Nebraska -- -- -- -- -- 13.100 --at Winter Cup Challenge -- -- -- -- -- -- --at Minnesota -- -- -- -- -- 11.600 --at All-Academy Championships -- -- -- -- -- -- --at Illinois-Chicago, with Stanford, Illinois -- -- -- -- -- -- --at Illinois-Chicago, with Ohio State, Temple -- -- -- -- -- -- --at Brockport, with Minnesota -- -- -- -- -- -- --at Springfield, with William and Mary -- -- -- -- -- 12.600 --Washington -- -- -- -- -- 13.300 --at USAG Championships (Team Finals) -- -- -- -- -- -- --at USAG Championships (Event Finals) -- -- -- -- -- -- --MPSF Championships -- -- -- -- -- 12.900 --at NCAA Championships (team qualifier) -- -- -- -- -- -- --at NCAA Championships (event prelims) -- -- -- -- -- 13.300 --

COMPETITION FX PH SR V PB HB AARocky Mountain Open -- -- 14.000 15.200 -- 12.100 --Army -- -- 14.100 14.300 -- 12.100 --at Nebraska -- -- 13.750 -- -- 12.650 --at Winter Cup Challenge -- -- -- -- -- -- --at Minnesota -- -- 14.500 14.700 -- -- --at All-Academy Championships -- -- 14.800 15.650 -- 11.500 --at Illinois-Chicago, with Stanford, Illinois -- -- 14.200 14.500 -- -- --at Illinois-Chicago, with Ohio State, Temple -- -- 14.400 15.700 -- 13.500 --at Brockport, with Minnesota -- -- 14.800 15.000 -- 13.600 --at Springfield, with William and Mary -- -- 14.700 15.300 -- -- --Washington -- -- 14.600 -- -- -- --at USAG Championships (Team Finals) -- -- 14.900 14.900 -- 12.100 --at USAG Championships (Event Finals) -- -- 12.450 -- -- -- --MPSF Championships -- -- 14.400 15.400 -- -- --at NCAA Championships (team qualifier) -- -- 14.800 -- -- -- --at NCAA Championships (event prelims) -- -- 13.400 -- -- -- --

COMPETITION FX PH SR V PB HB AARocky Mountain Open 13.600 -- 13.600 15.900 12.100 12.900 --Army 13.100 12.700 13.800 15.400 12.600 13.500 81.100at Nebraska 13.400 13.000 13.750 15.200 13.600 14.100 83.050at Winter Cup Challenge 12.600 -- 13.300 14.000 11.000 12.950 --at Minnesota 13.400 12.900 14.300 14.700 12.600 13.800 81.700at All-Academy Championships 13.600 13.700 14.800 15.600 14.300 13.800 85.800at Illinois-Chicago, with Stanford, Illinois 13.500 13.700 14.400 15.800 14.100 14.000 85.500at Illinois-Chicago, with Ohio State, Temple 13.900 13.400 14.500 15.800 13.800 14.900 86.300at Brockport, with Minnesota 14.000 12.700 14.700 15.300 13.900 14.300 84.900at Springfield, with William and Mary 13.500 -- 14.900 15.600 14.700 14.800 --Washington 14.400 -- 15.300 15.200 14.400 14.000 --at USAG Championships (Team Finals) 13.700 -- 15.000 15.200 15.200 13.900 --at USAG Championships (Event Finals) -- -- 15.300 -- 14.600 -- --MPSF Championships 14.000 -- 14.900 15.100 14.900 13.800 --at NCAA Championships (team qualifier) 13.800 -- 14.100 15.450 13.800 12.550 --at NCAA Championships (event prelims) -- -- -- -- -- -- --

ALEXJESSOP

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DAN KLIMKOWSKI

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DEREKKVEDAR

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DEVIN MENEFEE

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AIR FORCE ACADEMYBack-to-Back USA Gymnastics Collegiate National Champions | GoAirForceFalcons.com | 2012 Air Force Men’s Gymnastics Media Guide

COMPETITION FX PH SR V PB HB AARocky Mountain Open -- 11.700 -- -- 13.200 -- --Army -- -- -- -- 12.800 -- --at Nebraska -- -- -- -- -- -- --at Winter Cup Challenge -- -- -- -- -- -- --at Minnesota -- -- -- -- -- -- --at All-Academy Championships -- -- -- -- -- -- --at Illinois-Chicago, with Stanford, Illinois -- 11.800 -- -- 12.900 -- --at Illinois-Chicago, with Ohio State, Temple -- -- -- -- 13.600 -- --at Brockport, with Minnesota -- -- -- -- -- -- --at Springfield, with William and Mary -- -- -- -- -- -- --Washington -- -- -- -- -- -- --at USAG Championships (Team Finals) -- -- -- -- -- -- --at USAG Championships (Event Finals) -- -- -- -- -- -- --MPSF Championships -- -- -- -- -- -- --at NCAA Championships (team qualifier) -- -- -- -- -- -- --at NCAA Championships (event prelims) -- -- -- -- -- -- --

