2006 Gymnasts of the Week

Gymnast of the Week
Andrew Malaby (Springfield)
Malaby, a senior from West Warwick, Rhode Island, posted an 8.75 to win Rings by .05 over John Vogtman from Temple in the New England Invitatioal at Springfield College this weekend. A USAG All-American and an Academic All-American last year, Andrew is a Sports Biology major with plans to attend medical school next year. Rookie of the Week

Rookie of the Week
Boris Rasin (MIT)
Rasin, a freshman, placed 4th in the all-around competition behind Luke Vexler (Temple), Steven Swider (Springfield) posting a very respectable 45.75 at the New England Invitational at Springfield College. He also finished in a three way tie for 4th on horizontal bar (8.0) According to MIT Coach, Noah Riskin, Boris has demonstrated an extrordinary work ethic, consistency, and team rapport.

Weekend of March 3-5

Gymnast of the Week
Steve Swider (Springfield)
A sophomore from Altamont, NY, Swider posted season high 48.85 to win the all-around as Springfield posted a season high 194.35 in their loss to Army (204.10). Steve is Sports Management mojor.  

Rookie of the Week
Richard Pearson (William & Mary)
A freshman, Pearson won his first event as a collegiate gymnast with an outstanding 8.60 performance on pommel horse against the Naval Academy helping the Tribe to a 204.60 to 202.5 victory over the midshipmen. He also counted for an 8.15 on parallel bars. A day earlier he helped William & Mary to their season high team score of 205.1 against Penn State with an 8.3 on pommel horse. Pearson is a pre-med major from Baton Rouge, LA.

Weekend of February 25-26

Gymnast of the Week
Clay Stewart (Temple)
Stewart, a floor exercise specialist and junior with sophomore eligibility and a walk on to the Temple program, scored a 9.40 to win Floor Exercise in his session of the Pacific Coast Classic. Clay is a finance major from Clover, South Carolina.

Rookie of the Week
Jason Russo (Temple)
Russo, a freshman, working with a large rip, scored season highs on Rings (7.95), on Vault (8.75), and on Horizontal Bar (8.35) to help Temple to a win over the Air Force Academy in the Pacific Coast Classic. Russo is a Civil Engineering major is from Waterbury, Connecticut.

Weekend of February 18-19

Gymnast of the Week
Mike Assenmacher (United State Military Academy)
A sophomore from Milford, Michigan, Assenmacher led Army (207.75) to victory over Navy (207.70) and Air Force (179.475)in the All Academy Championship in Laguna Beach, California in heroic fashon with a meet high 8.45 performance on parallel bars to seal the .05 win for Army on their last event.  Pushing through an anle injury and competing for the first time in two weeks, Assenmacher amassed an impressive 41.00 point total on five events (did not compete rings) to propel the Black Knights to a win.  

Rookie of the Week
Sloan Crawford (William & Mary)
A freshman business major from Burlington, Ontario Crawford scored his first 9.0 in collegiate competion with a third place finish on floor exercise as William & Mary turned in a season high 209.55 in their win over James Madison.  He also finished 4th on horizontal bar (8.25) and 6th on vault (8.60) both personal bests.

Weekend of February 3-4

Gymnast of the Week
Mike Tiffany (United State Military Academy)
A junior from Carmel, New York Tiffany turned a score of 9.4 on Rings to move him into 3rd place in the national rankings as Army turned in a season high score of 207.10 to defeat the Air Force Academy (183.90) at home this past weekend to stay atop the ECAC standings. An Engineering major, Tiffany received his early training at World Cup Gymnastics.

Rookie of the Week
James Prim (William & Mary)
A Freshman from Hendersonville, North Carolina and a pre-med major, Prim captured his first event win with an 8.30 performance on Pommel Horse and followed it up with an 8.40 on Rings for a 5th place at the James Madison Open as the Tribe (201.35) defeated Navy (196.30), Illinois Chicago (195.15), and JMU (171.70) in the four team event.

Weekend of January 27-28

Gymnast of the Week
Luke Vexler (Temple University)
A sophomore from Amherst, MA (Hampshire Gymnastics), Luke won the all-around competition at the West Point Open with a score of 50.75 hitting routines on all 6 events in route to qualifying for floor exercise, pommel horse, parallel bars, and horizontal bar in the Individual Event Finals.  The 2005 Rookie of the Year turned in outstanding performances again on Saturday evening winning the floor exercise (8.85), earning a third place finishes on pommel horse (8.25) and horizontal bar (8.75) and 5th on parallel bars (8.10).

Rookie of the Week
John Vogtman (Temple University)
A freshman from Baltimore, MD (Rebounders Gymnastics) performing in only his 4th meet and first in the all-around for Temple scored a 47.85 to finish 12th in the all-around competition at the West Point Open to help the Owls to a third place finish. John also qualified for the Individual Event Finals on pommel horse and parallel bars although he did not medal.  An undeclared major he has a strong interest in Engineering.

Weekend of January 21-22

Gymnast of the Week
Aaron Ingram (William & Mary)
A sophomore all-around gymnast from Holden, MA (Wachusette High School & Sterling Academy of Gymnastics) Aaron scored a season high 49.85 in route to winning the all-around while leading the 14th ranked Tribe to a 202.725 to 199.85 victory over 15th ranked Temple in William & Mary Hall in their first home meet of the season.  Ingram also won the pommel horse with an 8.75 score to go along with his second place finish on parallel bars with an 8.55 score.  He also posted season high scores of 8.20 on floor exercise, 8.15 on rings, 8.50 on vault, and a 7.7 on high bar.  An outstanding scholar athlete having earned Academic All-American Scholar-Athlete honors in his rookie season, and well on his way again, Aaron has posted a 3.75 cumulative average as a Business/Economics major at William & Mary.

Rookie of the Week
Jay Hilburn (William & Mary)
A freshman from San Antonio, TX (James Madison High School & Alamo Gymnastics) Jay posted season high scores on three events in his first home meet for the Tribe.  His scores of 7.90 of floor exercise, 8.75 on vault, and a crucial 8.0 on horizontal bar helped to seal the win over 15th ranked Temple in a close home meet.

Weekend of January 13-14

Gymnast of the Week
Nick Stavros (University of Illinois at Chicago) A senior from Hawthorne Woods, Illinois majoring in Criminal Justice with new FIG Rules in place for the first time Nick earned the highest score of the meet in preliminary competition (9.50) as his performance on pommel horse topped all Big Ten competitors at this past weekend's Windy City Open.  He came back in the Individual Event Finals with a score of 9.05 to tie teammate Brad Trompeter for a second place finish .