U-M to Host Maize & Blue Intrasquad Saturday Night
12/3/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Gymnastics
Dec. 3, 2014
THIS WEEK
Saturday, Dec. 6 -- host Maize & Blue Intrasquad (Cliff Keen Arena), 7 p.m.
Free Admission | | Poster, Schedule Card Giveaway
The University of Michigan men's gymnastics team will begin the 2015 season with the annual Maize & Blue Invitational on Saturday (Dec. 6) at 7 p.m. in Cliff Keen Arena. Admission to the event is free for all spectators.
The Blue team, captained by senior Nick Hunter, is led by 2014 NCAA All-American Stacey Ervin as well classmate and 2013 NCAA all-around runner-up Adrian de los Angeles. The squad is rounded out by a 2014 NCAA vault All-American in sophomore Tristian Perez-Rivera and senior Paul Rizkalla Jr., who was a 2014 All-Big Ten second team honoree.
The Maize squad, captained by junior Michael Strathern, features former pommel horse All-American Dylan James as well as a pair of members of U-M's No.1-ranked recruiting class in Marty Strech and Dmitri Belanovski.
The meet format will consist of a traditional dual-meet format, with 'blast' competition, as both teams will compete simultaneously.
TEAM ROSTERS
Maize
Adam Dean
Anthony Stefanelli
Mike Begin
Colin Mahar
Dmitri Belanovski
Dylan James
Jonathan Chin
Marty Strech
Nolan Novak
Michael Strathern
Blue
Adrian de los Angeles
Alec Krystek
Brennen Thomas
Hub Humphrey
Mark Panhorst
Nick Hunter
Paul Rizkalla Jr.
Reid Swanger
Stacey Ervin
Taylor Harrower
Tristian Perez-Rivera
• The 2015 squad will be headed up by co-captains in senior Nick Hunter and senior/junior Michael Strathern. Each earned the captaincy for first time in their careers.
• Michigan has also won the NCAA all-around title at four of the last five NCAA Championships, with Chris Cameron bringing home the title in 2010 and Sam Mikulak winning in 2011, 2013 and 2014.
Adrian de los Angeles, who was sidelined with a knee injury for the second half of last season, will return and remain a top all-around competitor. Michael Strathern and Reid Swanger will also return, as they were sidelined following ankle surgery and bicep surgery, respectively.
Furthermore, the team brings back fifth-year senior Dylan James, who was an All-American on pommel horse in the 2013 season, in addition to Stacey Ervin, who owns the third-highest floor score in NCAA history. Tristian Perez-Rivera, who earned All-American status on vault in 2014, looks to build on his promising freshman campaign as well. Finally, Nick Hunter, one of U-M's most consistent competitors throughout the 2014 season, will also return for his senior year.
• In total, 15 of the 30 routines competed at the 2014 NCAA Championships will return for this upcoming season.
• Overall, U-M will carry a 54-meet winning streak into the 2015 season, as the last defeat came on March 16, 2013, at Penn State.
• The two-time defending NCAA and Big Ten champion Wolverines received four first-place votes and earned 318 points in the poll to be selected second behind Oklahoma (7 first place votes, 326 points).
Two other Big Ten teams are in the top five in No. 3 Ohio State and No. 5 Illinois. Other Big Ten foes include Penn State at No. 6, Minnesota (No. 7), Iowa (9th) and Nebraska (No. 10).
The Wolverines host No. 4 Stanford on Feb. 7, as well as Illinois on March 14. U-M's final home opponent, No. 16 UIC, will travel to Ann Arbor on March 21. All home meets are held inside Cliff Keen Arena.
2015 CGA Preseason Coaches' Poll
First-place votes in parentheses
1. Oklahoma (7)
2. Michigan (4)
3. Ohio State (1)
4. Stanford (2)
5. Illinois (2)
6. Penn State (1)
7. Minnesota
8. Cal
9. Iowa
10. Nebraska
11. Air Force
12. Army
13. William & Mary
14. Navy
15. Arizona State
16. UIC
17. Springfield College
18. Temple
19. Brockport
20. Washington
• Michigan inked the No. 1 recruiting class in the country, according to StickItMedia, this offseason. The class is highlighted by Dmitri Belanovski as well as Marty Strech.
Dmitri Belanovski
Prep ... United States National Team Member (2013-14) ... earned first-place finish in all-around, pommel horse, still rings, vault, and high bar at 2014 Junior Nationals ... 2013 USA Championships all-around champion ... earned first-place finish on still rings and second-place finish in all-around at 2013 Junior Nationals ... placed second on still rings at 2012 Junior Nationals ... member of Swiss Turners during youth career.
