Title:

Getting in the swing of things

Video Subheadline: Top teams set sights high for season as action gets under way

Video Headline:

NCAA.com

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Last Updated - January 4, 2012 12:53 GMT

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ON THE RISE

Jake Dalton
Oklahoma
Jr. | 5-5

Key Notes:
• Claimed first two NCAA titles of his career on floor and vault
• Earned All-America status on floor, vault, parallel bars and high bar in 2011
• Broke previous vault program record

Tyler Mizoguchi
Illinois
Sr. | 5-2

Key Notes:
• Won first-career NCAA title on parallel bars and finished runner-up in the all-around at the NCAA championships
• Earned All-America honors on parallel bars and all-around
• Garnered first-team All-Big Ten

Sam Mikulak
Michigan
So.

Key Notes:
• 2011 NCAA All-Around Champion
• 2011 Big Ten All-Around Champion
• 2011 Big Ten Gymnast of the Year
• 2011 Big Ten Freshman of the Year • Four-time All-American in 2011 (all-around, floor, vault, parallel bars)

Josh Dixon
Stanford
Sr. | 5-9

Key Notes:
• 2011 national champion
• Added the sixth and seventh All-America honors of his career with a fourth-place finish in the floor exercise and an eighth-place finish all-around
• Came in 11th at the NCAA championship event finals on floor

Parker Raque
Penn State
Jr. | 5-6

Key Notes:
• Became first two-time Penn State All-American since 2009, earning honors in the floor exercise and vault in 2011
• Placed fourth in the vault and fifth in the floor exercise in individual finals of the NCAA championships

KEEP AN EYE ON THESE PROGRAMS
Oklahoma Key Players: Jake Dalton (Jr.), Troy Nitzky (RS Jr.). Noting the Sooners: The eight-time national champion Sooners recently received the No. 1 ranking in the GymInfo Preseason Coaches’ Poll. The 2012 Sooners will be led by junior Jake Dalton, the 2011 NCAA National Champion on floor and vault. The Sooners return seven letter-winners overall, including All-American Troy Nitzky. Oklahoma, the 2011 NCAA runner-up, will enter the 2012 season coming off of its 11th-consecutive top-three finish at the NCAA Championships. The Sooners’ regular season kicks off on Jan. 14. Illinois Key Players: Tyler Mizoguchi (Sr.), Anthony Sacramento (Sr.), C.J. Padera (Sr.). Noting the Illini: The Illini are ranked second nationally in the GymInfo Preseason Coaches’ Poll after finishing third at the 2011 NCAA Championships and winning their third consecutive Big Ten crown last season. The 2012 Illini return three 2011 All-Americans, including U.S. senior national team member and reigning NCAA parallel bar champion Tyler Mizoguchi, who earned All-America accolades on parallel bars and in the all-around last season. The Orange and Blue will kick off the season on Jan. 14. Michigan Key Players: Sam Mikulak (So.), Adrian de los Angeles (Fr.). Noting the Wolverines: No. 3-ranked Michigan was picked to finish second in the Big Ten. Sophomore Sam Mikulak, the 2011 NCAA all-around champion, and freshman Adrian de los Angeles are ready to lead the Wolverines to another successful run this season and hope to improve on last season’s fifth-place finish at the NCAA Championships. After welcoming 11 freshmen a year ago, the Wolverines will add 10 newcomers this season, making 21 of the 25 members of this season’s squad underclassmen. Michigan opens up the 2012 slate on Jan. 14.

KEEP AN EYE ON THESE PROGRAMS

Oklahoma
Key Players: Jake Dalton (Jr.), Troy Nitzky (RS Jr.).

Noting the Sooners: The eight-time national champion Sooners recently received the No. 1 ranking in the GymInfo Preseason Coaches’ Poll. The 2012 Sooners will be led by junior Jake Dalton, the 2011 NCAA National Champion on floor and vault. The Sooners return seven letter-winners overall, including All-American Troy Nitzky. Oklahoma, the 2011 NCAA runner-up, will enter the 2012 season coming off of its 11th-consecutive top-three finish at the NCAA Championships. The Sooners’ regular season kicks off on Jan. 14.

