Michigan’s Fred Richard reacts after dismounting parallel bars during the 2023 Winter Cup. (© Amy Sanderson)
Three sticks and a season-high score on vault helped Michigan take control and later secure the 2023 Big Ten Men’s Gymnastics Championships team title on Friday in one the most competitive conference-title meets of recent years.
The Wolverines’ vault rotation put the team in first after four rotations. Michigan then had one fall on parallel bars but performed well enough to enter high bar with a significant lead.
The team started off its final event with a fall, seeming to open a lane for Penn State, Nebraska, or Illinois to mount a comeback on their last events. But Michigan’s Crew Bold responded to the miss with a huge high bar set that got his team back on track. Adam Wooten, Evgeny Siminiuc, and Fred Richard closed out high bar with excellent routines to seal the victory.
Michigan finished the meet with a 412.4. Freshman Richard had the best performance in the NCAA this year to win the all-around title with a score of 85.95.
Penn State and Nebraska finished second and third, respectively, with scores of 410.7 and 410.5. Illinois placed fourth with a 409.4, while Ohio was fifth with a 405.5.
Control of the competition shifted multiple times throughout the night, and though Michigan started rotation six with a roughly two-point lead, most teams were in contention for the title ahead of their final five sets. Nebraska readied for the typically high-scoring vault rotation and seemed to be in the best position to topple the Wolverines. Penn State finished on parallel bars and Illinois on rings.
The Huskers’ Zachary Tiderman opened the rotation with a stuck Yurchenko 2.5, earning a 14.95. But Nebraska ultimately counted a few too many landing deductions.
Penn State, meanwhile, hit five strong sets, and freshman Josh Karnes anchored the rotation to rocket the Nittany Lions into second place. The team exceeded expectations with its runner-up finish, having entered the competition ranked No. 4 in the conference.
Michigan started out the meet with five hits on floor and a stellar routine from Richard, who scored a 14.5 to tie Nebraska’s Taylor Christopulos for the top score on the event. Wooten stuck his full-in dismount to gain the first of three sticks he’d finish the meet with and score a 14.05.
On horse, the Wolverines stumbled somewhat, counting one high 11 and two scores in the low 12s. Richard and Markus Shears salvaged the rotation, though, scoring 13.55 and 13.75, respectively, to finish tied for seventh and third.
Michigan had to count a two-fall routine on rings. But Wooten stuck a dismount to help the team rebound, and Javier Alfonso closed the rotation with a competition-leading 14.85, sticking his full-twisting double layout cold and showing off excellent strength elements.
The meet turned at the fourth rotation. Michigan put up a more than one-point season-high on the event after David Wolma, Richard, and Casey Cummings stuck their vaults. Wolma’s stick was especially electric: He planted a near-perfect Kas 1.5 to score a 15.0. Cummings scored a 14.7 and Ricard a 14.65.
Michigan led by roughly two points after vault, and Illinois — then in second place — had to move to pommel horse, which is usually lower scoring. The Wolverines had a fall in their lead-off routine but recorded strong scores later in the lineup that helped the team retain its lead. Richard scored a 14.85 for the competition’s best parallel bars score, and Siminiuc tallied a 14.45.
Bold’s routine for the Wolverines put the team in winning position. He scored a big 14.0 after fingertip-catching his Cassina, Tkatchevs, and then sticking his dismount. Wooten followed Bold with his third stick of the night and a score of 14.25, while Richard punctuated his career-best all-around performance with a stuck layout double-double to score a 14.6 and secure Michigan’s win.
Richard finished the meet with the top score on three of six events. He won all-around by an almost three-point margin, with Christopulos finishing second with an 83.1.
The Big Ten Championships conclude on Saturday, with event finals beginning at 8 p.m. ET.
