ANNAPOLIS., Md., March 30, 2018 – Gymnasts from the three military academies – U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Military Academy and U.S. Naval Academy – won the event titles on the final day of the 2019 USA Gymnastics Men’s Collegiate National Championships, held at Navy’s Macdonough Hall in Annapolis, Md.

Navy’s Lucas Beltran of Corpus Christi, Texas, won the floor exercise title with his 14.050. Kiwan Watts of Richmond, Va./Arizona State University, was second with a 13.800. John Murphy of Hilo, Hawaii/Springfield College, and Frank Bradley of McLean, Va./Navy, tied for third with a 13.500.

David Toussaint of Warren, Ohio/Navy, is the pommel horse champion (14.050). Kirk Malm of Colorado Springs, Colo./ASU, earned a 13.000 to edge past the College of William and Mary’s Cutter Fugett of Boulder, Colo., at 12.950.

On still rings, Air Force’s Ethan Esval of Roswell, Ga., claimed a 13.950, which yielded the title. Ryan Orce of Gainesville, Fla./Navy, took second with a 13.750, followed by William and Mary’s David Watkins of Murphysboro, Ill., at 13.600.

Cole Casanova of Dallas/U.S. Military Academy, clinched the vault title by earning a 14.700. The Navy’s Frank Bradley of McLean, Va., and Beltran were second (14.500) and third (14.450), respectively.

The parallel bars crown went to Air Force’s Zack Polen of Dallas, who posted a 13.900. Watts landed in second at 13.800, with William and Mary’s Andrew Lyubovsky of Fairfax, Va., rounding out the top three (13.350).

Air Force’s Lukas Texeira of Waukesha, Wis., easily won the horizontal bar total with his 13.250. Navy’s Cash Buske of Centreville, Va., was second at 12.600, and Watts was third with a 12.050.

Several awards were presented at the conclusion of the competition.

Outstanding Senior Gymnast
Collegiate Division: Nick Horner, Southern California United
Varsity Division: Jacopo Gliozzi, College of William and Mary

Coach of the Year
Collegiate Division: Jesse Kitzen-Abelson, Temple University Varsity Division: Kip Simons, Navy

Assistant Coach(es) of the Year
Collegiate Division: Jeff Crockett, University of Washington
Varsity Division: Craig Holt and Colin Payne, Navy

On the first day of competition, the U.S. Naval Academy and Arizona State University won the Varsity and Collegiate Club Division team titles, respectively. Navy’s Ryan McVay of Roseville, Calif., and Watts won the Varsity and Collegiate all-around titles, respectively.

At the men’s USA Gymnastics Collegiate Championships, the team competition is divided into two categories, Varsity and Collegiate. The Varsity competition is for Division I, II or III, four-year institutions with gymnastics as a varsity sport that provide two or less full scholarships as well as the military academies, and the Collegiate team category is for two-year or four-year degree-granting schools with gymnastics as a club sport.

Five Varsity and seven Collegiate club teams were entered in this year’s championships. The schools in the Varsity Division are the College of William and Mary, Springfield College, U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Military Academy and U.S. Naval Academy. The Collegiate Division includes Arizona State University, New York Alliance, Northern California United, Northern Illinois University, Southern California United, Temple University and University of Washington.

Based in Indianapolis, USA Gymnastics is the national governing body for gymnastics in the United States. The organization is committed to creating a culture that encourages and supports its athletes and focuses on its highest priority, the safety and well-being of the athletes. USA Gymnastics has taken specific, concrete steps to strengthen its safe sport policies and procedures. Former gymnast and business executive Li Li Leung is the new president and chief executive officer of USA Gymnastics. The organization’s disciplines include men’s and women’s artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline and tumbling, acrobatic gymnastics and gymnastics for all (formerly known as group gymnastics). For more complete information, visit usagym.org.