Jan. 20, 2017 ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Early-season multi-team action continues for the Navy gymnastics program this weekend as the Midshipmen host their annual Navy Open on Saturday afternoon. Beginning at 2 p.m. in Macdonough Hall, the Mids will compete against a four-team field made up of William & Mary, Springfield College and Temple. Navy is the two-time defending champion of the event.
Live stats will be available for Saturday's action ...
At the 2016 edition of the Navy Open, the Mids defended their title with a final result of 414.05. The host Mids finished 11.4 points clear of the field and second place William & Mary (402.65). The final two collegiate teams to compete at Macdonough Hall on Saturday were the third-place finishing Temple Owls (394.95) and fourth-place Springfield Pride (394.75).
Individually, Navy gymnasts earned event victories on all six apparatuses, as well as the all-around competition.
Last Time Out
The Mids kicked off their 2017 schedule last weekend with two days of team and individual competition at the West Point Open. Taking on a talented field, the young Midshipmen squad compiled a score of 391.25 to rank fifth overall. Jonny Tang led the team and a group of seven freshmen who made their collegiate debuts on Friday with a fifth-place standing in the all-around competition and two bids into Saturday's individual event finals.
No. 5 Penn State finished atop the team standings with a 412.35-point effort to hold off No. 7 Nebraska (410.6) by less than two points. The host Army Black Knights came in third at 393.55, while Arizona State finished just ahead of Navy in fourth place with a 392.75. Springfield College and Temple rounded out the field with respective scores of 390.55 and 372.25.
Tang spearheaded the Mids' effort with strong rotations on the floor and pommel horse. In the floor exercise, the senior posted the fourth-highest score of the night with a 14.05. Tang's pommel horse routine was tied for ninth-best overall at 13.4.
In Saturday's event finals, Tang was joined by freshmen Ryan Orce (parallel bars) and Tanner West (rings) and junior Noah Beeman (high bar). Amongst the quartet three, Beeman, Tang and Orce all came away with top-six podium finishes. Beeman posted a 13.9 on the high bar, while Tang scored a 14.1 on the floor exercise to each finish third. Orce recorded a 13.35 to rank sixth overall. West just missed a top-six finish with a 13.4 score to rank seventh.
Comparing the Squads
| Navy | Spring. | W&M | Temple |
| A-A | 391.25 | 390.55 | 382.6 | 372.25 |
| FX | 65.7 | 66.35 | 61.8 | 63.3 |
| PH | 63.3 | 64.65 | 63.5 | 62.25 |
| R | 67.3 | 66.1 | 65.7 | 61.1 |
| V | 68.5 | 67.85 | 67.1 | 65.75 |
| PB | 62.6 | 63.55 | 63.65 | 62.95 |
| HB | 63.85 | 62.05 | 60.85 | 56.90 |
Top Individuals to Watch
| Navy | Springfield | W&M | Temple |
| A-A | J. Tang - 80.3 | J. Dieker - 78.05 | A. Sabbagh - 71.65 | C. Polizzotto - 75.4 |
| FX | J. Tang - 14.075 | M. Koy - 13.8 | T. Palma - 13.15 | J. Motter - 13.8 |
| PH | T. North - 13.0 | S. Lewis - 13.525 | G. Antle - 13.65 | J. Welsh - 13.1 |
| R | T. West - 13.7 | J. Dieker - 13.725 | P. Makey - 13.45 | D. Zambas - 13.0 |
| V | L. Beltran - 14.0 | S. Lewis - 13.85 | T. Palma - 14.0 | C. Polizzotto - 13.9 |
| PB | R. Orce - 13.45 | J. Haas - 12.95 | R. Meyer - 13.45 | M. Kustin - 13.0 |
| HB | N. Beeman - 13.675 | J. Haas - 13.5 | M. Campbell - 13.0 | M. Kustin - 12.55 |