COMPETITION FX PH SR V PB HB AARocky Mountain Open -- 14.300 -- -- -- -- --Army -- 13.800 -- -- -- -- --at Nebraska -- 14.400 -- -- -- -- --at Winter Cup Challenge -- 12.200 -- -- -- -- --at Minnesota -- 13.500 -- -- -- 13.200 --at All-Academy Championships -- 14.000 -- -- -- 13.600 --at Illinois-Chicago, with Stanford, Illinois -- 12.500 -- -- -- 13.100 --at Illinois-Chicago, with Ohio State, Temple -- 14.200 -- -- -- 13.300 --at Brockport, with Minnesota -- 12.300 -- -- -- 14.000 --at Springfield, with William and Mary -- 12.800 -- -- -- 14.000 --Washington -- 11.400 -- -- -- 13.800 --at USAG Championships (Team Finals) -- 14.000 -- -- -- 14.000 --at USAG Championships (Event Finals) -- 14.250 -- -- -- -- --MPSF Championships -- 13.750 -- -- -- 13.550 -- at NCAA Championships (team qualifier) -- 14.250 -- -- -- 13.300 --at NCAA Championships (event prelims) -- 13.750 -- -- -- -- --

COMPETITION FX PH SR V PB HB AARocky Mountain Open -- 12.200 -- -- -- -- --Army -- 13.000 -- -- -- -- --at Nebraska -- 12.750 -- -- -- -- --at Winter Cup Challenge -- -- -- -- -- -- --at Minnesota -- 13.100 -- -- -- -- --at All-Academy Championships -- 13.800 -- -- -- -- --at Illinois-Chicago, with Stanford, Illinois -- 14.100 -- -- -- -- --at Illinois-Chicago, with Ohio State, Temple -- 12.400 -- -- -- -- --at Brockport, with Minnesota -- 13.300 -- -- -- -- --at Springfield, with William and Mary -- 13.900 -- -- -- -- --Washington -- 14.200 -- -- -- -- --at USAG Championships (Team Finals) -- 13.300 -- -- -- -- --at USAG Championships (Event Finals) -- -- -- -- -- -- --MPSF Championships -- 13.750 -- -- -- -- --at NCAA Championships (team qualifier) -- 12.800 -- -- -- -- --at NCAA Championships (event prelims) -- -- -- -- -- -- --

COMPETITION FX PH SR V PB HB AARocky Mountain Open 12.800 -- 12.900 15.200 13.300 12.100 --Army 13.200 -- 13.400 -- 12.900 13.700 --at Nebraska 13.250 -- 12.750 14.600 13.350 13.450 --at Winter Cup Challenge -- -- -- -- -- -- --at Minnesota 12.300 -- 13.200 13.800 12.700 12.700 --at All-Academy Championships 14.350 -- 13.700 -- 13.400 13.200 --at Illinois-Chicago, with Stanford, Illinois 14.400 -- 13.300 -- 13.200 13.700 --at Illinois-Chicago, with Ohio State, Temple 14.300 -- 13.200 -- 13.400 12.700 --at Brockport, with Minnesota 13.700 -- 13.900 -- 13.100 14.100 --at Springfield, with William and Mary 14.200 -- 13.800 -- 12.600 14.400 --Washington 14.500 -- 13.100 -- 13.900 13.400 --at USAG Championships (Team Finals) 13.500 -- 13.800 -- 14.200 13.600 --at USAG Championships (Event Finals) -- -- -- -- -- -- --MPSF Championships 14.100 -- -- -- 14.150 14.000 --at NCAA Championships (team qualifier) 12.900 -- 13.800 -- 13.900 13.850 --at NCAA Championships (event prelims) -- -- -- -- -- -- --

COMPETITION FX PH SR V PB HB AARocky Mountain Open -- -- -- -- 13.300 -- --Army -- -- -- -- -- -- --at Nebraska -- -- -- -- 13.850 -- --at Winter Cup Challenge -- -- -- -- -- -- --at Minnesota -- -- -- -- 13.500 -- --at All-Academy Championships -- -- -- -- 13.300 -- --at Illinois-Chicago, with Stanford, Illinois -- -- -- -- 13.900 -- --at Illinois-Chicago, with Ohio State, Temple -- -- -- -- 14.200 -- --at Brockport, with Minnesota -- -- -- -- 14.300 -- --at Springfield, with William and Mary -- -- -- -- 13.500 -- --Washington -- -- -- -- 14.200 -- --at USAG Championships (Team Finals) -- -- -- -- 14.200 -- --at USAG Championships (Event Finals) -- -- -- -- 13.900 -- --MPSF Championships -- -- -- -- 11.850 -- --at NCAA Championships (team qualifier) -- -- -- -- 14.350 -- --at NCAA Championships (event prelims) -- -- -- -- -- -- --

TRAVISMYERS

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JAMES OKAMOTO

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NICKOWEN

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MACRITCHIE

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MATTTHORNE

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COMPETITION FX PH SR V PB HB AARocky Mountain Open -- -- -- -- -- -- --Army 14.000 -- 13.700 14.800 -- 13.300 --at Nebraska 14.650 12.000 12.500 14.900 13.900 13.300 81.250at Winter Cup Challenge -- -- -- -- -- -- --at Minnesota 14.400 -- 13.400 -- 12.600 13.600 --at All-Academy Championships 14.500 -- 14.000 15.500 14.300 13.900 --at Illinois-Chicago, with Stanford, Illinois 14.500 11.600 13.500 15.400 12.900 14.000 81.900at Illinois-Chicago, with Ohio State, Temple 14.800 12.400 13.600 14.400 13.800 14.200 83.200at Brockport, with Minnesota 14.300 -- 13.450 15.300 14.100 14.500 --at Springfield, with William and Mary 14.200 12.300 14.200 15.300 13.500 14.600 84.100Washington 15.400 13.600 14.400 15.000 14.200 13.900 86.500at USAG Championships (Team Finals) 14.900 13.700 13.800 15.200 14.000 14.000 85.600at USAG Championships (Event Finals) 14.600 -- -- -- -- 14.300 --MPSF Championships 14.800 12.250 13.350 15.550 14.300 13.900 84.150 at NCAA Championships (team qualifier) 14.450 11.800 13.500 15.000 13.900 14.150 82.800at NCAA Championships (event prelims) -- -- -- -- -- 13.850 --

