University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Air Force
No. 8 Men's Gymnastics Dispatches Air Force
February 16, 2002 | Men's Gymnastics
Feb. 16, 2002
AMHERST, Mass. - The University of Massachusetts men's gymnastics team posted its highest score of the season tonight as they defeated the Air Force Academy 208.900-197.250 in front of nearly 500 fans here at Boyden Gymnasium. With the victory, UMass improves its record to 5-1 on the season, while Air Force falls to 1-5 with the loss.
UMass was once again led by the terrific tandem of junior Darren Morace (Westfield, Mass.) and sophomore Patrick McFarlin (Longmeadow, Mass.). Morace won his fifth all-around title in six meets this season, posting a 52.050, his second-highest all-around score of the season.
McFarlin, who traveled with Morace to the U.S. Winter Nationals last weekend in Las Vegas, competed in just three events due to a leg injury. He claimed the individual title on all two of the three events, winning the parallel bars and horizontal bar competitions, and finishing second on the pommel horse.
The Minutemen won five events and posted a season-high 34.350 on the horizontal bar to clinch the meet. Senior Clayton Kent (Exeter, N.H.) claimed his first career floor exercise title, while Sean Monaco (Braintree, Mass.) stuck a spectacular vault in his first meet in more than a month to claim the crown in that event. Monaco's 9.200 was the highest score by any Minuteman other than Morace this season. Senior Brian Peterson (Albuquerque, N.M.) posted a career-high 9.250 on pommel horse to take his first-ever event title.
"This was a great performance by the entire team," head coach Roy Johnson said. "We had to make some adjustments as the meet went on, but our guys had great focus throughout the meet."
The University of Massachusetts men's gymnastics team has now won its last six meets in the friendly confines of Boyden Gymnasium, posting a 3-0 record at home last season. Dating back to the beginning of the 1999-2000 season, the Minutemen have posted an 9-1 home mark.
The Minutemen will return to action on Wednesday, February 20, as Southern Connecticut comes to Amherst for a dual meet. The meet is scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m.
- UMass -