Personal ... Born April 19, 1995 in Minsk, Belarus ... Son of Alexander & Tatiana Belanovski ... Enrolled in college of Literature, Science and Arts ... Business major.
Marty Strech
Prep ... United States National Team Member (2011-15) ... earned second-place finish on pommel horse and still rings at 2014 Junior Nationals ... placed first on floor exercise and second in all-around at 2013 USA Championships ... earned first-place on pommel horse, second-place on floor exercise, and third place in all-around at 2012 USA Championships ... 2011 Junior Nationals all-around, pommel horse, and high bar champion ... placed first on high bar and second in all-around at 2010 Junior Nationals ... member of Azarian U.S. Gymnastics Training Center during youth career.
Personal ... Born April 18, 1997 ... Son of Martin & Marnie Strech ... Enrolled in college of Literature, Science and Arts ... Undecided on a major.
• With the capture of the 2015 NCAA title, Michigan would join Illinois (1939-42), Penn State (1959-61), and Nebraska (1979-83) as the only teams to have ever won three consecutive team titles.
Additionally, with the capture of the 2015 Big Ten title, the team would join Illinois (1950-60, 2010-12), Minnesota (1947-49, 1976-80, 1990-92), Ohio State (2005-07) and Penn State (2003-08), as well as previous Michigan teams (1961-66, 1969-71), as the only programs to win three consecutive Big Ten titles.
Michigan has also won the NCAA all-around title at four of the last five NCAA Championships, with Chris Cameron bringing home the title in 2010 and Sam Mikulak winning in 2011, 2013 and 2014.
• Tristian Perez-Rivera represented the University of Michigan men's gymnastics team at the 2014 FIG World Championships qualifications Oct. 4-5. Perez-Rivera's top scores came on high bar with a 13.266 (99th) and 103rd on floor with a 13.933.
• At NCAAs, U-M became the first program to win back-to-back national championships in 44 years. The Wolverines scored 445.050 to win the meet. The title is the fourth under Kurt Golder (1999, 2010, 2013), who is now tied with swimming coach Gus Stager for the third-most NCAA titles by a coach in school history. He trails only Matt Mann (13) and football coach Fielding Yost (six), and the back-to-back NCAA titles are the first for any U-M sport since 1969-70, as trampoline won in 1969-70, and men's swimming and diving also accomplished the feat in 1958-59. U-M hosted the event and welcomed 9,559 fans, which was the highest four-session total since 1992 when Stanford welcomed 13,007 fans to the championship.
Syque Caesar earned a pair of All-America citations to give him five on his career, as he took third on parallel bars as well as fifth on high bar. He entered the championships with three, as he earned citations on p-bars, high bar and floor in 2013.
Mikulak earned four All-America citations (all-around, floor, vault, parallel bars) and two NCAA titles, giving him the third-most All-America citations in NCAA history and tying him for the most NCAA titles by any male gymnast ever. He shares the prestige with Jim Hartung and Joe Giallombardo. His win on parallel bars is the 34th NCAA title in team history.
The Big Ten team title is the 17th conference title in program history, as U-M marked a 448.200 to capture back-to-back titles for the first time since 1999-2000. Mikulak set the NCAA record for an all-around score with 93.70 and also notched an NCAA record on parallel bars (16.10). On day one, U-M qualified 21 routines for individual-event finals.
Season Tickets
Season tickets for the upcoming season are 25 dollars, and feature:
• Access to priority season-ticket holder seating at all meets
• Tickets to all home Michigan men's and women's gymnastics meets
• Women's Gymnastics Pre-Meet Chalk Talk
• Concession discount for a Michigan men's gymnastics meet
• Early access to women's Big Ten Championships tickets
• Season-ticket holder credential and lanyard; invite to attend open training session
Ways to Follow U-M Gymnastics
For fans not able to attend meets this season, there are several ways to follow the Wolverines action this year. Your primary source for all things Michigan is MGoBlue.com, where recaps, features, schedules, and statistics can be found. Live results will be provided for all home meets, as well as select away meets. Additionally, follow @umichgym for live updates at meets, and 'like' Michigan men's gymnastics on Facebook, where special content can be found throughout the season.
NEXT UP
Saturday, Jan. 17 -- at Windy City Invite (Chicago, Ill.), 7 p.m. CST
Communications Contact: Scott Kemps (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