COMPETITION FX PH SR V PB HB AARocky Mountain Open 13.600 -- 12.000 15.300 -- -- --Army 13.900 -- -- 15.200 13.000 -- --at Nebraska 13.950 -- -- 15.000 -- -- --at Winter Cup Challenge -- -- -- -- -- -- --at Minnesota 14.300 -- -- 14.700 -- -- --at All-Academy Championships 14.500 -- -- 13.950 -- -- --at Illinois-Chicago, with Stanford, Illinois 14.000 -- -- 15.000 -- -- --at Illinois-Chicago, with Ohio State, Temple 11.900 -- -- 14.200 -- -- --at Brockport, with Minnesota 13.600 -- -- 15.100 -- -- --at Springfield, with William and Mary 14.400 -- -- 15.200 -- -- --Washington 14.800 -- -- 15.300 -- -- --at USAG Championships (Team Finals) 14.100 -- -- 14.700 -- -- --at USAG Championships (Event Finals) -- -- -- -- -- -- --MPSF Championships 14.350 -- -- 15.400 -- -- -at NCAA Championships (team qualifier) 14.600 -- -- 15.300 -- -- --at NCAA Championships (event prelims) 14.750 -- -- -- -- -- --

COMPETITION FX PH SR V PB HB AARocky Mountain Open -- -- -- -- -- -- --Army -- -- -- 14.600 -- -- --at Nebraska -- -- -- 15.600 -- -- --at Winter Cup Challenge -- -- -- -- -- -- --at Minnesota -- -- -- 15.300 -- -- --at All-Academy Championships -- -- -- 14.050 -- -- --at Illinois-Chicago, with Stanford, Illinois -- -- -- 15.200 -- -- --at Illinois-Chicago, with Ohio State, Temple -- -- -- 15.600 -- -- --at Brockport, with Minnesota -- -- -- 15.600 -- -- --at Springfield, with William and Mary -- -- -- 15.600 -- -- --Washington -- -- -- 15.600 -- -- --at USAG Championships (Team Finals) -- -- -- 15.300 -- -- --at USAG Championships (Event Finals) -- -- -- 15.500 -- -- --MPSF Championships -- -- -- 15.400 -- -- --at NCAA Championships (team qualifier) -- -- -- 15.000 -- -- --at NCAA Championships (event prelims) -- -- -- -- -- -- --

COMPETITION FX PH SR V PB HB AARocky Mountain Open 55.000 52.400 53.900 62.300 52.700 51.000 327.300Army 55.000 53.200 55.300 60.300 52.700 53.500 330.000at Nebraska 55.950 53.800 54.700 61.000 55.000 53.950 334.400at Minnesota 56.400 53.100 56.000 60.300 52.200 53.300 331.300at All-Academy Championships 57.800 55.700 57.800 62.600 55.800 55.300 345.000at Illinois-Chicago, with Stanford, Illinois 56.400 53.800 55.800 61.800 54.400 55.800 338.000at Illinois-Chicago, with Ohio State, Temple 56.200 54.600 56.700 62.800 55.400 55.900 341.600at Brockport, with Minnesota 56.800 52.400 57.000 61.800 56.000 57.400 341.400at Springfield, with William and Mary 57.100 52.900 58.100 62.400 55.000 57.800 343.300Washington 59.600 55.000 59.400 61.100 57.100 55.300 347.500at USAG Championships 57.300 54.900 58.300 61.500 57.700 56.000 345.700MPSF Championships 57.750 53.800 57.550 62.300 57.550 55.850 344.800at NCAA Championships 57.500 52.750 57.150 61.650 56.350 55.300 339.700

COLTONWULF

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PROGRAM HISTORY

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2010 TEAM: Tory Brown, Garrett Canter, Jacob Houder, Alex Jessop, Dan Klim-kowski, 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.

USAG NATIONAL TEAM CHAMPIONS

2010 20112011 TEAM: Kyle Baker, Tory Brown, Patrick Duffy, Jacob Houder, Tyler Huebner, Alex Jessop, 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 Rob-inson, Chuck Schweiss

39


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

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

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

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

1998 Andrew 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, 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, Pommel, P-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, Rings, Parallel BarsMatthew Kenkel .............................................. Parallel BarsStephen Sistare ....................................................Still Rings

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

2004 Jeff Andersen ................All-Around, Rings, P-Bars, High BarKent Reichle...................................................Floor ExerciseGreg Stine ..........AA, Floor, Pommel, Rings, Vault, High Bar

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

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

2008 Jake Schonig .........................................................Still RingsTyler Sickles ........................................................... High BarGreg Stine .......... All-Around, Floor, Rings, P-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, Rings, Vault, P-Bars, High BarChase Nobles ............................................... Pommel HorseJames Okamoto ........................................... Pommel Horse

