UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Stanford led from start to finish on the way to winning its fourth consecutive NCAA men's gymnastics championship, on Saturday at Penn State's Rec Hall.

Stanford, the nation's top-ranked team, scored 422.458 points to beat runner-up Michigan with 419.889, giving the Cardinal its ninth championship. Stanford, as a school, now has won at least one NCAA team championship each of the past 47 academic years, dating back to 1976-77.

From the first gymnast – Taylor Burkhart on vault – to the last, Stanford never trailed. Burkhart opened the first rotation with a 15.000. No competitor on any of the other five teams scored as high in the first rotation. 

THAT'S A GOOD START!

Taylor Burkhart sticks for a career-best 15.000!#GoStanford x #ERA x #STS pic.twitter.com/dXWrXjSpz5

— Stanford Gymnastics (@StanfordMGym) April 15, 2023

Stanford immediately added to that advantage with Khoi Young scoring 14.800 at No. 2 in the lineup, and Asher Hong scoring 15.333 at No. 3. Stanford already had a 73.999-70.665 lead over second-place Oklahoma, which opened on floor, after one rotation. 

Stanford extended the lead in the second rotation, getting a 14.566 from Brandon Nguyen to lead the way. Oklahoma, Stanford's main rival through the years, dropped to third on the rotation and never recovered, finishing fourth.

Though the Cardinal maintained a healthy lead, Michigan made a late run, moving up from fifth after two rotations to second after four. After five rotations, Stanford's lead was cut to only 2.337 points, with the Cardinal heading to rings and Michigan to floor. 

Fortunately, Stanford had Nicolas Kuebler, the still rings champion, to switch the momentum. And he did. Kuebler enjoyed a near-flawless routine, sticking the dismount perfectly to score 14.556. With Michigan's leadoff scoring 13.100, Stanford's lead ballooned to 3.803 points. 

Nicolas Kuebler goes a career-best 14.566 for the second day in a row to lead things off!#GoStanford x #ERA x #STS pic.twitter.com/1JNxm67Vln

— Stanford Gymnastics (@StanfordMGym) April 16, 2023

The dagger came from Brandon Briones at the No. 4 spot. Briones nailed his routine to the tune of 14.733, offsetting a strong performance from his Michigan counterpart, Landon Blixt, who scored 14.600 on the floor. 

. @BrandonRBriones goes 14.733 on rings!#GoStanford x #ERA x #STS pic.twitter.com/5Cs9H31OwZ

— Stanford Gymnastics (@StanfordMGym) April 16, 2023

With all-around champion Fred Richard scoring a 14.800 to close out floor for Michigan, Mark Berlaga gave Stanford enough with a 13.566, and the Cardinal were victorious once again.

Thom Glielmi has led the Cardinal to six NCAA titles, which ranks third overall among active Stanford head coaches and trails only Lele Forood of women's tennis (10) and John Tanner of women's water polo (8).

The nine national titles ties Stanford for fourth among men's gymnastics programs (Penn State 12, Oklahoma 12, Illinois 10). Gymnastics is just the second Cardinal men's sport to win four consecutive NCAA titles, and the first since tennis from 1995-98.

Stanford has won 132 NCAA team championships (70 men's, 62 women's) and 159 national team championships overall. Of Stanford's 132 NCAA championships, 35 have been won by fall sports, 32 by winter sports and 65 by spring sports. Since 2000, Stanford has captured 56 NCAA team crowns.