The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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66 THE WOLVERINE ❱ MAY 2026 BY ANTHONY BROOME T he No. 2-ranked men's gymnastics team finished third at the NCAA Championships on April 18 at State Farm Center in Champaign, Ill. Despite falling short of the program's second consecutive national title, the night was headlined by senior Fred Richard, who won his sec- ond straight and third career NCAA all- around title with an 83.598 score. No. 3 Stanford (329.825) took home the national championship, while No. 1 Oklahoma was runner-up in the event (328.495). U-M remained within striking distance for much of the meet, climbing as high as second place midway through, but couldn't fully close the gap in the final rotations. While the program fell short of its title aspirations, one last performance from the 2026 Nissen-Emery Award winner — given for career achievement, sportsman- ship, fair play, and athletic excellence to a college senior —made for a memorable season send-off for the nation's top se- nior gymnast. Richard is the fourth Wolverine to win the Nissen-Emery Award in program his- tory, joining Paul Juda (2023), Sam Mi- kulak (2014) and Justin Toman (2002). He has cemented himself as one of the all-time greats and one of the most ac- complished gymnasts in program history. In addition to his all-around title, Rich- ard picked up silver medals on the floor (14.400) and parallel bars (14.533). He is the first Wolverine to win back-to-back all-around titles since Mikulak in 2013- 14. Richard was the driving force behind Michigan's performance, delivering high- level routines across nearly every rota- tion while helping the Wolverines steady themselves at key moments. He posted a 13.766 on pommel horse to stabilize an early dip and followed it with a season- high 13.933 on still rings to help swing momentum back in U-M's favor. Richard added a 13.800 on vault as part of a strong rotation that moved the Wolverines into second place, then turned in one of the team's top scores on parallel bars with a 14.533. He finished with a 13.166 on high bar. Richard saved his best for last, anchor- ing the floor exercise with a 14.400 to help Michigan secure a third-place finish. Individually, he was in a class of his own, winning the all-around with a sea- son-best 83.598, nearly five points clear of the field and second-place finisher Max Odden of Nebraska. It was a commanding performance that underscored his consistency and ability to rise to the biggest stages of his career. "It's crazy just knowing the one thing that you can't control is time," Richard said, via The Michigan Daily. "I wanted it to last longer, move slower, but nope, I woke up this morning. Time just kept chugging along. And now my college ca- reer is done." U-M head coach Yuan Xiao saw it as another representation of a standard built by some of the best in program history. "That's our team culture and legacy," Xiao said, per the Daily. "We had Paul Juda. Now we had Fred Richard and they are just all-time excellent for four years." Other standouts from the event in- cluded senior Landen Blixt, who took home bronze on vault (14.366). Sopho- more Aaronson Mansberger finished sec- ond on the pommel horse (14.566), and sophomore Carson Eshleman won silver on high bar (14.200) for the second season in a row. All told, six Wolverines combined for five medals and 11 All-America nods. The team's result may not have ended with another title trophy, but Richard's performance ensured the night would still be remembered. In a sport driven by precision and timing, he delivered both again, capping one of the most accom- plished careers in program history. ❑ ❱ OLYMPIC SPORTS UPDATE U-M Men's Gymnastics Star Fred Richard Wins Third All-Around NCAA Title Richard, a senior, won his second straight and third career NCAA all-around title with an 83.598 score. PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN PHOTOGRAPHY