Michigan Wolverines men's gymnastics
| Michigan Wolverines Men's Gymnastics | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Founded | 1931 |
| University | University of Michigan |
| Conference | Big Ten |
| Location | Ann Arbor, Michigan |
| Head coach | Kurt Golder (14th year) |
| Home arena | Cliff Keen Arena (Capacity: 1,800) |
| Nickname | Wolverines |
| Colors | Maize and Blue |
| National Championships | |
| 1963, 1969 (trampoline), 1970, 1970 (trampoline), 1999, 2010, 2013, 2014 | |
| Conference Champions | |
| 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1999, 2000, 2009, 2013, 2014 | |
The Michigan Wolverines men's gymnastics team represents the University of Michigan and competes in the Big Ten Conference. The Wolverines have won seven NCAA championships, 16 Big Ten championships and have been invited to 31 NCAA tournaments. Since 1999, Michigan has finished in the Super Six at the NCAA tournament in 11 of 12 seasons. In 2013, Michigan won its 5th NCAA men's gymnastics team championship. The following year, Michigan repeated as National Champions for its 6th NCAA men's gymnastics team championship.
The Michigan Wolverines men's gymnastics team has had four coaches in 65 years of competition: Wilbur West (1931–1933); Newt Loken (1948–1983); Bob Darden (1984–1996); and Kurt Golder (1997–present).
Wilbur West was Michigan's first men's gymnastics coach. In three years under West, the team compiled a record of 1–10. After the 1933 season, the gymnastics program was discontinued and was not resumed until 1948.
Newt Loken came to the University of Michigan in 1944 as a master's degree student. On the side, he coached the cheerleading team. At the time of Loken's arrival, Michigan did not have a men's gymnastics program. In 1947, the athletic board awarded varsity status to men's gymnastics, and Loken was named the head coach.
Loken remained the coach of Michigan's men's gymnastics team for 36 years and compiled a record of 250–72–1. His teams won NCAA men's gymnastics championships in 1963 and 1970 and 12 Big Ten championships. Loken coached 71 Big Ten individual event winners and 21 NCAA individual event winners.
In 1963, the Wolverines compiled a 6–0 in the regular season and won the Big Ten championship with 210.50 points. They went on to win the NCAA championship with a score of 129 points. The 1963 team also won six NCAA individual championships.
In 1970, the team compiled a perfect 12–0 record and won its second team championship with 164.150 points in the NCAA tournament.
Loken also coached the cheerleading team at Michigan as well as the varsity sport of trampoline. From 1947 through 1964, trampoline was included as an event in gymnastics competitions by both the AAU and NCAA. The first trampoline world championships were held in 1964. Loken led the Michigan trampoline team to NCAA championships in 1969 and 1970. Loken produced more trampoline champions and world medal winners than any other collegiate coach.
As of 2007, the 88-year-old Loken was still a regular at Michigan's men's gymnastics practices and events, and it was reported that he had not missed a Michigan home meet from 1948 to 2007. Assistant coach Scott Vetere said: "He knows everybody on the team, and if he forgets, he's 80-some years old, and he'll ask again. He's just a pure gymnastics guy – always wants to be around gymnastics, always wants to learn more, (always) wants to praise guys for what a wonderful job they're doing."
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