2025 Big Ten Men’s Gymnastics Individual Titles Awarded

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Six individual event titles were handed out Saturday night to cap off the 2025 Big Ten Conference Men’s Gymnastics Championships at Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor, Mich. In addition, University of Michigan junior Fred Richard was named the Gymnast of the Championships, while Wolverines head coach Yuan Xiao was chosen the Big Ten Coach of the Year by a vote of the conference coaches.

Earlier this week, Nebraska’s Taylor Christopulos was named Gymnast of the Year, while Illinois' Brandon Dang and Ian Sandoval were named Specialist and Freshman of the Year, respectively. This marks the second Gymnast of the Year honor for Christopulos, who was also recognized in 2023, while Dang was also named Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2024.

Richard claimed his second consecutive award and third in a row for the Wolverines after winning his third consecutive Big Ten All-Around title on Friday night.

Xiao was named Big Ten Coach of the Year for the fourth consecutive season, marking the sixth straight Coach of the Year award for a Michigan head coach. Yuan’s predecessor at Michigan, Kurt Golder, was the recipient in 2020 and 2021.

Ohio State’s Jesse Pakele claimed the floor exercise title with a score of 14.075. The junior is the first Buckeye to win the floor since 2016 when Sean Melton took the gold.

Big Ten Specialist of the Year Brandon Dang posted a score of 14.775 to earn gold on the pommel horse. Dang is the event’s first repeat winner since Minnesota’s Ellis Mannon won the pommel horse gold in 2014-15 and joins Illinois head coach Daniel Ribeiro with multiple pommel horse gold medals.

Nebraska swept the top three spots in the still rings, with Yanni Chronopoulos scoring a 13.950 to earn a slim win over Asher Cohen (13.925) and Chris Hiser (13.850). This marks the Huskers’ first medal in the still rings since Robbie Kocks finished third in 2014.

Ohio State’s Kameron Nelson claimed the vault crown, posting a score of 14.850. This is Nelson’s second vault gold, following his win in 2022.  

Penn State’s Josh Karnes’ score of 14.450 in the parallel bars was enough to take the top spot on the podium. The Nittany Lion senior also won the event in 2023.

Evgeny Siminiuc from Michigan scored a 14.100 to win the high bar title. This is Michigan’s third high bar gold in the last four championships.

A total of 20 gymnasts earned All-Big Ten honors following their performances at this weekend’s conference meet, including seven from Michigan, six from Nebraska, three from Illinois and Ohio State, and one from Penn State.  

Click here to view complete results from tonight's individual championship events.

The 2025 Big Ten men’s gymnastics individual award recipients and all-conference honorees can be found below.

2025 BIG TEN MEN’S GYMNASTICS HONORS

Team Champion: University of Michigan
Gymnast of the Year: Taylor Christopulos, NEB
Specialist of the Year: Brandon Dang, ILL
Freshman of the Year: Ian Sandoval, ILL
Coach of the Year: Yuan Xiao, MICH
Gymnast of the Championships: Fred Richard, MICH 

ALL-BIG TEN FIRST TEAM
Brandon Dang, ILL
Ian Sandoval, ILL
Paul Juda, MICH
Fred Richard, MICH
Evgeny Siminiuc, MICH
Taylor Christopulos, NEB
Yanni Chronopoulos, NEB
Kameron Nelson, OSU
Jesse Pakele, OSU
Josh Karnes, PSU

ALL-BIG TEN SECOND TEAM
Garrett Schooley, ILL
Solen Chiodi, MICH
Zach Granados, MICH
Pierce Wolfgang, MICH
David Wolma, MICH
Asher Cohen, NEB
Chris Hiser, NEB
Joey Pepe, NEB
Nathan York, NEB
Parker Thackston, OSU

BIG TEN SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD HONOREES
Amari Sewell, ILL
Paul Juda, MICH    
Chris Hiser, NEB   
Justin Ciccone, OSU 
Matt Underhilll, PSU

Click here to view 2025 Big Ten Men's Gymnastics Team Championship recap and results.