Arizona State Men’s Gymanstics History Timeline

Arizona State Men's Gymnastics Timeline

2000
September 1
Don Robinson Inducted into the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame

Honored as the first Lifetime Achievement Award winner by the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame, Don Robinson coached and administered himself into a gymnastics icon. Following a fruitful run of nine conference and four state championships as a high school coach in Colorado, he moved on to the collegiate level. In the NCAA, Robinson coached at New Mexico University before settling in at Arizona State University, where he won six Pac-10 Conference titles and 13 NCAA top finishes in more than 30 seasons. Simultaneously, he organized the first two Coaches Congresses in 1965 and 1966, as well as became instrumental in the United States Gymnastics Federation. Additionally, Robinson served as President of the National Association of Collegiate Gymnastics Coaches.

1984
June 3
1984 – Dan Hayden USA Olympic Trails Parallel Bars – Video

Dan Hayden, a standout gymnast for Arizona State University, left a lasting legacy in Sun Devil gymnastics history. Competing at the highest level, Hayden captured two NCAA national titles on parallel bars and high bar, winning both events in 1985 and 1986. His dominance extended beyond individual events, as he finished tied for second in the all-around at the 1985 NCAA Championships and secured third place in the all-around in 1986. Beyond his NCAA achievements, Hayden earned All-America honors on floor exercise and pommel horse, further cementing his reputation as one of ASU’s most decorated gymnasts. His success continued on the international stage, where he competed for the U.S. Senior National Team for over four years, represented the U.S. at the 1985 and 1987 World Championships, and was named an alternate for the 1988 U.S. Olympic Team. That same year, he became the U.S. National Champion in the all-around. A…Read More

1978
April 8
1978 – Scott Barclay / John Corritore – All American – Parallel Bars
1978 NCAA Championships P-Bars Award Stand: 1st John Corritore, Michigan; 2nd Yoichi Tomita Long Beach; 3rd tie Bart Conner, Oklahoma and Scott Barclay, Arizona State; 5th tie John Bernal, New Mexico and Tim LaFleur, Minnesota (Happy Birthday John Corritore)(picture courtesy of International Gymnast Magazine).

1978 NCAA Championships P-Bars Award Stand: 1st John Corritore, Michigan; 2nd Yoichi Tomita Long Beach; 3rd tie Bart Conner, Oklahoma and Scott Barclay, Arizona State; 5th tie John Bernal, New Mexico and Tim LaFleur, Minnesota (Happy Birthday John Corritore)(picture courtesy of International Gymnast Magazine).

April 8
1978 – Jim Nelson All America Vaulting NCAA
1978 NCAA Championships Vaulting Award Stand at University of Oregon: 1st Ron Galimore, Louisiana State; 2nd Mark Trippel, Iowa State; 3rd Dennis Chase, Chico State; 4th tie Mike Silverstein, Temple and Jim Nelson, Arizona State; 6th Carl Badger, Michigan (picture courtesy of International Gymnast Magazine).

1978 NCAA Championships Vaulting Award Stand at the University of Oregon: 1st Ron Galimore, Louisiana State; 2nd Mark Trippel, Iowa State; 3rd Dennis Chase, Chico State; 4th tie Mike Silverstein, Temple and Jim Nelson, Arizona State; 6th Carl Badger, Michigan (picture courtesy of International Gymnast Magazine).

March 8
1978 – Scott Barclay All American All Around NCAA
1978 NCAA Championships All-Around award stand at University of Oregon: 1st Bart Conner, Oklahoma; 2nd Yoichi Tomita, Long Beach; 3rd Mike Wilson, Oklahoma; 4th Mario Mccutcheon, Southern Connecticut; 5th Rick Adams, Southern Illinois; 6th Scott Barclay, Arizona State (picture courtesy of International Gymnast Magazine)

1978 NCAA Championships All-Around award stand at University of Oregon: 1st Bart Conner, Oklahoma; 2nd Yoichi Tomita, Long Beach; 3rd Mike Wilson, Oklahoma; 4th Mario Mccutcheon, Southern Connecticut; 5th Rick Adams, Southern Illinois; 6th Scott Barclay, Arizona State (picture courtesy of International Gymnast Magazine)

1977
April 8
1977 – Steve Economides – All American Floor Exercise
1977 NCAA Championships Floor Exercise Award Stand at Arizona State University: 1st Ron Galimore, Louisiana State; 2nd Don Lester, Oregon; 3rd Kurt Thomas, Indiana State; 4th Peter Kormann, Southern Connecticut; 5th Steve Economides, Arizona State; 6th Les Moore, Oklahoma (picture courtesy of International Gymnast magazine)

1977 NCAA Championships Floor Exercise Award Stand at Arizona State University: 1st Ron Galimore, Louisiana State; 2nd Don Lester, Oregon; 3rd Kurt Thomas, Indiana State; 4th Peter Kormann, Southern Connecticut; 5th Steve Economides, Arizona State; 6th Les Moore, Oklahoma (picture courtesy of International Gymnast magazine)

1976
April 8
1976 – LJ Larson – All American Pommel Horse
1976 NCAA Championships Pommel Horse - LJ Larson arizona state university 2nd place

1976 NCAA Championships Pommel Horse Award Stand at Temple University: Ted Marcy, Stanford, 1st; L.J. Larson, Arizona State, 2nd; Don Young, Iowa State, 3rd; Mike Burke, Northern Illinois, 4th; Curt Rogers, Oregon, t-5th; Steve Dickey, Nebraska, t-5th Historical Note: LJ Larson invented the “Thomas” Flare. Kurt Thomas was the first gymnast to perform it internationally and as a result the skill was named after him.

March 8
1976 – Chris Evans – ASU Hall of Fame Induction

Recognizing his historic achievements, Chris Evans was inducted into the ASU Hall of Fame in 1976. His legacy as a trailblazer in Sun Devil gymnastics remains an inspiration for future generations. Read more about Chris Evans’ Hall of Fame Induction here.

1974
April 8
1974 – Gary Alexander – All American Floor Exercise
Floor-Ex Award Stand at the 1974 NCAA Championships: 1st - Doug Fitzjarrell, Iowa State; 2nd - Bob Rikli, Oregon; 3rd - Mike Carter, Louisiana State; 4th - Ron Reznick, Northridge; 5th - Gary Alexander, Arizona State; 6th - Steve Posner, California-Berkeley

Floor-Ex Award Stand at the 1974 NCAA Championships:1st – Doug Fitzjarrell, Iowa State; 2nd – Bob Rikli, Oregon; 3rd – Mike Carter, Louisiana State; 4th – Ron Reznick, Northridge; 5th – Gary Alexander, Arizona State; 6th – Steve Posner, California-Berkeley

1968
September 1
1968 – Don Robinson Named Head Coach
Don Robinson Head Coach 1968

Don Robinson is the second coach of the ASU Mens Gymnastics Team and first coach to win an NCAA Champion ship after 2 runner-up finishes. He coached from 1968 – 1993.