ANNAPOLIS, Md. - The No. 4 Navy gymnastics program will put all of its early season prep to the test this Saturday afternoon when the No. 14 Army Black Knights come into Macdonough Hall with the 2020 Gymnastics Star on the line. Part of the Army-Navy Star Series presented by USAA, the Mids (7-2, 1-0 ECAC) have taken the last two Star meetings with the Black Knights (3-4, 1-0 ECAC) and will be looking to make it three-in-a-row beginning at 2 p.m. on Saturday in their home gym. While this is the first head-to-head meet between the two rival service academies, the teams did both compete at the West Point Open earlier this season with Navy finishing 6.9 points better than Army, 395.45 to 388.55.

For fans unable to make it out to Macdonough Hall on Saturday live stats will be made available via the RoadToNationals website.

Last Time Out
Navy continued producing high-scoring results as the team defeated the William & Mary Tribe by a score of 402.0-384.45 on Saturday afternoon in Macdonough Hall. Surpassing the 400-point mark for the second consecutive meet, the Mids won the first two events over the Tribe and led from that point on as they eventually secured a 17.55-point victory. Navy's effort was led by a plethora of high-level performances as five different gymnasts placed first in events on Saturday.
 
Individual standouts for Navy, included Lucas Beltran, who won the floor exercise, David Toussaint, who captured the pommel horse crown and Josh Williams, who finished atop the table for the rings event. The final two gymnasts to win events in the head-to-head duel were Max Gerber on the parallel bars and Giovanni Gambatese on the high bar.
 
As a team, Navy scored 67.8 points on the floor exercise, 66.3 on the pommel horse, 67.5 on the rings, 68.55 on the vault, 65.85 on the parallel bars and 66.0 on the high bar. 

Navy vs. Army
2019 Star Meet
Faced with 3.65-point deficit and just two events left, the parallel bars and high bar, the Navy gymnastics team put its head down and earned a dramatic 0.55-point come-from-behind victory over the Army Black Knights in the 2019 Star Meet on Feb 2. Performing in front of a hostile crowd at Army's Gross Center, the Mids were able to outscore the Black Knights by 2.55 points on the parallel bars before completely the comeback with a 1.65-point edge on the high bar to win 401.1 to 400.55. The win was Navy's first at West Point since 2011.

Trailing 270.15 to 266.5 after four events, the Mids' parallel bar unit was the story of Saturday as it posted a score of 67.7 that was 4.7 points higher than its season average and 3.8 points better than its previous season-best. After Army's Cole Casanova posted a first-place score of 13.85, Navy gymnasts occupied the next five positions. Ryan Orce was the leader of the Mids' p-bar corps as he recorded a score of 13.7. Max Gerber came in third place 0.1 points back at 13.6. His classmate Ryan McVay was nearly as proficient with a 13.5 score. The duo of Travis Keller and Ben Provost rounded out the Mids' high-scoring unit with matching 13.45 scores. Army finished with 65.15 points on the parallel bars.
 
Now down by just 1.1 points and one event left, the high bar, Navy posted four of the top-five scores once again. Cash Buske led the way for the Mids as the plebe had ice water in his veins and nailed a 13.6-point routine. Gerber backed up his strong p-bar performance with a second-place result on the high bar with a 13.5. Provost helped Navy sweep the top-three spots with a 13.4-point score. After Army's top high bar score, a 13.4 by Rex Scott, Orce was fourth overall as he earned the Mids 13.35 points. Navy's fifth scoring effort on the apparatus came from McVay, who scored 13.05 points. The Mids finished with 66.9 points versus 65.25 points for the host Black Knights.
 
Prior to this dramatic comeback, Navy saw Army win each of the first four events, the floor exercise (67.35-66.95), the pommel horse (65.1-63.3), the rings (67.3-66.6) and the vault (70.4-69.65).

The Mids' Star win at West Point was its first since 2011. The teams had alternated victories in the previous seven Star meets. Navy has now won three of a potential four stars under the direction of Simons.

Last 5 Star Meets
2019 (West Point): Navy 401.1 - Army 400.55
2018 (Annapolis): Navy 402.9 - Army 391.7
2017 (West Point): Army 405.85 - Navy 402.8
2016 (Annapolis): Navy 419.3 - Army 413.75
2015 (West Point): Army 421.6 - Navy 414.55

Comparing the Squads
(2020 averages)

	Navy	Army
A-A	401.75	381.27
FX	68.4	64.9
PH	65.6	61.9
R	66.5	63.1
V	70.5	68.7
PB	64.4	60.2
HB	66.2	62.5

Individuals to Watch
2020 Season averages listed

Navy	Army West Point
Floor Exercise
Ben Provost, 13.825	Mathew Davis, 13.775
David Toussaint, 13.737	Erik Del Cid, 12.833
Josh Williams, 13.717	Corban Barstow, 12.883
Pommel Horse
Ryan Orce, 13.575	Matt Martin, 13.333
David Toussaint, 13.437	Darrel Yamamura, 12.583
Jake Carlson, 13.283	Rex Scott, 12.375
Rings
Josh Williams, 13.450	Matthew Davis, 13.350
Jake Carlson, 13.300	Kiernan Reagan, 12.833
Ryan McVay, 13.200	Darrel Yamamura, 12.583
Vault
Connor Van Loo, 14.300	Jacob Nauman, 13.833
Frank Bradley, 14.133	Mathew Davis, 13.750
Josh Williams, 13.983	Corban Barstow, 13.733
Parallel Bars
Max Gerber, 13.233	Mathew Davis, 13.150
Dhiren Lutchman, 13.075	Kiernan Reagan, 12.100
David Toussaint, 12.850	Zach Mitchell, 11.800
High Bar
Cash Buske, 13.667	Alejandro Suarez, 12.813
Ryan Orce, 13.250	Darrel Yamamura, 12.683
Provost/McVay, 13.033	Mathew Davis, 12.417

2019-20 Star Series
Saturday's meet is one of two Army-Navy Star competitions in Annapolis on the day that are part of the yearlong Army-Navy Star Series presented by USAA. Rifle (9 a.m.) joins gymnastics on Saturday's docket of action.

Parking/Shuttle Information
Vehicle access to the U.S. Naval Academy is limited to those with a Department of Defense identification card ... It is suggested that everyone else park at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium ($5 per vehicle) and ride the free shuttle bus that will be running in-conjunction with the Navy Track & Field Invitational next door to Macdonough Hall at the Wesley Brown Track & Field facility ... Busses will run from Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium to Wesley A. Brown Field House from 9:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Saturday ... Note that a government issued identification card must be carried and presented by visitors ages 18 and older to the USNA prior to being allowed onto The Yard.