[akiddoc]

One of the issues for the team is that many of the guys had insufficient training over the last 6 months. Gymnastics requires a longterm training schedule that cannot be shortchanged. Trying to compete too early in the training cycle invites injury. The top performer for Stanford so far this year is Riley Loos. He had access to a gym throughout the pandemic. (I have pretty good sources.) He is from the Sacramento area. He had a 14.50 rings routine yesterday which is by far the top rings routine in the country this year. 

Several Stanford gymnasts who would be bit players are being forced into major roles by the absence of Malone and Briones. I do not know the reason for their non-participation, but we should know a lot more next weekend. Winter Cup is next weekend and Briones has to compete and place highly to have any shot at the Olympic team. Brody Malone is on the USA National team and he might have a bye into the Olympic Trials. Freshman Colt Walker, the number one recruit in the country has not competed either. He's on the USA Junior National team but that does not get you into the Olympic trials. If they compete at Winter Cup, they are healthy and ready to compete. If not they are likely sitting out the season. 

If those three guys were competing, we would have the number one team in the country. Easily. Oklahoma is solid but not at that level.

Each team is allowed 15 gymnasts per competition. Trying to compete with 10 guys is difficult.

[akiddoc]

One of the issues for the team is that many of the guys had insufficient training over the last 6 months. Gymnastics requires a longterm training schedule that cannot be shortchanged. Trying to compete too early in the training cycle invites injury. The top performer for Stanford so far this year is Riley Loos. He had access to a gym throughout the pandemic. (I have pretty good sources.) He is from the Sacramento area. He had a 14.50 rings routine yesterday which is by far the top rings routine in the country this year. 

Several Stanford gymnasts who would be bit players are being forced into major roles by the absence of Malone and Briones. I do not know the reason for their non-participation, but we should know a lot more next weekend. Winter Cup is next weekend and Briones has to compete and place highly to have any shot at the Olympic team. Brody Malone is on the USA National team and he might have a bye into the Olympic Trials. Freshman Colt Walker, the number one recruit in the country has not competed either. He's on the USA Junior National team but that does not get you into the Olympic trials. If they compete at Winter Cup, they are healthy and ready to compete. If not they are likely sitting out the season. 

If those three guys were competing, we would have the number one team in the country. Easily. Oklahoma is solid but not at that level.

Each team is allowed 15 gymnasts per competition. Trying to compete with 10 guys is difficult.