2011 Tory 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

Jerry Michael Cline All-Around .............................. 1994Brian Rizzoli Floor Exercise ......................... 1994Erin Montague High Bar ................................. 1999Javin Peterson Still Rings ................................ 2000Levi Torkelson Parallel Bars ................. 1999, 2000Aaron Jackson Vault ....................................... 2003Greg Stine All-Around ...........2004, 2007, 2008 Pommel Horse ....................... 2004 Floor Exercise ......................... 2007 Still Rings ................................ 2007 Parallel Bars ........................... 2008Jake Schonig Still Rings ...................... 2008, 2009Devin Menefee Vault ....................................... 2010Nash Mills All-Around .............................. 2010 Still Rings ................................ 2011 Parallel Bars ................. 2010, 2011Tory Brown Vault ....................................... 2011James Okamoto Pommel Horse ....................... 2011

Terry Higgins, finalist .................... 1966Joel Miller, finalist ........................ 1992Aaron Jackson, finalist .................. 2003Jeff Andersen, finalist ................... 2004Jake Schonig, finalist..................... 2009

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

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

Jim Weaver (Trampoline) ............. 1962Doug Reynolds (Tumbling) ........... 1964Terry Higgins (P-Bars) ................... 1966Bill Ritter (Floor) ........................... 1972John Tomich (Vault)...................... 1973Joel Miller (Rings) ......................... 1992Tim Hess (Floor)............................ 1993Greg Stine (AA, Rings)................... 2008

USAG CHAMPIONS USAG ALL-AMERICANS 2012 INFORMATIONMEET THE FALCONS


AIR FORCE ACADEMY

NISSEN-EMERY FINALISTS

USAG TOP SENIOR

NCAA ALL-AMERICANS

WINTER CUP SELECTIONS

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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 Mills

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 Drewry 2001................................................... 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 Menefee

The following “Top-Six” awards are handed out an-nually by the Air Force Academy Athletic Depart-ment. The awards are decided by the department’s senior staff and chosen from all 27 sports.

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

CGA NATIONAL HEAD COACH OF THE YEARKip Simons .........................................................2010

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

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

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 ......................................................Lou Burkel..........................................................2008

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

MOST VALUABLE GYMNAST TEAM CAPTAINS USAFA ‘TOP SIX’ AWARDS

COACHING AWARDS

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CoSIDA ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICAN

Joel Miller ..........................................................1992

NCAA POSTGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP

Steve Hoit ..........................................................1973Ken Kemper .......................................................1990Joel Miller ..........................................................1992

NACDA SCHOLAR-ATHLETE AWARD

Erik Bowman .....................................................1991

CGA ALL-ACADEMIC TEAM

Ken 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, 2011Thomas Wilkinson .............................................2010James Okamoto .................................................2010Patrick Duffy ......................................................2011Derek Kvedar .....................................................2011Travis Myers ......................................................2011

NATIONAL ACADEMIC HONORSGYMNAST OF THE YEAR

Chris Mauk ........................................................1988Ken Kemper .......................................................1990

CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS

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

ALL- CONFERENCE TEAM

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

WAC SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

Erik Bowman ...........................................1990, 1991

ALL-ACADEMIC TEAM

Erik 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 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

WESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCEALL-ACADEMIC TEAM

James 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 .................................................... 2011Travis Myers ..................................................... 2011James Okamoto ................................................ 2011

GYMNAST OF THE WEEK

Greg Stine ........................................ 2007 (2x), 2008Nash Mills ....................... 2009, 2010 (2x), 2011 (2x)Jake Schonig ..................................................... 2009Colton Wulf ...................................................... 2011

ALL-ANNIVERSARY TEAM *

Jeff Andersen ...............competed 1999-00, 2003-04

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

SCHOLAR-ATHLETES

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

MOUNTAIN PACIFIC SPORTS FED.

MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE



AIR FORCE ACADEMY

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ABSHIRE, Thomas ........................... 74ALDRICH, Richard ..................... 80, 81ALEXANDER, Dana .................... 69, 70ANDERSEN, Jeff .............99, 00, 03, 04 ANTONIO, Kurt ..............04, 05, 06, 07ANNANIE, Douglas .......................... 88BAKER, 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, 11BURLINGAME, Barry ................. 66, 67BURNS, Scott .................................. 02BUTLER, George.................. 59, 60, 61BUTLER, Michael ...................... 66, 67CANTER, Garrett ............07, 08, 09, 10CANTERBURY, Henry .......... 57, 58, 59 CASTLE, Leroy ................................. 57CHASE, 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, 73DALEY, 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 .............................. 11DUNN, Roger ............................ 63, 64DUVALL, Michael ...................... 75, 76EANNARINO, Tom..........81, 82, 83, 84 EASTMAN, William ......................... 08EATON, Brian ...................... 69, 70, 71EDSTROM, Bruce ...................... 74, 75 EDWARDS, John .............................. 63EGLINTON, Gary ....................... 65, 66FISHER, 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, 78GARBODEN, Andrew ................ 85, 86GARRETT, James ............71, 72, 73, 74GIBBONS, William ..................... 60, 61GILMORE, Samuel ..........75, 76, 77, 78