Illinois
Key Players: Tyler Mizoguchi (Sr.), Anthony Sacramento (Sr.), C.J. Padera (Sr.).

Noting the Illini: The Illini are ranked second nationally in the GymInfo Preseason Coaches’ Poll after finishing third at the 2011 NCAA Championships and winning their third consecutive Big Ten crown last season. The 2012 Illini return three 2011 All-Americans, including U.S. senior national team member and reigning NCAA parallel bar champion Tyler Mizoguchi, who earned All-America accolades on parallel bars and in the all-around last season. The Orange and Blue will kick off the season on Jan. 14.

Michigan
Key Players: Sam Mikulak (So.), Adrian de los Angeles (Fr.).

Noting the Wolverines: No. 3-ranked Michigan was picked to finish second in the Big Ten. Sophomore Sam Mikulak, the 2011 NCAA all-around champion, and freshman Adrian de los Angeles are ready to lead the Wolverines to another successful run this season and hope to improve on last season’s fifth-place finish at the NCAA Championships. After welcoming 11 freshmen a year ago, the Wolverines will add 10 newcomers this season, making 21 of the 25 members of this season’s squad underclassmen. Michigan opens up the 2012 slate on Jan. 14.

TOP CONTESTS IN 2012
	@		Jan. 13: No. 4 Stanford Cardinal at No. 5 California Bears
	@		Jan. 14: No. 14 Army Black Knights at No. 6 Penn State Nittany Lions
	@		Jan. 21: No. 1 Oklahoma Sooners at No. 7 Ohio State Buckeyes
	@		Jan. 21: No. 2 Illinois Illini at No. 10 Iowa Hawkeyes
	@		Jan. 21: No. 6 Penn State Nittany Lions at No. 3 Michigan Wolverines
	@		Jan. 22: No. 11 Air Force Falcons at No. 9 Nebraska Huskers
	@		Jan. 28: No. 8 Minnesota Gophers at No. 11 Air Force Falcons
	@		Feb. 18: No. 2 Illinois Illini at No. 6 Penn State Nittany Lions
	@		Feb. 24: No. 11 Air Force Falcons at No. 14 Army Black Knights
	@		Feb. 25: No. 10 Iowa Hawkeyes at No. 1 Oklahoma Sooners
	@		Feb. 25: No. 8 Minnesota Gophers at No. T12 UIC Flames
	@		Feb. 26: No. 11 Air Force Falcons at No. T12 Temple Owls
	@		March 10: No. 3 Michigan Wolverines at No. 1 Oklahoma Sooners
	@		March 15: No. 14 Army Black Knights at No. 15 William & Mary Tribe
	@		March 17: No. T12 UIC Flames at No. 3 Michigan Wolverines

FROM THE COACHES

Mark Williams
Oklahoma
On the team’s progress so far:

“I’m pleased with the direction that the team is going in. I definitely feel we’ve improved quite a bit in the past month and a half. In comparing our past teams, I don’t think we are either further or behind than any other team, so I think we’re really on track for this time of the year. We seem to be pretty healthy going into the break and we’re looking forward to having a little time off, coming back, and getting the season started at the Rocky Mountain Open.”

Kurt Golder
Michigan
On the upcoming season and the annual intrasquad meet:

“That is always the main thing in preseason competition, staying healthy. [The night's performance] confirmed what I thought heading into the meet, that we’re potentially a real good team, but we have a long way to go. Some events looked really good, especially parallel bar and pommel horse. In those events, we can be where we need to be at the end of the year pretty soon. In the other events, we have a lot of work to do.”

Rustam Sharipov
Ohio State
On the annual intrasquad meet:

“I thought overall the guys did a good job. Everybody wants to do their best and that’s what it is all about. I thought the mistakes they made were simple and once we go back into the video they will be able see what they are doing and correct them. This was a good stepping point in our preparation for the regular season.”

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