March 7, 2013

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -

The Navy gymnastics team will host William & Mary for the second time this season on Saturday at 3 p.m. at Macdonough Hall. The dual will be the second of three between the teams this season.

A Familiar Foe
In the first meeting of the season between Navy and William & Mary, the Tribe defeated the Mids, 412.85-398.45 on Jan. 27 in Annapolis. Chris Junghans won the all-around with a score of 80.55. The teams also met the following weekend at the West Point Open where the Tribe placed third with a 411.4 and Navy fifth with a 398.15. Navy outscored William & Mary in the high bar and, for the second consecutive weekend, in the rings. The two teams will have their third and final dual of the season on March 16 in Williamsburg, Va.

Steady Improvement
Despite falling to Army in their last meet, the Midshipmen posted season-high scores on both the vault (71.45) and parallel bars (67.7). Prior to that on Feb. 16 at the All-Academy Championships, Navy posted its best scores of the season in the floor exercise (70.55) and rings (69.55). Against Army on Feb. 23, Navy also posted its highest individual scores of the season in four events, including: high bar (Eric Viscardi, 14.35), pommel horse (Chris Junghans, 14.25), vault (Mitchell Larios, 14.9) and parallel bars (Junghans, 14.3).

A Closer Look at the Teams
William & Mary ranks 13th in the nation in team three-score average at 414.0. Navy's team three-score average is 404.383. Here is a look at each team's three-score average by event.

A Young Squad
With a combined 19 underclassmen that includes 12 freshmen and seven sophomores, Navy is the youngest NCAA Division I men's gymnastics team. Only Cal has more freshmen (13) than Navy, while the Mids are the only team in the nation without a senior on their roster. So far this season a total of seven freshman have seen action in at least four meets, including: Josh Gong, Mitchell Larios, Eric Poletti, Eric Potts, Eric Morrison, Jacob Moses and Connor Westrick.