The Stanford Open is usually one of the most exciting events of the season. But this year it left both fans and athletes stunned. And Stanford’s 5-year unbeaten run finally came to an end. The team faced a challenge that was harder than they expected, and the result was there. What exactly went wrong for Stanford, and could this be a turning point for the team?
Stanford has been a dominant force in the world of Men’s gymnastics. And, it made history last year as only the second program to achieve its fifth consecutive NCAA championship. Under head coach Thom Glielmi, Stanford has earned seven NCAA titles. Meanwhile, the Buckeyes have been building their momentum, with senior Kameron Nelson named Big Ten Gymnast of the Week. However, Stanford’s dominance was broken as the #5-ranked Ohio gave them an unexpected defeat, breaking their five-year winning streak this year.
A recent tweet by Gymnastics Now captured the result. The tweet quotes, “No. 1 Stanford’s 5-year streak of winning the Stanford Open was snapped when No. 5 Ohio State upset the reigning national champs 323.000-319.850. The Buckeyes were led by Kameron Nelson, who put up the nation’s highest floor so far with a 14.600!” Ohio’s victory, incredible skills, and sheer grit gave them victory over the top-ranked Stanford team. Nelson shone with his floor routine, with an impressive 14.600 that led the team’s way to win.
But he was not alone. Parker Thackston also joined the party with a season-high 14.350 on the Pommel Horse. Spencer Lee followed this with a 13.850 of his own in the high bar event and sealed the deal for the event. The Buckeyes were on fire across all six events, with Jacob Harmon, Kristian Grahovski, and Tyler Burgess, each adding to the spoils of the win.
No. 1 Stanford’s 5-year streak of winning the Stanford Open was snapped when No. 5 Ohio State upset the reigning national champs 323.000-319.850
The Buckeyes were led by Kameron Nelson, who put up the nation’s highest floor so far with a 14.600! #NCAAgym pic.twitter.com/mrasZ8pM2o
— Gymnastics Now (@Gymnastics_Now) January 26, 2025
Head Coach Rustam Sharipov also shared his joy at this performance. “I’m really proud of the way our guys went out there and competed today! We continue to get better each meet, which is our goal, and to do so on the road in front of a great crowd will set us up well for the rest of the season,” he said. “We always have things that we can improve, but overall, I’m very proud of what we showed today,” he added. This shows his pride in the team’s growth and the way Ohio State is carrying forward into the rest of the season.
But moving past the strength of Ohio, fans of Stanford can argue that the Cardinals were not at their full strength. The absence of key figures like Asher Hong and Jeremy Bischoff added to Stanford’s loss. But the coach and fans are hopeful about their star gymnast’s return. After all, Asher Hong has proved time and again why is “The Guy” for the Cardinals.
How the Stanford Cardinals transformed Asher Hong
With multiple NCAA titles and All-American nominations, Asher Hong is the main man for the Cardinals. And his absence was duly felt in the loss against Ohio State. But with Asher soon to return, the Cardinals look like they will be back to their winning ways. But things were not always like for Asher. The man who made him into an Olympian is none other than the Stanford Cardinals head coach Thom Glielmi.
Thom Glielmi has shaped much of his journey. Glielmi has built a reputation for turning gymnasts into stars, teaching them the importance of consistency along the way. The way he trained him wasn’t just about mastering routines. His coaching has pushed Hong to see setbacks as part of the process, not a failure. This approach helped Hong’s development to tackle any challenge that came his way, including the pressure-filled Olympic trials.
Asher Hong’s time in collegiate gymnastics also played a role in how he performed at the trials. Hong learned how to quickly bounce back from a fall and keep his focus back on the game. He shared his mindset: “[I just told myself]Reset and forget about the fall. In the collegiate space, you don’t want to fall a second time for your team.”
Asher Hong’s absence from the Stanford Cardinals has had a noticeable impact on the team’s performance. Hong didn’t just shine with personal triumphs, but his very presence uplifted the entire team. He won the all-around title at the 2023 Xfinity US Gymnastics Championships. Losing such a team member made the match against Ohio State hard.
In college, Hong learned that for the team to be successful, each gymnast had to learn to let go of their mistakes. Leave those mistakes and keep moving forward. He was able to keep his cool and remain determined despite the pressure he had to face. And with the match against California around the corner, Asher will have another chance to prove to everyone why is among the best,
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