Vaulting to the Top: U-M Prepares for NCAA Championships
4/14/1999 12:00:00 AM | Men's Gymnastics, Features
By Tom Wywrot, U-M Athletic Media Relations
After capturing its first Big Ten Championship in 24 years and following with a second-place finish at the NCAA East Regional April 10, the University of Michigan men's gymnastics team has been preparing for the upcoming NCAA Championships April 22-24 in Lincoln, Neb.
In his third season, head coach Kurt Golder has made his mark in bringing the Michigan program back to the national spotlight. Golder's team secured the No. 1 ranking in the country and the Wolverines took the title at the Big Ten Championships after having finished no higher than fifth since 1980. It was U-M's first conference title since 1975 under legendary coach Newt Loken. Ironically, Golder was a member of that 1975 Big Ten championship squad.
For Golder's efforts this season, he was named the Big Ten Coach of the Year, and he is in the running for National Coach of the Year. He finished the season with a 19-5 record and is looking to cap off the season with a national championship. Michigan has won the national championship twice, in 1963 and 1970.
"It was a great accomplishment," Golder said of his award. "I was so excited when I received the award. Any time you get an award from your colleagues and fellow coaches it means a little more.
"We did a good job this season. I have a great assistant coach, a good team and I have worked hard, but this is a team award. I just happen to be the leader and get to receive such accolades. But this has been a team effort and I couldn't have received it without them."
Winning with a young group of Wolverines is just what Golder has done.
Sophomore Kenny Keener (Maryville, Tenn./Maryville HS), freshman Daniel Diaz-Luong (Harrisburg, Pa./Bishop McDevitt HS) and sophomore Justin Toman (Wallingford, Conn./Lyman Hall HS) have helped lead the U-M program back to the national spotlight and a No. 1 ranking.
After a solid freshman season, Keener has come back and kept improving from week to week. As the Wolverines still ring specialist, he scored a career-high 9.912 to finish first at the Big Ten Championships. After his performance, he was the first Big Ten gymnast ever to receive a perfect 10 score by a judge.
Keener followed his Big Ten performance with a 9.800 score at the NCAA East Regional to give him a second-place finish. He is looking to finish in the top two at the NCAA Championships after placing fourth with a 9.750 last year.
"Kenny is a very strong candidate for All-American and could win a national championship title on the rings," said Golder. "Kenny has set the standard for what the judges are looking for with his routine. He has worked hard all season long and should be ready to go at the NCAA Championships."
Keener's still ring title at the Big Ten Championships marked the first still ring title for a Wolverine since Mitch Rose in 1987. For his efforts he was selected All-Big Ten.
Diaz-Luong has shined all season long in his first year in Ann Arbor. Throughout his first season, he has been a consistent performer in the all- around, but at the Big Ten Championships is where he made his mark, winning the vault with a score of 9.812.
At the NCAA East Regional, Diaz-Luong continued to shine as he won the high bar event with a career-best 9.850. He also finished fourth on the parallel bars (9.675) and sixth on the pommel horse (9.775).
"Like Kenny, Daniel is a very strong candidate for All-American and could win a national championship in the vault, parallel bars, pommel horse or even on the high bar," said Golder. "He is a steady performer. He has real good form, is a strong kid and competes at a high level all the time. The one thing about Daniel is that he brings great enthusiasm to the team. He is fun to watch and he makes everyone around him better."
Diaz-Luong's performance in the vault at the Big Ten Championships snapped a 12-year drought in the vault after Scott Moore won the title in 1986 and again in 1987. For his overall performance at the championships, he was selected All-Big Ten. Earlier in the season, he was named the Big Ten Athlete of the Week (Jan. 23).
For the second straight year, Toman was selected All-Big Ten after defending his parallel bar title with a 9.912. After his performance, he was the second Big Ten gymnast ever to receive a perfect 10 score by a judge. The first was his teammate, Keener, who received a perfect 10 on the still rings.
He also finished third in the floor exercise (9.662) and fifth in the pommel horse (9.675). In the team competition, he finished second in the all-around with a 57.625 score.
At the NCAA East Regional, Toman placed third in the parallel bars (9.700) and sixth in the high bar (9.675) and floor exercise (9.650).
"Justin is a very strong candidate for All-American and could very well be the NCAA champion in the all-around event," said Golder. "He is just very good. He has national team experience and brings a lot to this team. He has been battling a biceps injury all season long, but if he can compete for two days in the rings he could win the all-around."
The NCAA Championships begin Thursday, April 22, with the six teams battling for three spots for Friday, April 23, team championship round. The NCAA Championships come to a close on Saturday, April 24, with the individual competition round.
"I feel very good about our chances," said Golder. "We just have to take it one day at a time."
