By: J.C. Olsson, team member.

The mens gymnastics season has started with three intense competitions. The first was a home meet against Southern Conneticut on Jan. 17 at which the engineers placed a strong second. A week later MIT went up against Springfield College and Navy, where it laid claim to the bronze. The following week the Engineers valiantly faced both the U-Mass Minutemen and the Vermont Catamounts, landing firmly in third after the chalk had settled. Despite valiant efforts, MIT has yet to defeat its opponents.

The team lost 3 powerful seniors at the end of last year, namely Rob Cooper and Andy Lobban, two strong all-arounders, and Van C. Van the dancer with a flair for high tumbling. The team struggled to offset those losses with the return of co-captain Rob Spina (99) and a cleaner starting line. Rob, recovering from shoulder surgery last season, is sacrificing his body for the sport of gymnastics.

Our floor lineup boasts Dave Golombek (98) and Chris Resto (99). Dave, known for his dancing at East Campus parties, continues to increase the value of his floor routine by adding twisting elements. Chris has reached new personal bests through more consistant tumbling and cute strength combinations.

Floor, Pommel Horse, Vault and P-bars are four events you'll find the newcomer James Tanabe (00), a long haired country boy who's rapidly becoming a valuable asset to the team. Keep an eye on this boy.

Andy McCraith (98) continues to support the team with his pommel and vault sets. Using his height as an advantage on these two events, he helps the team on their two weakest events. Alex Sindt (99), the pretty boy martial arts pascifist, had little time to pose as he barreled down the vaulting runway last Saturday.

The stud trio made up of Max Fischer (00), John Tilly (00) and Brian Clarkson (??) support the team through their brute strength routines on rings. Max and John vie against each other on P-Bars too, a swing event they've managed to convert also to a muscle match.

"Oh my god, they've killed Kenny," is a phrase constantly heard throughout training as physics major Ken Esler (99) attempts to defy the laws of gravity, and the idea that no two objects can be in the same place at the same time. A veteran all-arounder, Ken's bad wrists have temporarily taken him off pommel horse...

Finally the two all-arounders Jason Miller (99, co-captain) and J.C. Olsson (00, single) continue to improve their personal bests. J.C.'s incessant whining about his shins has relieved him temporarily of floor and vault duties, leaving Jason as the pillar of support.

Looking ahead, the Men's team faces off yet again against Vermont next weekend, February 7th. They would also like to thank the Northeastern women's team for holding overlapping practices in the DuPont facility.