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Two-time U.S. National Team member Justin Spring.

Men's Gymnastics

No. 3 Illini Host Temple

Men's Gymnastics

No. 3 Illini Host Temple

Feb. 9, 2006

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -

Feb. 6-12 Illinois Men's Gymnastics Notes
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THIS WEEK
The third-ranked Illini (5-2, 4-2 Big Ten) host No. 15 Temple in their second home dual meet of the season Saturday at Huff Hall. The 25th-ranked Illini women will be hosting No. 8 Missouri in the double-dual. Start time is 7 p.m. (CST).

ABOUT THE OWLS
Head coach Fred Turoff is in his 30th season at the helm of the Temple men's gymnastics program that finished in second place in the Eastern College Athletic Conference. The 2005 team finished 9-8 and enter Saturday's meet with a 5-4 record and ranked No. 15.

Temple is led by sophomore Luke Vexler who ranks seventh nationally on all-around. Vexler and freshman John Vogtman both earned honors for their performances the weekend of January 27-28 at the West Point (N.Y.) Open. Vexler was named the Male National Gymnast of the Week by the College Gymnastics Association and the ECAC Gymnast of the Week. Vexler won the all-around competition with a score of 50.75. Vogtman was cited as the ECAC Rookie of the Week after winning the floor exercise and finishing third on pommel horse and high bar.

LAST WEEK
The University of Illinois was well represented at the annual Winter Cup Challenge in Las Vegas last week. Ted Brown, Adam Pummer, Tyler Yamauchi and Chris Lung were part of the country's 80 best gymnasts vying for one of 14 spots on the U.S. Senior National Team. Selection to the team was based on individual performances and each gymnasts combined score from day one and day two. The top six athletes from the all-around competition and six more athletes were selected based on a points system. The Men's Program Committee selected the remaining two spots.

Pummer, Yamauchi and Brown, who was tied for first on pommel horse, each moved on to the finals. Pummer recorded the Illini's highest two-day total with a sixth place finish on parallel bars. He was also 22nd on floor exercise, 24th on pommel horse and 16th on high bar. Brown fell off the pommel horse on the second day to finish tied for 16th. Still rings All-American Yamauchi finished 11th on rings, 25th on pommel horse and tied for 22nd on parallel bars.

SPRING NAMED TO SENIOR NATIONAL TEAM
Justin Spring was unable to participate in the Winter Cup challenge due to a patella subluxation, but still managed to retain his spot on the U.S. Senior National Team. The 2005 U.S. World Championships Team Member learned on Wed., Feb. 8, that he was named to the senior team for the second time.

SPRING RETURNS TO LINEUP
After sustaining a knee injury against Ohio State on Jan. 28, seven-time All-American Justin Spring returns to the Illini's starting lineup this weekend against Temple. The Burke, Va., native is expected to be in the rings and parallel bars lineups.

ILLINI IN THE RANKINGS
For the third straight week, the Illini are ranked third in the GymInfo national rankings behind top-ranked Ohio State and last year's national champion Oklahoma. Stanford and Iowa remain at No. 4 and No. 5, respectively. As a team, the Orange and Blue currently rank inside the top-three on three events. The Illini are ranked third on floor exercise (35.767), third on high bar (34.983), and second on parallel bars (34.850).

Individually, Tyler Yamauchi ranks third in the nation on rings (9.175), Pummer ranks third on parallel bars (9.050) and Spring ranks second on both parallel bars (9.450) and high bar (9.250).

UP NEXT
The Illini head to Iowa City, Iowa, for meeting with both Iowa and Michigan. The triangular meet begins at 7 p.m. (CST) in Iowa's Field House Main Floor.

PUMMER POWER
The Illini have counted heavily on senior Adam Pummer to lead them on five events (FX, PH, VT, PB, HB). The Orange and Blue co-captain has been a consistent performer for Illinois throughout his college career. Pummer followed up his three first place finishes (FX, PH, HB) against Minnesota with four top-three finishes (FX, VT, PB, HB) against Ohio State. In addition, Pummer raised his career event titles to 28 with first place showings on floor exercise and vault versus the Buckeyes.

HAAGENSEN HEATING UP
Sophomore Wes Haagensen was the only Illini to take home an event title at the season opening Windy City Invite. Haagensen, who placed second in the all-around at last year's Windy City Invite tied for first place on vault with a score of 9.400, besting his previous career-high vault of 9.300. Haagensen has seen limited actionthus far as he is still trying to regain his top form after undergoing shoulder surgery in the summer.

Haagensen, Illinois' all-around school record holder (55.950) has five top-three finishes already this season. In addition to his vault title at the Windy City Invite, he claimed the pommel horse title against Minnesota and placed second and third on floor exercise and vault, respectively. Haagensen was just as effective against the Buckeye's, claiming second place on floor exercise and forth place on high bar.

WATCH THE ILLINI AT HOME
For the second straight year fightingillini.com will feature live streaming video of all Illinois home gymnastics meets as part of Illinois' All-Access package ($6.95/month). Catch the next opportunity on Feb. 11 as the Illini take on the Temple Owls at Huff Hall.

In addition to the live video, each competition will be archived within a few days of the meet. Check fightingillini.com for more details.

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Players Mentioned

Chris Lung

Chris Lung

All-Around
Junior
Tyler Yamauchi

Tyler Yamauchi

All-Around
Senior

Players Mentioned

Chris Lung

Chris Lung

Junior
All-Around
Tyler Yamauchi

Tyler Yamauchi

Senior
All-Around