You would think 14 cherries on top of a sundae are absurd, but why not add a 15th? Arizona State men’s gymnastics did Saturday.
Coach Scott Barclay said it was a cherry on top of the season to win the 2012 USA Gymnastics Collegiate National Championships. The club claimed its 15th National Title in Colorado Springs, Colo., at the US Air Force Academy.
“The guys outshined themselves,” Barclay said. “When you peak at the right time, that’s what you gear your whole training program toward.”
The Sun Devils won the collegiate division with a season high score of 328.60. Barclay said that some of it is luck, but as a coach he tries to take that out of the equation.
That’s why he was also honored with National Collegiate Coach of the Year; Rob Survick was also honored with National Assistant coach of the year.
“It’s a great honor. It’s fun,” Barclay said. “More than that, it’s about seeing the team get to where they wanted to be.”
Some notable performances include seniors Alex Gaudaur and Cody Payne. Gaudaur, a captain, will be returning as a three-time All-American and was honored with 2012 Senior Athlete of the Year. He also became this year’s National All-Around Champion. Payne also became an All-American for the rings to end his career.
“All the work I put in has shown,” Gaudaur said. “As long as I keep doing what I’m doing things will keep going.”
Gaudaur said that he just needed to “refine everything” and that had been the main factor.
“We put up our highest score of the year,” Gaudaur said. “We started really well and we had a solid meet all the way through.”
Gaudaur also went on to say that the club had minor slip-ups, but nothing game-changing. Barclay said that he had worried because preparedness had been the main challenge up to the championships.
Days before the competition, gymnasts were not making the hits necessary to win, Barclay said. The day of the tournament, though, the Sun Devils pulled through. Barclay was happy with the clutch performances as his gymnasts completed their routines, giving ASU the needed points.
With this year ending on something sweet, next year couldn’t be sweeter, right? Not quite. Barclay insisted on giving his team a break to enjoy the win but the team sees it otherwise. Not days after their victory, they are back in Aspire Sports’ gym.
“They came in anyways,” Barclay said. “They already have their desires set. They want it. They have passion coming out the wazoo.”
Barclay said that this makes him feel tremendous about his club. He feels that attitude and effort are the utmost qualities in his team’s control—they’re taking advantage of that.
“This is the best it’s happened in a long time,” Barclay said. “Nothing is going to change (for next year). We will keep working the plan and make adjustments later.”
Whatever the plan is, they might have to add another scoop to their sundae.
“We’re losing Cody but I think we have guys who can step up and be big scorers. We keep getting better,” Gaudaur said.
You can reach me at bcapria@asu.edu.
