Air Force Academy

March 9, 2008

USAF ACADEMY, Colo. - Backed by two Academy records and 15 personal-best scores, the Air Force men's gymnastics team posted its best combined score of the season - 340.200 - in its final home meet of the season on Sunday, March 9. The Falcons, who were just edged out by Illinois-Chicago's score of 340.400, posted two new event standards, as well as the team total.

The Falcons upped the program standard on the floor exercise (58.350) and pommel horse (53.050), en route to the Academy-best team score of 340.200. That total bested the old mark of 337.500 that the Falcons set the first weekend of February at Springfield.

In their final collegiate competition at Cadet West Gym, seniors Tyler Sickles and Greg Stine showcased program-best performances. Sickles posted a score of 13.600 to finish fourth on the pommel horse, while Stine won the still rings with a career-best tally of 15.700.

Stine led an Air Force sweep of the top three spots on the rings. Junior Jacob Schonig finished second with a score of 15.200, while classmate Josiah Loeser tied for third with a score of 14.400. Stine also won the floor exercise, high bar and all-around. With a score of 15.100, he hosted a one-two punch on the floor exercise, as freshman Aaron Zaiser finished second with a tally of 14.700. Stine's high bar total of 14.100 helped contribute to his Academy record tally of 88.200 in the all-around.

The Falcons accounted for at least three personal-best scores in four events. Sophomore Brennan Wolford (14.300) and senior Brian Boardman (14.250) both increased their team scores to finish within the top half of the field on the floor exercise. Loeser also improved his career-best marks with an eighth-place score of 13.850. Boardman upped his personal-best mark on the pommel horse, as he scored a 13.550 to place fifth behind Sickles' Academy record. Stine (sixth) also improved his score in that event with a mark of 13.450.

Rounding out the career-best day were Loeser and Zaiser, who both improved their scores on the parallel bars. Loeser accounted for a score of 14.000, while Zaiser garnered a mark of 13.900.

The Falcons are off from competition until Saturday, March 22, when they travel to Lincoln, Neb., for its final dual-meet of the regular season. Air Force and Nebraska will face off for the third-time this season - and the second time at the Devaney Center - at 7 p.m.

Air Force vs. Illinois-Chicago-Individual Results