Sports

Coblenz Seventh in Individual Competition As Gymnastics Places Fourth at Nationals

The MIT men’s gymnastics team kicked off its postseason push with a fifth-place finish at the USA Gymnastics National Championship held this past weekend at Springfield College. Joshua S. Coblenz ’08, the Engineers’ lone representative in the individual competition, claimed seventh in the still rings with a score of 13.400.

The U.S. Naval Academy came away with the team title after compiling a mark of 339.300. The College of William and Mary placed second (338.450), followed by the U.S. Air Force Academy (335.100), the host Pride (326.200), and MIT (317.000).

In the all-around, MIT gymnasts secured seventh through 10th place as Coblenz led the way with a score of 80.200. Jacob T. Shapiro ’11 captured the next spot (79.500) while Boris Rasin ’09 (79.200) and Thomas S. Caldwell ’09 (77.500) wrapped up the contingent.

As a team, the Engineers finished fourth on the rings with a total of 54.950. Coblenz paced the squad with a 14.150 to tie for seventh as Shapiro placed right behind him at 14.100. Rasin registered a 13.950 while Caldwell collected a score of 12.750.

MIT matched its mark from the rings with a fourth place finish on the vault, as Caldwell recorded the team’s top tally of 13.900. Rasin edged out Coblenz, 13.750-13.700, as Matthew K. Heine ’08 closed out the scoring contingent with a 13.600. Shapiro also competed in the event, compiling a score of 13.500.

On the parallel bars, Shapiro tied for 15th (13.400), Heine tied for 17th (13.350), and Coblenz tied for 20th (13.200). Caldwell collected a 12.950 that brought the Engineers to a team mark of 52.900. Raisin rounded out the group with a total of 12.850.

Coblenz captured his final team-leading performance with a score of 13.750 on the floor exercise. Shapiro finished with a 13.300 as Rasin registered a 12.900. Caldwell placed one-tenth of a point behind Rasin while MIT posted an overall tally of 52.750.

Caldwell reached 14th place on the high bar with a 13.150 as the Engineers notched a total of 51.200. Coblenz claimed 16th (12.800) while Rasin captured the next spot with a 12.750. Shapiro bolstered the Cardinal and Gray’s efforts with a score of 12.500.

On the pommel horse, MIT compiled a mark of 50.250. Rasin paced the squad with a tally of 13.000, which was closely followed by Shapiro (12.700), Coblenz (12.600), and Caldwell (11.950). Jesse M. Ashcraft-Johnson ’11 came in right behind Caldwell with a score of 11.900.