Gymmin' Miel!

This evening marks the finals of the 2014 Winter Cup Challenge. This year's Winter Cup Challenge has been held inside the Riviera Hotel and Casino's Royale Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. After the first day of competition, Swiss Turner's Marvin Kimble lead with U.S.O.T.C's John Orozco and Sean Melton of Ohio State University tying for second. The University of Oklahoma's Alex Powarzynski came into the competition to replace Go For It USA's Emrye Cole who withdrew due to illness, here's hoping he feels better soon. Also sending out best wishes to the University of Michigan's Adrian De Los Angeles (who landed awkwardly during his floor routine), SCATS Gymnastics' Cameron Bock (who broke his ankle on Vault) and Steven Legendre of the University of Oklahoma (who left the arena after his Still Rings routine).

Christopher Brooks of Cypress Academy of Gymnastics/Team Hilton HHonors won the All Around title over Donell Whittenburg (U.S. Olympic Training) and Sean Melton of Ohio State University. Event Champions were: Eddie Penev (Stanford University) and Alec Robin (University of Oklahoma) on the Floor Exercise; Craig Hernandez of Penn State University on the Pommel Horse; Brandon Wynn (U.S. Olympic Training Center) topped the Still Rings; Penev and University of Illinois-Champaign's Chandler Eggleston tied for the Vault; Akash Modi (Stanford University) on the Parallel Bars and John Orozco (U.S. Olympic Training Center) on the Horizontal Bar. Congratulations to the six gymnasts added to the Men's National Squad.

NATIONAL TEAM:

Swiss Turners Gymnast Marvin Kimble leads after the first day of competition at the 2014 Winter Cup. John Orozco who trains at the U.S. Olympic Training Center is tied in second place with Ohio State University's Sean Melton. Yesterday's high scorers on each event were: Joshua Dixon of the USOTC on Floor Exercise, Craig Hernandez of Penn State University on the Pommel Horse, Donnell Whittenburg of the USOTC on the Still Rings, Ohio State University's Jake Martin on the Vault, Orozco on the Horizontal Bar and Adrian De Los Angeles of the University of Michigan on the Parallel Bars. The Finals take place today at 10pm ET.

The 2014 Winter Cup Challenge will be held from February 20th to 22nd at The Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. This is the first year that the competition has moved to a new venue. Thursday the 20th sees two Preliminary Sessions take place. From these two sessions the top 42 Gymnasts based on the Men's Program Committee's point ranking system will advance to the Final competition, along with the top three gymnasts on each apparatus. The All Around and Event Champions will be determined based on the two-day combined totals. The roster for this competition is incredible. I could go through all the ones to watch but it would take a seriously massive post. 

PARTICIPANTS (LISTED IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER BY SURNAME):