Stanford men’s gymnastics dominate season-opening Cal Benefit Cup
The year 2024 was instrumental for Stanford men’s gymnastics. A fifth-consecutive NCAA Championship title, fifth-year Colt Walker’s Nissen-Emery Award, and two Cardinals representing Team USA at the Paris Olympics. As the 2025 season begins, the Cardinal team looks poised for another banner year.
The No. 1 ranked Cardinal opened its season in a dual meet against No. 7 Berkeley on Monday, claiming team titles in five of six events. Two fifth-years — Walker and Brandon Nguyen — led the charge, with Walker earning three individual titles (all-around, floor, and vault) and Nguyen adding two more (high bar and parallel bar). Senior Taylor Burkhart shared the all-around crown with Walker and finished on the podium in four of his six events.
Fresh off his Olympic debut in Paris, junior Asher Hong scored a winning 13.800 in the still rings to propel Stanford to a 318.450-303.950 victory over Cal. Even without reigning NCAA all-around champion senior Khoi Young in this week’s lineup, Stanford posted the highest team score of any school during the opening weekend.
The Cardinal’s dominant opener came as no surprise. The team entered the 2025 season at the height of its dynasty, featuring five consecutive NCAA titles, six standout rookies and 10 returning members of the 2024 championship team. Together, nine of the top returners have accumulated six individual titles and 26 All-American honors throughout their collegiate careers.
This season, the NCAA has introduced a new four-up, four-count scoring system that may challenge Stanford’s traditionally deep roster. In response to the continuous decline of NCAA Division I men’s gymnastic programs, the new format aims to increase parity between teams and shorten competition times. However, individual gymnasts face reduced opportunities to compete and amplified stakes in each of their routines.
“Under five-up, five-count, we had greater ability to create separation from other teams. With four-up, the gap between teams will narrow,” said head coach Thom Glielmi in an interview with Inside Gymnastics Magazine.
Stanford’s search for its sixth-straight national title will be no easy feat. Michigan’s squad features Olympians Paul Juda and Fred Richard, who, along with Stanford’s Hong, helped Team USA claim bronze in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Oklahoma, another top contender, has never finished lower than fourth at the championships under head coach Mark Williams, who is in his 26th season with the Sooners.
Stanford men’s gymnastics will compete again on Saturday in Colorado Springs, Colo. for the Rocky Mountain Open, facing No. 3 Oklahoma, No. 4 Nebraska, No. 9 Air Force and No. 15 Simpson.
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