Men's Gymnastics Signs Nationally Acclaimed Recruits
November 19, 2001 | Men's Gymnastics
Nov. 19, 2001
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- University of Illinois head mens gymnastics coach Yoshi Hayasaki announced the signing of two of the nations best junior gymnasts, Adam Pummer and Justin Spring, to letters of intent for the 2002-03 season.
Pummer, a native of Allentown, Pa., comes to the Illini as a two-time member of the Junior National Team. He has competed at both the national and international level. In 1999, Pummer won the floor exercise and took second in the vault, parallel bars and high bar en route to finishing third in the all-around at the U.S. Junior Gymnastics Championships. At the 2000 Junior Nationals, he took fourth on both the floor exercise and the all-around. At the international level, Pummer finished third on the vault and fifth on the parallel bars at the 2000 Junior Pan American Games. His team finished first in the competition. In 1999, Pummer competed at the Igor Korobchinskiy and Grigoriy Misiutin's Cup in the Ukraine, finishing fifth in the all-around while his team took second place. Pummer currently competes for the Parkettes Gymnastics Club in his hometown.
Spring also is a two time member of the Junior National Team. He took first on the parallel bars and high bar while finishing second on the vault and tying for second on the pommel horse to win the all-around title at the 2000 U.S. Junior Gymnastics Championships. He was a junior national parallel bars champion in both 1998 and '99. The Burke, Va.-native currently competes for the Capital Gymnastics club.
"We are fortunate to sign two exceptionally talented athletes" Hayasaki said. "They could become two of the best gymnasts in Illinois history. I consider their potential to be to the likes of All-American Travis Romagnoli and Illinois Olympians Dominic Miniccuci and Charles Lakes."
