IOWA CITY, Iowa - The University of Illinois Men's Gymnastics team placed fourth in the first session of the NCAA team competition with a 227.900 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Michigan scored a 231.925 to take first while Big Ten rivals Ohio State and Penn State finished 229.375 and 229.125, respectively, to qualify for the final round.

Senior Travis Romagnoli led the Illini by winning the high bar with a score of 9.875, taking third in the all-around competition with a 57.575 and on vault (9.60). Junior Leo Okafinished fifth in the all-around, scoring a 56.700, and sixth on floor. Romagnoli and Oka qualified for the all-around finals tomorrow night.

Illinois had four gymnasts qualify for individual event preliminaries. Junior Jonathan Hamscored a 9.50 on floor while freshman Nathan Torres qualified on rings with a 9.45. Sophomore J.G. Ketchen scored a 9.6 on high bar to advance while fellow sophomoreSean-Paul Crawford made it on vault with his score of 9.50.

"We gave it our best shot today," said Head Coach Yoshi Hayasaki. "We may have not made team finals, but taking six to the finals is still pretty good."

All-around finals and individual event preliminaries will be held tomorrow night at Carver-Hawkeye Arena at 7 p.m.

ILLINOIS PLACINGS