April 12, 2003

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - The eighth ranked Illinois men's gymnastics team finished fifth at the 2003 NCAA Championships with a score of 217.125 Saturday at the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, Pa. The fifth place finish is highest for an Illini team since 1998, when Illinois placed third. The team score of 217.125 is the second highest of the season for the Orange and Blue, bettered only by the 217.675 that was posted in Friday's preliminaries. Oklahoma won the meet with a total of 222.600, claiming its second consecutive Men's Gymnastics title. The Sooners were followed by Ohio State (220.700), Penn State (219.950), Michigan (217.850), Illinois (217.125) and Iowa (215.250).

"It's amazing what these guys have accomplished, to go back-to-back 217's or better, I couldn't have asked for more from these guys," said Head Coach Yoshi Hayasaki. "There is no question that we are one of the top teams in the country. We're a young team, and I think we will be event stronger next year. This weekend was just the beginning of what this team is capable of."

Like yesterday, the Illini got off to a great start, this time on the high bar. The Orange and Blue scored a 37.050, which shattered their previous season best high bar score by .375, to take the lead after the first rotation. Freshman Justin Spring and junior Scott Wetterling led the way on the event with scores of 9.450 and 9.400 respectively. Spring's 9.450 was a career high. Bob Rogers (9.200) and Bob Spelic (9.000) also posted season high scores on the high bar.

From there, the Illini moved to the floor exercise, where they struggled to a score of 35.575 and slipped to third place. Spring and junior Bob Rogers were the bright spots for Illinois on floor. Spring scored a 9.475, while Rogers turned in a career high score of 9.250.

The teams' best event, the pommel horse, followed, but the Illini posted a disappointing score of 36.375 and dropped to fourth place. Sophomore Peter Shostchuk, an All-American on the horse last season, posted a career high score of 9.575, but Big Ten Champion Ben Newman (9.100) and Friday's hero Rogers (8.200) struggled on the event.

On the rings, the Illini posted their second best score of the season, a 35.800. They were led by Wetterling's 9.275, which is the highest rings score for an Illini this season, and Newman's 9.050.

Spring (9.200) and Wetterling (9.200) led the team to a 36.400 score on vault and kept the Illini in front of Michigan for fourth place with one event remaining. The Orange and Blue finished with a season best 35.925 performance on the parallel bars, but the Wolverines had a strong ring set to close out the meet and knocked the Illini out of trophy contention. Spring led the Illini on the p-bars with a career best 9.150.

Coach Hayasaki was particularly impressed with the performance Spring, who led the Illini on four events today. "It is astonishing what Justin has accomplished this year as a freshman," Hayasaki said. "He has overcome injury after injury all season, so for him to be able to put up this kind of a performance and the NCAA Championships is more than we could have hoped for from him this season. For a freshman to make three event finals is unbelievable."

The top eight placers from each event advanced to Sunday's individual event finals. The Fighting Illini will send four competitors the finals: freshman Justin Spring (Floor Exercise - 4th, Parallel bars - 7th, High Bar - tied for 3rd), junior Scott Wetterling (High Bar - tied for fifth), sophomore Peter Shostchuk (Pommel Horse - tied for 2nd) and junior Bob Rogers (Floor Exercise - 8th). Those four competitors will be trying to become the first Fighting Illini individual champion since 1998, when Travis Romangnoli won the vault and all-around titles. All scores from today will be thrown out, as each competitor will be staring from scratch. The event finals will begin at 1 p.m. on Sunday, April 13.

Freshman Adam Pummer was Illinois' only all-around competitor on the day, he finished tied for 11th with a score of 52.800. Oklahoma's Daniel Furney won the all-around title with a score of 56.100.

Illini on ESPN The 2003 NCAA Men's Gymnastics Championships will be aired on ESPN on a tape delay basis this Monday, April 14 at 2:30 p.m. (CT). The broadcast will feature performances and highlights from Saturday's team finals and from Sunday's event finals.

2003 NCAA Men's Gymnastics Championships

Day 2 - Team and All-Around Finals/Event Qualifying

Team		FX	PH	SR	V	PB	HB	Total
Oklahoma		36.225	37.575	37.825	37.425	37.000	36.550	222.600
Ohio State	36.950	36.975	37.775	36.900	36.500	35.600	220.700
Penn State	36.325	36.275	37.150	37.525	35.525	37.150	219.950
Michigan		35.250	37.250	37.250	36.725	35.500	36.025	217.850
Illinois		35.575	36.375	35.800	36.400	35.925	37.050	217.125
Iowa		35.350	35.700	35.700	36.375	34.625	37.500	215.250

Individual Results (Illinois and Top Qualifier)
Floor
1t.	Clay Strother		Min	9.600*
1t.	Dan Gill			Stan	9.600*
1t. 	Graham Ackerman	         Cal	9.600*
4.	Justin Spring		ILL	9.475*
8.	Bob Rogers		ILL	9.250*
35.	Adam Pummer		ILL	8.600
42t.	Anthony Russo		ILL	8.250
45.	Nick Hand			  ILL	8.050
48.	Erik Garnett		ILL	7.800

Pommel Horse
1.	Josh Landis		OU	9.650*
2t.	Peter Shostchuk		ILL	9.575*
16.	Ben Newman		ILL	9.100
23t.	Casey Hayasaki		ILL	8.900
28.	Adam Pummer		ILL	8.800
35.	Mike Filla		ILL	8.700
44.	Bob Rogers		ILL	8.200

Rings
1. 	Marshall Erwin		Stan	9.725*
16t.	Scott Wetterling		ILL	9.275
27t.	Ben Newman		ILL	9.025
31.	Bob Spelic		ILL	8.825
35t.	Nick Hand		     ILL	8.675
40t.	Adam Pummer		ILL	8.550
45t.	Erik Garnett		ILL	8.300

Vault
1.	Jock Stevens		OU	9.700*
19t.	Justin Spring		ILL	9.200
19t.	Scott Wetterling 		ILL	9.200
31t.	Adam Pummer		ILL	9.050
34.	Anthony Russo 		ILL	8.950
35.	Bob Spelic		ILL	8.925
40t.	Erik Garnett		ILL	8.850

Parallel Bars
1. 	Daniel Furney		OU	9.500*
7.	Justin Spring		ILL	9.150*
12.	Scott Wetterling		ILL	9.025
13t.	Adam Pummer		ILL	9.000
28.	Peter Shostchuk		ILL	8.750
29t.	Bob Spelic		ILL	8.725
48.	Erik Garnett		ILL	8.100

High Bar
1. 	Linas Gaveika		Iowa	9.675*
3t.	Justin Spring		ILL	9.450*
5t.	Scott Wetterling		ILL	9.400*
12t.	Bob Rogers		ILL	9.200
18t.	Bob Spelic		ILL	9.000
28t.	Adam Pummer		ILL	8.800
28t.	Erik Garnett		ILL	8.800

All-Around
1. 	Daniel Furney		OU	56.100
11t.	Adam Pummer		ILL	52.800

* Top eight finishers (and ties) in each event qualified for Sunday's event finals.