GLANDON, Nathan ......................... 05GOGGINS, Edward .......................... 80GOODMAN, Patrick .................. 75, 76GREGORY, Scott ........................ 82, 83GUERRERO, Casey .........96, 97, 98, 99GUSTAFSON, Stephen ...83, 84, 85, 86HALL, 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, 11HOUSE, Thomas .................. 57, 58, 59HOWELL, John .......................... 58, 59HUEBNER, Tyler ............................ 11HULL, Merton ................................. 61HUNT, Thomas ..............76, 77, 78, 79HYATT, Mark ....................... 72, 73, 74ILLINGSWORTH, Robert .................. 67JACKSON, Aaron ............00, 01, 02, 03JENNE, Joel ......................... 93, 94, 95JENSEN, Geoffrey ..........95, 96, 97, 98JENSEN, Matthew ..................... 97, 98JESSOP, Alex ............................10, 11JOBIN, Robert ..................... 62, 63, 64 JOFFRION, Jacque ............... 94, 95, 96JOHANSEN, Albert .......................... 60JOHNSON, Brent ....................... 87, 88JOLLY, Lawrence ................. 57, 58, 59JONES, Justin ...................... 00, 01, 02JOSEPH, Matthew ..................... 03, 04KANESHIRO, 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, 11LANGHAM, 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, 68McANDREW, Patrick ........... 02, 03, 04McCLURE, Kurtis ....................... 85, 86McLEAN, Daniel .............................. 66McKINNEY, Craig ...................... 64, 65McNAUGHTON, Mark ..................... 04MACPHERSON, John ................. 66, 67MAHONEY, Ryan ....................... 97, 98MAJOR, Michael ............................. 93

MARKSTEINER, 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, 11MILLER, 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 ............................... 11NARDECCHIA, 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, 10OAKESHOTT, Glenn ............ 68, 69, 70O’CONNELL, William ................. 74, 75O’CONNOR, Paul ................ 59, 60, 61O’GRADY, James ................. 66, 67, 68 O’ROURKE, James ........................... 60OKAMOTO, James ...................10, 11OTOMO, Michael ...........76, 77, 78, 79OWEN, Nicholas ............................. 11PACKER, Frank .......................... 63, 64PAQUETTE, 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, 84QUANBECK, Gordon ....................... 71RABINS, John ............................ 72, 73RAUSCH, John ........................... 61, 62REAVES, Irving .......................... 81, 82REICHLE, Kent ................02, 03, 04, 05REYNOLDS, Douglas ........................ 64RICH, Noah ............................... 03, 04RIGHTMER, Charles .................. 82, 83RITCHHART, Kenneth ...................... 72RITCHIE, Mac ................................ 11RITTER, William .............70, 71, 72, 73RIZZOLI, Brian ................93, 94, 95, 96 ROBERTS, Jon ................................. 06ROBERTSON, Dennis ....................... 67ROSTAGNO, Anthony ......... 90, 91, 92RUND, Berton ..................... 75, 76, 77SANDERS, 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, 08

SILVA, Chad ...................94, 95, 96, 97SISTARE, Stephen ............... 00, 01, 02SMITH, 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 SQUIER, 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 ............................... 60TAYLOR, 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, 88UPTMOR, Joel ........................... 09, 10VAN DOREN, Peter ............. 92, 93, 94VRETTOS, John.................... 63, 64, 65WALKER, 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.................................. 11YOUNG, Gerard ........................ 60, 61YUEN, Jeffrey .................80, 81, 82, 83ZAISER, Aaron ................08, 09, 10, 11ZAISER, Ben .................................. 11ZAMZOW, Mark .............75, 76, 77, 78

Returning gymnasts in bold.

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INDIVIDUAL TEAM Event 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 1998Horizontal Bar 9.900 Jerry Michael Cline 1994 38.250 1995All-Around/Team 56.350 Jerry Michael Cline 1994 223.125 1998

ACADEMY RECORDS (1956 - 2007)

INDIVIDUAL TEAM Event Score Gymnast Year Score YearFloor Exercise 15.400 Colton Wulf 2011 59.600 2011Pommel Horse 14.800 Chase Nobles 2010 57.500 2010Still Rings 15.700 Greg Stine 2008 59.400 2011Vault 15.950 Tory Brown 2011 62.800 2011 15.950 Devin Menefee 2010 Parallel Bars 15.200 Nash Mills 2011 57.700 2011Horizontal Bar 14.900 Nash Mills 2011 57.800 2011All-Around/Team 88.200 Greg Stine 2008 347.500 2011

ACADEMY RECORDS (2008 - PRESENT)

FLOOR EXERCISE59.600 Washington 03/20/1158.650 Illinois-Chicago 03/07/1058.350 Illinois-Chicago 03/09/0858.100 Illinois-Chicago 03/07/0857.800 at All-Academy Meet 02/20/11

POMMEL HORSE57.500 USAG Championships 03/26/1055.700 at All-Academy Meet 02/20/1155.950 at Army 03/12/1055.550 at Arizona State 03/19/1055.100 at Southwest Cup 02/27/09

STILL RINGS59.400 Washington 03/20/1159.350 Illinois-Chicago 03/07/1059.100 at Springfield College 02/03/0859.000 Stanford 03/05/1059.000 Illinois-Chicago 03/09/08

VAULT62.800 at Illinois-Chicago 03/06/1162.600 at All-Academy Meet 02/20/1162.450 Illinois-Chicago 03/07/1062.400 at Springfield 03/14/1162.350 at Springfield 03/14/10

