STANFORD, Calif. – On a night dedicated to the seniors, it was fitting that No. 4 Stanford's seniors led their team to a first-place finish at the Collegiate Challenge with a season-high 443.250 Saturday evening at Burnham Pavilion.
It was a special night for seniors Brian Knott, Michael Levy and Sean Senters who were honored in a ceremony prior to the meet. All three claimed at least one individual event victory on the night.
The Cardinal (6-2, 4-1 MPSF) outscored its NCAA counterparts in all six events and four Stanford gymnasts combined for six individual event victories. Minnesota placed second in the meet with a 431.650, followed by California with a 430.200.
The high-energy meet also featured appearances by national teams from Canada (429.650) and Japan (445.250).
Stanford got off to a strong start on floor with a 74.300. Senters and Levy paced the Cardinal with a pair of scores of 15.050 to tie their season bests and first-place among NCAA competitors.
Knott led Stanford on pommel horse with a 14.900, followed by Senters with a 14.850. Drew Willoughby had a strong showing with a career-high 14.650, while Andrew Misiolek posted a season-best 14.250.
The Cardinal scored a season-best 75.750 on rings thanks in part to three gymnasts scoring career highs. Brandon Beckhardt claimed top honors with a career-best 15.650. Dennis Zaremski competed on rings for the first time this year and notched a 15.550. Jordan DeClerk (15.050) and Taylor Seaton (14.650) contributed season-best performances.
Stanford continued to roll on vault, highlighted by Senters' 15.500 performance that matched his career high. Taylor Seaton scored a season-best 15.300 and Akash Modi went 15.100 to help Stanford tally a 74.550.
Knott excelled in the final two events of the meet, claiming at least a share of top honors on parallel bars and high bar. He paced Stanford on parallel bars with a 15.150. Ryan Sheppard tied his season best of 15.050 and Modi posted his second 15.100 of the meet to help the Cardinal earn a 73.750.
Four Stanford gymnasts scored career highs on high bar to close the meet and help Stanford earn a 73.300 in the event. Knott led the way with a career-best 15.150 to tie for first. Robert Neff (14.600), Ryan Sheppard (14.500) and Taylor Seaton (14.300) also logged career highs.
Stanford will look to carry its momentum into next week as it competes in two meets in three days beginning with Illinois at 5 p.m. (PT).
