March 10, 2007
Complete Results
URBANA, Ill. -
The No.6 Illinois men's gymnastics team fell to the No. 1-ranked Wolverines, 216.350-212.500, tonight at Cliff Keen Arena on the campus of the University of Michigan. Despite another top performance by junior Wes Haagensen, who captured his fourth all-around title of the season with a score of 53.550, the Illini could not produce the routines to upset the nation's best.
As a team, the Illini carded eight top-three finishes, one season best and tied another and carded two career highs in the performance. On top of the individual effort, the Illini gymnasts combined to set a new season high on vault (35.850) and claimed two of the six event titles over against Michigan (Rings: 36.950; Vault).
On the night, Haagensen turned in his second-highest all-around score of the season behind his 55.350 he carded at the Pacific Coast Classic. Adding to his performance in the all-around, the Belleville, Ill., native finished first on rings with a season-best 9.500 and third on floor (9.550) and parallel bars (9.050).
In addition, junior Tyler Yamauchi tossed in another first-place vault in duel-meet competition, posting a season-tying 9.250 to claim his second vault crown of the season. Yamauchi combined his expertise on the vault with a tied for fourth-place outing on the rings (9.250).
Junior Chris Silcox added a third-place finish on high bar (9.100), while junior Jon Drollinger came in a close second to teammate Haagensen on rings (9.450), his third top-three finish on the event this year.
Continuing to hide his inexperience as a freshman gymnast, youngster Chad Wiest registered three top-five finishes on the night, highlighted by his second-place vault of 9.050. Wiest and sophomore Chris Lung both registered career highs on high bar (8.800), tying for fifth in the event.
Illinois returns to action when they host Illinois-Chicago for its last duel meet of the season before the Big Ten Championships. The meet against the Flames is set for a 2 p.m. start on Saturday, March 17, at Huff Hall.
