Results (PDF) | Coach Spring Interview | Tyson Bull Interview
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois men's gymnastics team got back to its winning ways this afternoon at Huff Hall, as the Orange and Blue posted a season-best team score of 436.550 and swept all seven titles in the meet. Also competing at the triangular meet were Temple and UIC, posting scores of 394.900 and 391.050, respectively. Illinois improved to 9-1 on the season with the victories.
"We saw a glimpse of our true potential this weekend," opened head coach Justin Spring. "Ironically, it came when we were resting some of our top guys, meaning that the guys who were in the lineup for the first-time ever stepped up. I think a lot of our success had to do with the energy and environment this afternoon."
As the home team Illinois opened the afternoon on floor, notching four new season best scores and a pair of career highs. Chandler Eggleston won his third-straight title on the event with a 15.400. Logan Bradley took second place with a career best 14.650, while Johnny Jacobson grabbed third place with a mark of 14.600. Fred Hartville made his first 2016 floor appearance with a reading of 14.450 for a fifth-place finish. The Fighting Illini finished with a team score of 73.300 on floor.
Brandon Ngai continued his pommel horse dominance, scoring a career-best 15.600, which currently ranks as the top score in the NCAA this season. Ngai now has four career titles on the event, coming in the last four meets. Bradley hit as well, posting a mark of 15.050 to take second place honors. In his first action of the 2016 season, Harry McLellan finished in third place, scoring a 13.950. Illinois turned in a team score of 72.050 in the event.
Dennis Minton led the Illinois still rings unit, winning the first title of his Illini career and tying the Orange and Blue's best mark on the apparatus this season at 15.350. Alex Diab posted a 15.300 for second place while Jacobson added a 14.900 to claim third. Tom Gibbs contributed a 14.500 and Matt Foster finished with a reading of 14.400 to round out the top-five scores on the event. Marlon Vernon made his Illinois debut, scoring a 13.000 on the afternoon.
Eggleston extended his multi-title meet streak to three when he secured his fourth vault title of the season. The redshirt sophomore carded a 15.150 to claim the top spot. In his second vault of the season, Hartville notched a second-place finish with a 14.850. Jacobson took third, sporting a 14.450. Blake Martin contributed a 14.200 and McLellan a 14.100 to round out the Illini scoring on the event.
The Orange and Blue turned in a team effort of 72.200 on parallel bars, led by Bobby Baker's 14.750, which secured the sophomore's third title on the event this season. Jacobson was close behind with a 14.600 reading for second place. Foster (14.450), Eggleston (14.400) and Gibbs (14.000) rounded out the top-five competitors on the event.
Illinois finished the meet on high bar, where Tyson Bull posted a career-high score of 14.800 to secure his first title as an Illini. Baker scored a 14.500 to finish second, while Jacobson added a 14.450 for third place honors. Diab (14.150), Eggleston (13.900) and Ross Thompson (13.700) rounded out the top-six spots on the event.
Jacobson was the third Illinois gymnast to win his first title on the afternoon, claiming the all-around honor with the team's best mark of the season, 86.500.
EVENT WINNERS
Floor exercise – Chandler Eggleston – 15.400
Pommel horse – Brandon Ngai – 15.600
Still rings – Dennis Minton – 15.350
Vault – Chandler Eggleston – 15.150
Parallel bars – Bobby Baker – 14.750
High bar – Tyson Bull – 14.800
All-Around – Johnny Jacobson – 86.500
LOOKING AHEAD
Following Illinois' second home meet of the 2016 season this weekend, the Fighting Illini will head north to Minnesota for a final competition before the Winter Cup break. Joining Illinois and Minnesota at the meet on Saturday, Feb. 13, are Stanford, Iowa, the Canadian National Team and a Junior Olympics team that will qualify the day prior to the meet. Action is slated for a 5 p.m. CT start and will be available for viewing from BTN2GO.
NOTES
- Illinois posted a season-best team score of 436.550 at today's meet, despite not resetting any team event scores.
- Brandon Ngai posted a 15.600, the top mark in the nation this season, to secure his fourth-consecutive pommel horse title.
- Chandler Eggleston claimed the floor exercise and vault title for the third-straight meet and sixth time of his career.
- The Illini posted six scores at 15.0 or better for the second-straight meet. UI opened the season with eight 15.0+ mark against UIC.
- Three Illinois gymnasts earned their first career titles in the meet (Dennis Minton, still rings; Tyson Bull, high bar; Johnny Jacobson, all-around)
- Bobby Baker won his fifth event title of 2016, 15th of his career, on parallel bars this afternoon. He has now won five titles on the event in his career, including three this season.
- Marlon Vernon made his Illinois debut today on the still rings. He scored a 13.000.