PARALLEL BARS57.700 at USAG Championships 03/25/1157.550 MPSF Championships 04/02/1157.100 Washington 03/20/1156.650 Stanford 03/05/1056.350 2x, last NCAA Qualifier 04/14/11 HIGH BAR57.800 at Springfield 03/13/1157.400 at Brockport 03/11/1156.500 at Army 03/12/1056.000 at USAG Championships 03/25/1155.900 3x, last at Illinois-Chicago 03/06/11

TEAM TOTALS347.500 Washington 03/20/11346.450 Illinois-Chicago 03/07/10345.700 at USAG Championships 03/25/11345.000 at All-Academy Meet 02/20/11344.800 MPSF Championships 02/02/11

TOP PROGRAM MARKS - TEAM SCORES (2008 - PRESENT)



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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)

TOP PROGRAM MARKS - FLOOR EXERCISE (2008 - PRESENT)

14.800 Chase Nobles USAG Championships-Team (03/26/10)14.700 Chase Nobles Illinois-Chicago (03/07/10)14.600 James Okamoto USAG Championships-Team (03/26/10)14.550 Chase Nobles at Army (03/12/10)14.400 James Okamoto at Nebraska (01/30/11)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)14.250 James Okamoto at NCAA National Qualifier (04/14/11)14.250 James Okamoto at USAG Championships-Event (03/26/11)

TOP PROGRAM MARKS - POMMEL HORSE (2008 - PRESENT)

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)

TOP PROGRAM MARKS - STILL RINGS (2008 - PRESENT)

15.950 Tory Brown MPSF Championships (04/02/11)15.950 Devin Menefee USAG Championships-Event (03/27/10)15.900 Tory Brown at NCAA National Qualifier (04/14/11)15.900 Tory Brown at Springfield College (03/13/11)15.900 Tory Brown Rocky Mountain Open (01/15/11)15.900 Nash Mills Rocky Mountain Open (01/15/11)15.850 Tory Brown at NCAA Event Preliminary (04/15/11)15.850 Tory Brown at All-Academy Championships (02/20/11)15.850 Nash Mills at Minnesota (01/30/10)15.850 Devin Menefee at MPSF Championships (04/04/09)

TOP PROGRAM MARKS - VAULT (2008 - PRESENT)

15.200 Nash Mills at USAG Championships-Team (03/25/11)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)14.600 Nash Mills at USAG Championships-Event (03/26/11)

TOP PROGRAM MARKS - PARALLEL BARS (2008 - PRESENT)

14.900 Nash Mills at Illinois-Chicago (03/06/11)14.800 Nash Mills at Springfield College (03/13/11)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 Colton Wulf at Brockport (03/11/11)14.500 Tory Brown at Brockport (03/11/11)14.400 Mac Ritchie at Springfield College (03/13/11)14.350 Nash Mills Stanford, Illinois-Chicago (03/05/10)14.350 Greg Stine at USAG Championships-Team (03/28/08)

TOP PROGRAM MARKS - HIGH BAR (2008 - PRESENT)

88.200 Greg Stine Illinois-Chicago (03/09/08)87.400 Greg Stine at Southwest Cup (03/01/08)87.200 Greg Stine at NCAA National Qualifier (04/17/08)87.150 Greg Stine at Army (02/01/08)87.050 Greg Stine at Springfield College (02/03/08)86.800 Greg Stine at USAG Championships-Team (03/28/08)86.800 Greg Stine at NCAA All-Around Finals (04/18/08)86.500 Colton Wulf Washington (03/20/11)86.400 Greg Stine at MPSF Championships (04/05/08)86.300 Nash Mills at Illinois-Chicago (03/06/11)86.300 Nash Mills at Springfield Triangular (03/14/10)86.300 Nash Mills at Arizona State (02/26/10)

TOP PROGRAM MARKS - ALL-AROUND (2008 - PRESENT)

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY

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HISTORY OF THE ACADEMY

In 1948, a board of leading civil-ian and military educators was ap-pointed to plan the curriculum for an academy that would meet the needs of the newly established Air Force. The board determined that Air Force requirements could not be met by expanding the other service academies and recommended an Air Force Academy be established with-out delay.

In 1949, then Secretary of the Air Force W. Stuart Symington ap-pointed a commission to assist in selecting a site and on April 1, 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower authorized creation of the United States Air Force Academy. After con-sidering 580 sites in 45 states, the commission narrowed the choice to three locations.

During the summer of 1954, Sec-retary of the Air Force Harold Tal-bott 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 facilities at Lowry Air Force Base, Denver, while con-struction began. It was sufficiently completed for occupancy by the cadet wing in late August 1958. Ini-tial construction cost was $142 mil-lion.

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

The United States Air Force Academy offers a four-year program of instruction and experience designed to edu-cate, train and inspire men and women to become offi-cers of character, motivated to lead the United States Air Force in service to our nation. Each cadet graduates with a bachelor of science degree and a commission as a second lieutenant in the Air Force.

COURSE OF STUDYCadets are exposed to a balanced curriculum that pro-vides the knowledge, skills and responsibilities essential to a career Air Force officer. The entire USAFA experience is integrated and mapped to achieve a set of desired out-comes in every graduate.

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

FACULTY COMPOSITIONThe 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 estab-lished outstanding records of performance and dedica-tion. Each has at least a master’s degree and more than 55 percent have doctorates or other terminal degrees 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 learning as an integral part of their officer development. The Air Force Academy has been ranked No. 1 in the nation 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 distinguished visiting professors and endowed professors who serve one or more years. Officers 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 during the academic year.

