STANFORD, Calif. – In front of a packed Burnham Pavilion, the No. 2 Stanford stepped up to best Canada, Finland, No. 9 California and Japan – the reigning World Gymnastics Champion - in a nail-biting finish Saturday night.
The Cardinal (13-0, 5-0 MPSF) started the night off on pommel horse as Akash Modi threw down a 15.250 to take second in the event with Drew Willoughby adding in a 15.000 score for a third place finish. As a team the Cardinal posted a 72.950 to take second in the event.
Next up on the rings, Dennis Zaremski crushed a 15.250 to tie for the event title while Jordan DeClerk took third with a 15.050 before Josiah Eng tied for fourth with a 14.700 score. In the event, the Cardinal posted a 73.750 score to dominantly win the team title.
On the vault the Cardinal was phenomenal as it took first and second overall in the event with Taylor Seaton nailing a 15.400 to tie his career best and take the individual title. Akash Modi pulled in next with a 15.350 for second in the event. The Cardinal ran away with the team title with a 75.050 score, a team best for the season.
Stanford continued to dot the standings in parallel bars with Dennis Zaremski taking second with a 15.650 score that Akash Modi was right behind, notching a 15.550 score for third. Japan took three of the top five scores, but as a team the Cardinal was able to take the team win with a 74.800 score.
Japan made a meet of it by winning high bar, though Brian Knott shone through for Stanford with a 15.050 score to post a season-best in the event.
It came down to the final event of the night with Japan leading by 1.050 as Stanford headed to floor and Japan to the vault. Akash Modi helped cement the win with his 15.600 score to tie for second overall. It was Gabe Flores with a 15.200 and Robert Neff with a 15.100 to ice the win though, as Stanford held it’s undefeated streak in collegiate and international ranks Saturday night.
In the all-around, Akash Modi kept on his dominant season, taking his fourth all-around victory on the year against some of the world's best.
The Cardinal travels next week to face No. 1 Oklahoma in a showdown on Saturday, March 5. Meet time is set for 5 p.m. in Norman, Okla.
