Aug. 18, 2009

Dallas, Texas - USA Gymnastics named the U.S. Men's National Team following the conclusion of the men's competition at the 2009 Visa Championships. The team includes 15 members, four of which have direct Stanford ties. Juniors Alex Buscaglia and Tim Gentry highlighted the Stanford qualifiers, which also included recently graduated Sho Nakamori and 2008 graduate David Sender.

Buscaglia, Gentry and Sender competed in the 2009 Visa Championships to ensure their selections, while Nakamori petitioned his spot as he continues to recover from a knee injury suffered earlier this summer.

The four Stanford representatives were the most of any university or club on the national team. Cal had three representatives to give the Bay Area major presence on the national team.

Gentry led the Cardinal with his ninth-place finish in the all around. In the individual events, Gentry had a top finish of tied for third on rings. He also excelled in the floor exercise and vault where he was sixth in both.

Sender, a current volunteer assistant coach with the Cardinal, was just behind his former teammate in 10th place. He placed second overall on both rings and vault. Following the competition Sender was named to the six-man World Championships team that is set to compete in October in London. However, Sender is expected to decline the invitation as he is set to begin veterinary school this fall and will be unable to compete.

Sender competed with a jersey that read shonakamori.com. This was to highlight the fact the USA gymnastics recently had their sponsorship dropped, which he and teammate, Nakamori are looking to rectify. To visit the website to read more as well as about Nakamori's quest for the 2012 Olympic Games, click HERE
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Being selected to the national team will give the Cardinal athletes a chance to compete for the United States in upcoming international competitions as well as receive benefits from USA gymnastics.