Fighting for Five

Fighting for Five

By Evan Heiter

 And the discussion begins! As the 2012 U.S. Senior Men’s National Team was named this afternoon, it was also announced that five other athletes would be named to compete at the 2012 Olympic Trials later this month in San Jose, Calif. Exactly who those five athletes will be is still a mystery: it’s at the discretion of the men’s selection committee to choose who they see fit and/or who they want to see more from. Here’s our list of five athletes we think have a shot at being added to the Trials roster.

Glen Ishino- 8^th All Around

2012 runner-up on the all-important pommel horse. Ishino had an up and down competition at the Visa Championships,but a bright spot for him both days was pommel horse. Some have speculated that Ishino fills the pommel void for Team USA. We agree, but with the emergence of Sam Mikulak (14.5, 14.65) and Chris Brooks (14.0 Day 1) the selection committee will most likely put Ishino through to Trials, but that will most likely be the end of his Olympic quest.

-GOING-

 Steven Legendre- 10^th All Around

A rough second day of VISA Championships left many stunned not to see Legendre in the top six in the nation. However, that’s the exact nature of the sport and purpose of having a series of qualifying competitions leading up to the Olympic Games. His many international assignments and appearances on the National Team beg one to think the committee would be so bold as to omit him from the mix. Legendre has been a work-horse for USA Gymnastics and fans, along with the selection committee, will want to see more from this powerhouse.

-GOING-

CJ Maestas- 12^th All Around

Maestas scored above 15.0 on still rings on both days of the competition in St. Louis. Interestingly, when athletes were being wrangled for the National Team presentation, Maestas was seen wearing a National Team warm-up jacket in one moment, and then without it the next. This most likely bodes well for the soon-to-be sophomore at Illinois.

-GOING-

 Josh Dixon- 13^th All Around

Hitting a successful 87.300 all around in the first day of competition, Dixon faltered on vault and parallel bars during the second. With three events having 15.0+ potential, Dixon is another floor/vault/high bar specialist with stylish gymnastics and consistent performances (most of the time). Given his previous appearances on the National Team, we think Dixon will make an appearance at Trials.

-GOING-

 Alex Naddour- 16^th All Around

2012’s National Champ on pommel horse, Naddour didn’t do much to solidify himself as a viable all arounder in St. Louis. However, he did blast a 15.350 pommel set on the second day of competition. Again, Naddour has previously been on the National Team and even the 2011 bronze-medal winning Worlds squad, and these creds. will most likely influence the committee into adding Naddour to the Trials mix.

-GOING-

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