ATHLETIC PROGRAMThe 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, intra-mural sports and intercollegiate athletic programs in the nation. Cadets take at least three different physical educa-tion courses each year.

MILITARY EDUCATION AND TRAININGAn 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 leadership of the cadet wing, while juniors and sophomores seek to develop team and interpersonal leadership and instruc-tional skills.

Cadets are projected into as many leadership roles as pos-sible to prepare them to be effective Air Force officers.

Fundamental concepts of military organization -- drill, eth-ics, 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 communication skills and juniors study combat and operational aspects of the Air Force.

The Academy offers courses in flying, navigation, soaring and parachuting, building from basic skills to instructor 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 cadet train-ing 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 lead-ership 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.

NOMINATIONSNominations 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/RRS; 2304 Cadet Drive, Suite 200; USAF Academy, CO 80840-5025.

For more information, visit: www.usafa.edu

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Lt. Gen. Michael C. Gould is Superintendent, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo. He directs a four-year aca-demic, military training, athletic 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 assign-ments, 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 positions at the group, wing and numbered air force level, and was commander of Chey-enne Mountain Operations Center during 9/11. Prior to his return to the Academy, he was Director of Operations and Plans, U.S. Transportation Command, Scott 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.

His military awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Defense Superior Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.

VICE-SUPERINTENDENTColonel Tamara Rank

COMMANDANT OF CADETSBrig General Richard Clark

DEAN OF FACULTYBrig General Dana Born

COMMANDER, 10TH AIR BASE WINGCol Thomas Gibson

LT GEN MICHAEL C. GOULDSUPERINTENDENT | THIRD YEAR | AIR FORCE ACADEMY, 1976



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DR. HANS MUEHDIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS | EIGHTH SEASON | AIR FORCE ACADEMY, 1966

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Dr. Hans J. Mueh is in his eighth year as the director 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. Mueh was heavily involved in Academy athletics before becoming director of athletics. He was the Academy’s fac-ulty athletics representative from 1996-2004 and was a long-time member of the board of directors for the Air Force Academy Athletics Association.

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

markable feats. In 2007, the Academy was one of only three schools (Michigan State and Boston College) 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 appearances in the NCAA tournament. Mueh was on the selection com-mittee 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 overhaul under Mueh. He led the transition from the retirement of the legend-ary 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 ev-ery year. The school has averaged 9,000 bowl tickets sold during the four years.

Mueh has been just as successful behind the scenes with the administration of the department. Mueh restructured the department with an internal/external model that has streamlined resources and made the department more effective from top to bottom. 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 an-nouncement of the Holaday Athletic Center, an indoor training facility. The $15 million facility was completed in 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 aca-demics/eligibility compliance cabinet, the men’s golf committee and the Region 7 postgraduate scholarship committee. Mueh has been equally active within the conference on various leadership committees. He is currently on the awards and recognition committee and has previously served on the joint council executive committee, and committees on championships, television and sportsmanship.

Before assuming his duties as vice dean at the Academy, Mueh was permanent professor 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 undergraduate courses for 1,500 cadets annually. Mueh was born Jan. 8, 1944, in Celle, Germany, and emigrated to the United States in 1951. He entered the Air Force in 1962, as a member of the Acad-emy’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 berth in the NCAA tournament. He was a first-team all-league selection.

Following graduation, Mueh completed two assignments in intelligence before attending the University of Wisconsin where he earned his master’s degree in chemistry in 1970. He later earned a doctorate degree in chemistry from Wiscon-sin in 1976 as a distinguished graduate. Mueh also completed Squadron Officer School, Air Command and Staff College and Air War College. Between earning the 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 Sai-gon, 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 associate 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 In-telligence Agency at the Pentagon. In 1986, he assumed the position of acting head, department of chemistry, be-fore being selected for his position of permanent professor and head of the de-partment 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 chairman 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.

At halftime of the Utah football game on Oct. 30, 2010, Dr. Mueh congratulated the men’s gymnastics team for winning the program’s first-ever USAG National Championship title.

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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 physical conditioning of all cadets, to develop the physical skills necessary for officership, to teach leadership in a competitive envi-ronment and to build character. There are three subdivisions of the athletic program: intercol-legiate 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, gymnastics, indoor and outdoor track, lacrosse, rifle, soccer, swim-ming and diving, tennis, water polo and wrestling. The Academy fields women’s teams in bas-ketball, cross-country, fencing, gymnastics, rifle, indoor and outdoor track, swimming and div-ing, 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 Mexico, San Diego State, TCU, UNLV and Wyoming. All sports also compete against non-conference opponents, including many nationally-ranked teams.

The football team competes annually for the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy, which is emblem-atic 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 mod-ern, 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 multipur-pose area seats 1,000 fans for track and field competitions.

The department’s newest facility, the Holaday Athletic Center, was completed in July 2011.

COL BILLY WALKERVice Director of Athletics

JIM TREGOSenior Associate AD | External Affairs

WILLIAM CARPENTERAssociate AD | Recruiting Support

DERMOT COLLAssociate AD | Development, Government

JOHN COULAHANAssociate AD | Finance

MARTI GASSERAssociate AD | Intercollegiate Programs | SWA

TROY GARNHARTAssociate AD | Information, Communications

WAYNE KELLENBENCEAssociate AD | Support

KAREN WARNERAssociate AD | Human Resources

ATHLETIC SENIOR STAFF


The Air Force women’s and men’s gymnastics team train and compete in the Academy’s Cadet West Gymnasium.

