April 5, 2001
The University of Illinois men's gymnastics team posted a 212.05 in the opening qualifying session of the 2001 NCAA Championships, placing fourth in the session and falling short of the NCAA team finals. No. 1 seed Oklahoma had the highest score of the session with a 218.30 and California (214.55) and Penn State (213.625) finished second and third to advance to the finals.
Senior All-American Leo Oka placed second in the all-around with a 52.80 and qualified for the all-around finals. Senior captain Linh Hoang qualified on still rings with third-place finish, parallel bars with fourth place and vault for fifth place. Sophomore Bob Spelic qualified on vault following a seventh-place finish and parallel bars with a third-place mark. Jon Ham (6th) and Scott Wetterling (10th) and Greg Cook (12th) made the semifinals on high bar. Junior J.G. Ketchen will compete on rings after a ninth-place finish.
The Illini headed into the fourth rotation in fifth place, three points out of third-place. The squad scored a 36.40 on rings and a 36.475 on vault to pull within a point and a half. The Illini began on parallel bars with a 34.95 performance, three-tenths better than the team's qualifying average. The team followed up on high bar with a 35.10 and 34.95 on floor, which have been among the team's strengths this season. The pommel horse unit posted a modest 34.20 which took the team into rings and vault.
Oklahoma, California and Penn State will join the three qualifying teams from the second session to compete for team finals on Fri., April 6 at 7 p.m. The all-around finals will also be decided at tomorrow night's event. The top eight individuals on each event will compete on Sat., April 7 for All-America honors.
NCAA Qualifying Round I
Team FX PH SR VT PB HB FINAL
Oklahoma 36.775 37.10 37.20 36.275 35.45 35.50 218.300
California 36.00 36.150 35.200 36.650 34.65 35.90 214.550
Penn State 35.50 35.25 36.15 36.725 34.60 35.40 213.625
Illinois 34.95 34.20 36.40 36.475 34.925 35.10 212.050
UMass 36.25 35.75 33.45 35.40 33.80 34.05 208.700
Temple 35.25 33.30 32.85 34.85 33.40 33.75 203.400
PARALLEL BARS (34.925)
Cook 8.50
Spelic 8.825*
Ham 8.60
Wetterling 8.70
Oka 8.10*
Hoang 8.80*
HIGH BAR (35.10)
Cook 8.75*
Ham 8.85*
Spelic 8.60
Wetterling 8.80*
Oka 8.70*
Ketchen 7.90
FLOOR EXERCISE (34.95)
Cook 8.40
Ham 8.30
Wetterling 8.70
Crawford 8.30
Oka 9.15*
Hoang 8.70
POMMEL HORSE (34.20)
Spelic 8.60
Filla 8.45
Flodin 7.70
Linnenburger 7.10
Oka 8.80*
Hoang 8.35
STILL RINGS (36.40)
Wetterling 8.25
Torres 8.85
Ketchen 9.05*
Crawford 8.85
Oka 9.20*
Hoang 9.30*
VAULT (36.475)
Spelic 9.15*
Ketchen 9.00
Crawford 9.125
Wetterling 9.00*
Oka 8.90*
Hoang 9.20*
*-qualified for Friday night competition
