Jonathan Horton? David Sender? Wes Haagensen? Sho Nakamori?
I should be calling fellow Canuck, Casey Sandy, ranked #1 coming in. He was a machine last year at Championships, leading Penn State to the title.
But I really don’t know. The all-around is truly low priority compared with TEAM.
Great interview on Inside Gymnastics:
A week away from the end of their college career, Oklahoma seniors Jonathan Horton and Taqiy Abdullah-Simmons sat down together for a no holds barred talk with Inside Gymnastics. So in sync they frequently finished each other’s thoughts, these NCAA champs and U.S. National Team vets opened up about their friendship, their careers and what the future holds for each …
INSIDE GYMNASTICS: No school has ever had two NCAA all-around champs returning on the same squad. What does that do for this team and you personally? Is there more pressure to perform?
JONATHAN HORTON: I don’t feel any pressure towards all-around at all. All-around is a cool thing to be a part of, to say, ‘I’m the national champ.’ But, honestly, we’re so focused on the team that I could go to [NCAAs] and get last place in the all-around, but if my scores helped the team and we win, I’d be happy.
TAQIY ABDULLAH-SIMMONS: I’m not even doing the all-around, so winning the all-around is not even in my mind, and it never has been. Just like Jon, I want my scores to do as much for the team as possible. In years past, if I so happened to do well in the all-around because I did well for the team, so be it, but the thought of winning [the all-around] never entered my mind.
JONATHAN HORTON: I think, and I’ve always thought, that we’ve got the most talented guys in the country right here. I think this is the most talented team I’ve been a part of in my four years of college. … Sure, I’d [like to] win the all-around, but more importantly, let’s get our team back on top. …
read the rest of this article – Inside Gymnastics
And also Part 2 of the same article called ROUNDTABLE.
Related: Horton wins Nissen award – Senior co-captain awarded collegiate gymnastics’ highest honor. – CSTV
The preliminary competition starts today. I’ll be posting live from Stanford.
QUALIFYING SCORE
Stanford 358.930
Oklahoma 358.740
Penn State 358.280
California 356.170
Illinois 355.810
Michigan 353.470
Ohio State 350.790
Minnesota 348.590
Iowa 344.150
Nebraska 342.430
William & Mary 342.150
Temple 340.880
Gymnastics Coaching.com 