The No. 8-ranked Minnesota men’s gymnastics team defeated No. 9 Temple and No. 10 Nebraska in a double-dual meet at the Sports Pavilion. The Gophers won the meet with a tally of 342.800, while Nebraska was second with a 341.900, and Temple came in third with a 326.100. Aaron Fortunato was the all around champion with a total score of 84.700, his second-highest all around tally of the season.

The Gophers were up on floor in the first rotation, and earned a total of 59.250, the team’s best floor score of the 2008 season. Cole Storer was the team’s top scorer, earning a 15.300, his season-high score, to take first place. Adam Reichow was the runner-up on floor, earning a 14.750, also a season-high score. Colin McGuire rounded out the top three with a 14.650. Nebraska earned a 55.800 on pommel horse in the first rotation, while Temple had a 53.850 on rings.

On pommel horse, Minnesota tallied a 54.200, led by Kit Beikmann, who finished in third place with a 14.250. Michael Hillin placed fourth with a 13.500. Minnesota held onto its lead after two rotations, with a running score of 113.450. Nebraska had a 112.200, and Temple had a 110.850 after two rotations.

Led by Mitchell Mays, Minnesota earned a total of 55.800 on rings. Mays finished in second place with a 14.300. Sergei Dmitriev was the team’s second-highest scorer on rings with a 13.800 to place seventh. The Gophers fell to second-place after the third rotation, as Nebraska had a 169.700, Minnesota sat at 169.250, and Temple had a 162.300.

The Gophers tallied their best vault score of the year with a 63.500. Mitchell Mays was the event winner with a 16.450. Cole Storer finished second on vault, earning a 15.750. Andre Berry and Colin McGuire tied for fourth place with scores of 15.650. McGuire’s vault score was his best of the season. The Gophers regained the lead after the fourth rotation, with a total of 232.750. After four events, Nebraska had a 226.950, while Temple had a 210.000.

On parallel bars, Minnesota earned a 56.350. Aaron Fortunato was the team’s highest scorer, earning a 14.250 to place fourth. Mitchell Mays earned a mark of 14.200 to place fifth, and Steve Vuong was sixth with a 14.150. Vuong’s score was his best this season. Minnesota increased its lead going into the final rotation, with a score of 289.100. Nebraska had a 290.300, while Temple had a 270.600.

In the sixth rotation, the Gophers tallied a 53.700 on high bar. Once again, the team’s top performer was Aaron Fortunato, who finished second with a 13.800. Cole Storer placed third on high bar with a 13.700. Colin McGuire came in fourth, earning a 13.450.

Aaron Fortunato was the all around champion, earning a 84.700. Fortunato was Minnesota’s only all around competitor in the meet.

The Gophers have a weekend off before returning to competition on March 15. The Gophers will compete at Oklahoma in the team’s final road meet of the regular season.