The Mount: Week Five MAG

With nine of the top 10 teams in action this Saturday and a handful of top 10 matchups, we’re in for another busy weekend of men’s gymnastics. The traditional Pac-12 teams will be battling it out on the west coast while out east, the Ohio State and Michigan rivalry takes center stage. Let’s also not forget about Oklahoma, who will have a chance to extend its win streak to 107 straight meets, but not if the Big Ten has anything to say about it.

As always, you’ll find everything you need to follow along with all the meets happening this weekend, including previews of the top matchups and every scoring and video link you could ever need.

Can’t-Miss Matchups

No. 1 Oklahoma and No. 4 Illinois at No. 7 Nebraska

When You Need to Tell Your Friends You’re Busy: Saturday, February 2 at 7:00 p.m. ET

Why You Should Cancel Plans For It: Oklahoma travels north to Big Ten country to take on two top 10 teams itching to knock off the Sooners. Nebraska has come closest of any team so far this year, only falling to Oklahoma by six points at the Rocky Mountain Open three weeks ago, while Illinois’ season best score matches the Sooners’ season low. There will be some amazing individual performances as well, with Oklahoma’s ability to throw anyone in the all around and win it, reigning NCAA rings champion Alex Diab, NCAA leader on vault Anton Stephenson and world medalist Yul Moldauer—who inched closer to the all around by competing four events last weekend.

Routines to Avoid Going to the Bathroom During: Levi Anderson (Oklahoma) on high bar, Jake Bonnay (Nebraska) on high bar, Alex Diab (Illinois) on rings, Gage Dyer (Oklahoma) on floor, Yul Moldauer (Oklahoma) on parallel bars, Michael Paradise (Illinois) on pommel horse, Anton Stephenson (Nebraska) on vault

What Else You Should Know Before Tuning In: Although Oklahoma is a member of the MPSF, this meet will count toward the Big Ten regular season standings for Illinois and Nebraska. Illinois comes in with a 1-0 Big Ten record while Nebraska is 0-1.

No. 3 Michigan at No. 8 Ohio State

When You Need to Tell Your Friends You’re Busy: Saturday, February 2 at 4:00 p.m. ET

Why You Should Cancel Plans For It: One of the biggest rivalries in sports takes form in men’s gymnastics this weekend in Columbus. Both teams are coming in with complete opposite starts to their seasons. Michigan has surged to a top three ranking behind the strength of Cameron Bock and his supporting cast of gymnasts out to prove it is the best team in the Big Ten. Ohio State has struggled to hit its potential in its first two meets, but if any meet is going to get the Buckeyes back on track, it’d prefer it be against the Wolverines in front of a home crowd. Despite the struggles, Alec Yoder has been a star for Ohio State, garnering the top ranking in the country on pommel horse and sits in second on parallel bars.

Routines to Avoid Going to the Bathroom During: Max Andryuhschenko (Ohio State) on rings, Cameron Bock (Michigan) on parallel bars, Anthony McCallum (Michigan) on vault, Jacob Moore (Michigan) on floor, Sean Neighbarger (Ohio State) on vault, Alec Yoder (Ohio State) on pommel horse

What Else You Should Know Before Tuning In: This the second Big Ten dual for Michigan (1-0) and the first of the season for Ohio State.

Meet You Didn’t Know You Should Be Interested In

Pac-12 Invite with No. 2 Stanford, No. 11 California, and No. 17 Washington at No. 14 Arizona State

When the Meet’s Happening: Saturday, February 2 at 4:00 p.m. ET

Why You Should See the Error of Your Ways: Two teams from the MPSF will collide with two GymACT teams in a meet featuring four schools who compete in the Pac-12 in most other sports. While Stanford won’t be challenged much, the battle for second will be good between California and host Arizona State who has been hot on the Golden Bears’ heels all season. While Washington likely won’t factor much in the team race, the Huskies boast several individuals who will contend to steal podium finishes from the other three schools.

Routines to Look Up on YouTube Before the Meet That Prove Our Point: Ian Gunther (Stanford) on rings, Jacob Jarrett (Washington) on vault, Aaron Mah (California) on floor, Brody Malone (Stanford) on high bar, Nathan Tsuji (Washington) on floor, Kiwan Watts (Arizona State) on parallel bars, Jordan Williams (Arizona State) on vault, Darren Wong (California) on pommel horse

Meet You Should at Least Record and Watch Later

No. 6 Minnesota and No. 18 UIC at No. 9 Iowa

When to Find It on the TV Guide: Saturday, February 2 at 3:00 p.m. ET

Why You Should Clear Space on Your DVR: After a slow start to the season, Iowa will make its home debut in hopes of hitting the 400 mark for the first time while taking out UIC and conference rival Minnesota. Both Iowa and Minnesota come into this meet winless in the Big Ten standings, so one of them will get to end this weekend with a tally in the win column. While the Golden Gophers have yet to record a score lower than the Hawkeyes’ highest this season, Iowa was able to upset Minnesota last season when they met in Iowa City.

Routines to Check Out If You Can’t Rewatch Everything: Kaleb Booth (UIC) on vault, Jake Brodarzon (Iowa) on rings, Justin Karstadt (Minnesota) on pommel horse, Mitchell Mandozzi (Iowa) on parallel bars, Sam Montague (UIC) on floor, Shane Wiskus (Minnesota) on high bar

Links and Things

These aren’t the only meets happening this weekend. To see all the matchups all in one place, take a look at our master schedule. You can also find live scoring and video links for all this weekend’s competitions below.

Date Time (ET) Teams Scoring Link Video Link
Sat, Feb 2 1 p.m. Navy at Army Scores Stream
Sat, Feb 2 2 p.m. Temple at William & Mary Scores Facebook Live
Sat, Feb 2 3 p.m. Minnesota, UIC at Iowa Scores BTN+
Sat, Feb 2 4 p.m. Michigan at Ohio State Scores BTN+
Sat, Feb 2 4 p.m. California, Stanford, Washington at Arizona State Scores
Sat, Feb 2 7 p.m. Illinois, Oklahoma at Nebraska Scores Stream
Sat, Feb 2 TBD NorCal United, SC United and Chinese JR National Team Scores

READ THIS NEXT: The Mount: Week Five WAG

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Article by Brandis Heffner

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