“I think I’d be lying if I
said I completely got over
[2008],” Sender told IG. “It
was still one of the—if not
the—toughest experiences
I’ve ever gone through.”
30
Stanford’s Tim Gentry, 9th AA, grabbed the last guaranteed spot on the national team, based on a points system.
“There’s no replacement for the Olympics,” he
said. “[They] were my goal ever since I can
remember.” Sender said if he did give it another
try, he probably wouldn’t come back until the
year before the 2012 Olympics.
Meanwhile, Horton’s focus is on the rest of
2009, and what he needs to do to be competitive internationally. Though he won rings and
shared first on high bar, he definitely looked tired
at the end of his pommel horse set in finals,
when he fell. He also said he lacked the
endurance to dismount high bar with his triple-twisting double.
He did not, however, water down his short-term goal. “I expect myself, nine weeks from
now in London, to be able to … push for [an all-around] medal at world championships,” he said.
JUNIOR COMPETITION
For the third year in a row, John Orozco (World
Cup) and Sam Mikulak (SCATS-HB) went 1-2,
respectively, in the 14-15 age group. Orozco,
16, also won every event but vault, where he put
his hands down on a new handspring-front with
a double twist. (See page 42 for a profile on
Orozco.) Mikulak, also 16, placed second on
every event except vault and high bar. Both gymnasts competed with the seniors on day two with
hopes of making the senior team, but neither
made the cut. Orozco placed 11th, Mikulak
22nd.
Such consistency in the junior ranks bodes
well for the future of the U.S. men’s program,
which seems healthier than ever.
Cameron Rogers (Zenith) initially won the 16-
18 age group, but he was outscored by Jake
Dalton (Gym Nevada) and CJ Maestas (Gold
Cup), who competed both days with the seniors.
Dalton, who won vault in the senior division, was
selected for the senior national team, but
Maestas was not. Maestas was placed on the 16-
18 team. IG
Defending champion David Sender nailed
his new Yurchenko-double pike on day
one, much to the delight of coach David
Durante (inset), but five falls on day two
dropped him all the way to 10th.
