CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The Fighting Illini gymnastics mixed pairs Team Germany made up of pommel horse specialists Eric Wills and Paul Linnenburger and freshman Jana Gallagher placed first at the 14th annual Mixed Pairs exhibition Friday night at Huff Hall.

"I thought overall both teams looked great," men's head coach Yoshi Hayasaki said. "Some routines were a little rusty, but that is what exhibitions are for. We thought we put on a good show for the fans and gave them a little taste of the excellent teams they will see this winter."

In front of a crowd of 750 fans, Gallagher, in her first collegiate performance, scored a 9.8 on balance beam, 9.75 on uneven bars and 9.70 on floor exercise. Illini all-around record holder Phaedra Dixon dazzled the crowd with her 9.80 performances on floor and uneven bars, while Gina Wiechmann, the Big Ten champion on beam, posted a 9.85 in the event as well as a 9.75 on bars.

Senior seven-time All-American Travis Romagnoli proved he is fully recovered from his injury last season with his scores of 9.70 on pommel horse and high bar. Sophomore Sean-Paul Crawford recorded 9.60 scores on both floor and rings for the third place Team Ireland.

"It was a good performance. I was excited to see the freshman come in and perform well," said first-year head women's coach Bob Starkell. "I think it was a lot of fun for both the gymnasts and the fans."

Both the men's and women's squads open the season on Jan. 8 with a dual, co-ed meet at Illinois-Chicago. The two teams open the home season with a Big Ten contest with Michigan State.