Gymnasts Sweep Tri-Meet On Senior Day

Saturday, February 27

West Point, N.Y.

1 PM

Army West Point

413.85

399.85

Springfield

Gymnasts Sweep Tri-Meet On Senior Day

February 27, 2016 | Men's Gymnastics

WEST POINT, N.Y. – Jesse Glenn of the Army West Point men's gymnastics team led his fellow seniors in the final home meet of the season capturing two of the individual events along with winning all-around in an Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) triangular sweep Saturday at Gross Sports Center.

The No. 13 Black Knights (3-2, 2-1 ECAC) recorded a score of 413.85 en route to defeating league rivals No. 15 Springfield College (399.85) and No. 14 William & Mary (395.10).

Glenn was first on vault with a 14.75, topped the field on high bar behind a career-high 15.4, along with capturing all-around (85.70). He took second on floor exercise (14.3) and posted a pair of third place finishes on pommel horse (14.3) and still rings (13.9).

Plebe Cole Casanova won still rings (14.15), was second on vault (14.55), third on high bar (14.25), all season highs, and went on to finish second in all-around (83.70). Classmate Elliott Herman rounded out the Black Knight winners in claiming medalist honors on high bar posting a score of 14.35, just two-tenths of a point shy of his career high. He also was third on still rings (13.90).

The Black Knights captured four of the six team and individual events. In the team scoring, Army was the leader on floor exercise (69.85), still rings (69.45), vault (72.45) and high bar (71.7).

Just prior to the meet, one of Army's regular pulled with up spasms forcing head coach Doug Van Everen to make a few adjustments to the lineup, and it worked due to the Black Knights' depth with the addition of Elliott Herman, Elijah-Ty Phelps and James Gamarra.

"We got thrown a curve ball in the warmups, just only for today, but it threw a wrench into things because we ended up having guys doing routines who were not going to be competing. We had two routines that were not good, but the team fought hard and were aggressive all the way through the meet."

After three events, Army led 206.5 followed by Springfield (202.5) and William & Mary (197.55), then stretched its lead over the pride to a 12-point advantage following the next rotation after turning in a season best 73.05 on vault as all five gymnasts scored in the 14-point range. The Tribe scored a 69.5 and the Pride turned in a 66.95. The Black Knights also recorded a season high 69.45 on still rings.

It was a fine tribute to close out their four years on a winning note for firsties Jesse Glenn, Chris Short and Michael York . "It was awesome," said Glenn, "We had some injuries, but the team came together and worked hard. It meant a lot for us as it was more of a 'fun competition' and we went out to have fun and finish up well.

"We will continue to get ready for the bigger competitions, hopefully, nationals."

Junior Sam Kusnitz was second on high bar (14.3) along with a pair of fifths on vault (14.30) and parallel bars (13.20). Junior Leo Genders was fourth on floor exercise (13.90) and vault (14.40) and sophomore Nathan Goff turned in that finish on high bar (14.20).

Junior Joe Pritts posted a season-high 14.45 on vault to place third, and sophomore Andrew Hufnagel tied for fourth on pommel horse (14.05).
Phelps, competing in just his third meet this season, was fourth on parallel bars (13.30) and set a season mark 13.55 on pommel horse.

The Black Knights, the defending ECAC champions, head to Springfield for a dual meet next Saturday before visiting California for a pair of meets against Berkeley (March 11 and 13).