Final Results
CHICAGO - The Fighting Illini men's gymnastics team earned its fourth-straight Windy City Invitational title on Saturday, as the Orange and Blue edged out No. 4 Minnesota, No. 8 Iowa and No. 17 UIC with a final team total of 404.300. Seniors Bobby Baker and Brandon Ngai and junior Alex Diab each came away with an event title at the meet, held at Navy Pier.
"We have a lot of polishing to do," head coach Justin Spring said. "Our hits percentage was super low. We have a lot of growth ahead of us and we just need to make sure that happens. I told the team though a win's a win!"
UI opened the night on pommel horse and posted a team total of 65.950. Senior Brandon Ngai won the event, finishing with a score of 15.250. In the second rotation, junior Alex Diab turned in the top still rings score of 14.450. Senior Dennis Minton wasn't far behind, posting a 14.000 and helping the Illini to a 68.100 team total on the apparatus.
Illinois had its strongest showing in the third rotation, as the Orange and Blue posted a vault score of 70.500. Junior Johnny Jacobson led the way, posting a career-high total of 14.500. The Fighting Illini were on parallel bars next, where they finished with a team score of 66.250.
Senior Bobby Baker won the fifth event of the night, as the Lemont, Illinois, native turned in a 13.600 on horizontal bar to help the Illini to a total of 66.400 in the event. Although Illinois held just a slight lead heading into the final rotation, the team turned in a 67.100 on floor exercise to come away with its fourth-straight Windy City Invitational title.
Event Titles
Bobby Baker - H Bar (13.600)
Alex Diab - SR (14.450)
Brandon Ngai - PH (15.250)
Up Next
The Illini will welcome Arizona State to Huff Hall on January 20. Meet competition is set to begin at 4 p.m. CT.
Follow the Illini
Stay tuned to FIGHTINGILLINI.com for all the latest information on Fighting Illini Men's Gymnastics. Follow the Orange and Blue on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for even more coverage.
