World University Games • Bangkok, Thailand

USA Gymnastics

Aug. 6, 2007

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Juniors Chris Silcox and Tyler Yamauchi of the Illinois men's gymnastics team were selected to represent the United States at the World University Games hosted in Bangkok, Thailand Aug. 8-18, USA Gymnastics announced today. Silcox and Yamauchi will be joined by Illinois head coach Yoshi Hayasaki, who is serving as an assistant coach for the team, as the five-man squad begins competition for the artistic gymnastics portion of the Games Aug. 9-12.

The entire US contingent competing at the World University Games includes: Andre Berry of Hempstead, Texas/Minnesota Gymnastics; Derek Helsby of Orlando, Fla./Penn State University; Vladi Klurman of North Miami Beach, Fla./Penn State University; Silcox of San Antonio, Texas/University of Illinois; and Yamauchi of Sugarland, Texas/University of Illinois.

Kurt Golder, head coach of the University of Michigan men's gymnastics team, will serve as head coach for the US Men's Team at the World University Games, while Hayasaki, in addition to his role as an assistant, will contribute his expertise as the team leader.

In 2007, Silcox had his best NCAA appearance to date, taking home his first All-America honor of his career on high bar behind a fifth-place finish in the event during event finals. Previously, Silcox was the reigning US Junior national champion after capturing the title on high bar in 2004. Silcox is next set to return to the Illini this fall for his senior year.

Yamauchi is a three-time All-American, placing fourth on still rings at the NCAA Championships in 2005, eighth in 2006 and tying for seventh on floor in 2007. Yamauchi also captured the 2007 Big Ten title on vault before qualifying for event finals on the apparatus at NCAAs. Yamauchi is a three-time member of the US Junior National Team (1999-00, 2001-03) and also will be returning for his senior season with the Illini this fall.

Berry's credentials include earning All-American honors this season after placing eighth in the all-around at the 2007 NCAA Championships, where he also helped Minnesota to a sixth place team finish. He is a former US Junior National Team member (2001-02, 2004-05) and placed seventh in the junior (16-18 years old) all-around at the Visa Championships in 2004-05. In 2005 at the Visa Championships, he was third on the floor exercise and vault in the junior division. Berry is headed back to Minnesota for his sophomore season in 2008.

Helsby comes into the weekend after helping to lead the Nittany Lions to their NCAA record-best 12th NCAA title in 2007. There, he competed on the pommel. As a sophomore in 2006, he earned four All-American honors after placing third in the all-around and pommel horse, sixth on the still rings and eighth on the parallel bars at the 2006 NCAA Championships. A former member of the US Junior National Team (2000-01, 2002-05), Helsby finished second in the junior all-around and pommel horse at the 2004 Visa Championship and will be a senior this upcoming season.

In addition to helping Penn State to the 2007 NCAA team title, Klurman earned the first All-American honors of his career by finishing seventh on the still rings at NCAAs. The PSU gymnast was a member of the US Junior National Team in 2002 and will be finishing up his career as a senior this fall for Penn State.

For continued coverage of the Illini and the US Men's Gymnastics World University Games team in Bangkok, visit www.fightingillini.com for continued recaps and updates, the official site of the 2007 World University Games at www.bangkok2007.com or the official USA Gymnastics web site at www.usa-gymnastics.org.