University of Illinois
Big Ten Championships
Illini Finish Fifth At Big Ten Championships
March 22, 2002 | Men's Gymnastics
March 22, 2002
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. --The Illini scored a season best 37.175 on vault but it was not enough as they finished fifth at the Big Ten Championships with a 213.575. Ohio State won its second- straight title, scoring a 218.100. Michigan came in second with a 215.100.
Coach Yoshi Hayasaki said of the meet: "We knew coming in here that we were not 100 percent. We didn't give up and fought until the end. Hopefully we can be healthy and get everybody back into competition at NCAAs."
The all-around champion was also crowned on the first night of the competition. Ohio State's Raj Bahvsar took the honors with a total score of 56.000. Illinois did not have any athletes compete in every event.
Seven Fighting Illini gymnasts qualified for the individual event finals, which will be held Saturday night. Leading the way for Illinois was senior J.G. Ketchen. He qualified on the rings (9.325), vault (9.350) and parallel bars (8.850). Three Illini turned in top scores on the pommel horse. Freshman Ben Newman scored a season-best 9.575 to return to the event finals. Defending Big Ten pommel horse champion Jonathan Plante (9.175) and freshman Peter Shostchuk (9.300) also placed among the top eight individuals.
Ketchen will not be the only individual performing for the Illini on the rings. Fellow senior Sean-Paul Crawford scored a 9.200 to qualify for the finals. Sophomore Scott Wetterling will join Ketchen in competing for the vaulting title. Wetterling recorded a 9.350 to move on the the finals. Sophomore Bob Rogers will be the Illini's final competitor. With a score of 9.475, Rogers will compete for the individual title on the high bar.
The individual event finals will take place Saturday night at the Sports Pavilion in Minneapolis.