The main gym features the competion area, as well as spectator seating.

In the fall of 2011, a second story was added to a pair 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 throughout the venue. For daily practices and special dual meet performances, the floor surface 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 rooms for both the men’s and women’s teams and extra sets of equipment to help maximize the training space of the two gymnastics teams. The second floor of the auxiliary gym features 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 hand-ball/racquetball 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 also contains an athletic training room, human performance laboratory, lockers for all cadets, and administrative offices of the physical education instructors and support staff.

Outdoor facilities associated with the gym include 57 athletic fields (143 acres) for intercollegiate and intramural sports, two baseball diamonds and a 400-meter all-weather track.

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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 coaches Kip Simons (men’s gymnastics) and Doug Day (women’s gymnas-tics), as well as men’s assistant coach Jeff Robinson, took to the skies in August.

“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 accomplishing 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!”

COACHES IN THE SKY

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ADOPT-A-SCHOOL PROGRAMThe Air Force men’s and women’s gymnastics teams spent time with some stu-dents at Monroe Elementary School in Colorado Springs, Colo., as a part of the athletic department’s adopt-a-school program. The after-school program allows the grade-school children to interact with members of each of the Academy’s sports teams throughout the school year.

After each gymnast introduced themselves by name, class year, hometown and favorite event, the Falcons and students went through the pre-practice stretch-ing that the gymnastics team does on a daily basis.

Following a handstand contest between the men’s and women’s teams, the Falcons divided the students onto two mats and spent the remainder of the time teaching basic tumbling moves, including somersaults, handstands and cart-wheels. The students received hands-on attention from the cadets, who assisted and supported the students through each new move.

RACE FOR THE CUREThe members of the Air Force gymnastics program are used to competing against other gymnasts, but once a year, the Falcons come together to compete in a bigger challenge. Members of the men’s and women’s gymnastics teams took to the streets of downtown Denver to participate in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.

For three years, the Falcons’ gymnastics program were some of the over 50,000 participants that took part in Denver’s annual race. The race began at Confluence Park and continued around Invesco Field at Mile High, before concluding near the Pepsi Center.

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.

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Back-to-Back USA Gymnastics Collegiate National Champions | GoAirForceFalcons.com | 2012 Air Force Men’s Gymnastics Media Guide 2012 INFORMATION



Capt Levi Torkelson, an assistant coach for the men’s gymnastics team, was killed in a tragic auto-mobile 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, returned to the Academy midway through the 2008 season, after completing a six-month deployment to Iraq. In addition to his coaching duties with the Falcons’ gymnastics team, Torkelson worked in the athletic department’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, Torkelson 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, be-fore 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 technique. 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 Officer in Charge for all geographically separated units controlled by the 435 Communication 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 Communications Squadron and the 86 Communications Squadron.

“He did a fantastic job, not only coaching the gymnastics team but as a physical education teacher,” said Col Billy Walker, the Academy’s deputy athletic director, who oversees the Olympic sports and physical education department. “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.”

CAPT LEVI TORKELSON1979-2008 | FOUR-YEAR LETTERWINNER | TWO-YEAR ASSISTANT COACH

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OVERVIEW OF THE SCORING SYSTEMPrior to the 2008 season, judging men’s gymnastics was based on the 10.0 sys-tem. 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 collegiate gymnastics then adopted the FIG (Federation of In-ternational Gymnastics) Scoring 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 requirements + 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.

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 performing require¬ments and finishes with a dismount.

STILL RINGSPound per pound, rings is one of the hardest events in any sport. The gymnast performs 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, swinging 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 gym-nast 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.

Scoring examples: A good pommel horse score ranges from 14.5-15.3 | A good rings score ranges from 15.5-16.3 | A good vault score ranges from 14.8-15.4

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Jan. 14 Rocky Mountain Open USAF Academy, Colo. 6:00 p.m.

Jan. 22 at Nebraska Lincoln, Neb. 1:00 p.m.

Jan. 28 Minnesota USAF Academy, Colo. 5:00 p.m.

Feb. 2 at Winter Cup Challenge Las Vegas, Nev. 2:00 p.m.

Feb. 18 at All-Academy Championships San Jose, Calif. 2:00 p.m.

Feb. 24 at Army West Point, N.Y. 6:00 p.m.

Feb. 26 at Temple Philadelphia, Pa. 1:00 p.m.

Mar. 2 Illinois-Chicago (Senior Night) USAF Academy, Colo. 6:00 p.m.

Mar. 4 Illinois-Chicago USAF Academy, Colo. 1:00 p.m.

Mar. 9 at Arizona State Tempe, Ariz. 7:00 p.m.

Mar. 17 at Oklahoma Norman, Okla. 7:00 p.m.

Mar. 30 USAG Championships USAF Academy, Colo. 5:00 p.m.

Mar. 31 USAG Championships USAF Academy, Colo. 5:00 p.m.

Apr. 7 MPSF Championships USAF Academy, Colo. 5:00 p.m.

Apr. 19-21 at NCAA Championships Norman, Okla. 7:00 p.m.

All home meets (white) will be held at the Cadet West Gymnasium.

2012 AIR FORCE MEN’S GYMNASTICS SCHEDULE

Documents

2012 Air Force Men's Gymnastics Media Guide