Jan. 17, 2009
Complete Results
CHICAGO, Ill.- The No. 4 Illinois men's gymnastics team started off the 2009 season with a solid second place finish at the Windy City Invite Saturday night in Chicago. The Orange and Blue posted a team score of 342.250 to finish behind only No. 6 Michigan (346.100) and ahead of No.8 Minnesota (341.400), No. 3 Ohio State (337.650), No.12 UIC (327.700) and No. 9 Iowa (325.900).
"For our first meet we made a few mistakes and had a slow start, but the guys picked up the intensity throughout the competition and competed the way we're supposed to down the stretch," head coach Yoshi Hayasaki said. "I saw a lot potential for the rest season out there tonight. Overall, many of the guys stepped up and competed well as a team. They should be very proud of the second place finish. Our freshmen had a solid effort out there tonight and with their first meet had a lot of pressure to overcome. They made a few mistakes but as a team performed well together."
Sophomore Paul Ruggeri took home the floor title for the Orange and Blue posting an impressive 15.600 on the event. The Manlius, N.Y., native posted a 14.700 on parallel bars to finish in a tie for second place. Ruggeri also had a solid performance in the all-around competition finishing fourth with a score of 83.300.
Another top performer for the Illini was sophomore Roger Pasek who finished second on pommel horse with a 14.150 and sixth on floor with a 14.900.
Freshman Anthony Sacramento gave the Illini another top-three finish, placing third on rings with a score of 14.600. Right behind him was senior Tyler Williamson who took fourth with a 14.550.
Illinois posted the second best team score of the night on floor (59.600), pommel horse (55.400), and parallel bars (56.700). The Illini were third on rings with a 57.000 and fourth on high bar (54.100) and also tied for fourth on vault with a 59.450.
The Illini will now return to Champaign for their home opener at Huff Hall on Saturday, Jan. 24, against No. 3 Ohio State at 7 p.m.
Team Standings
1) #6 Michigan 346.100
2) #4 Illinois 342.250
3) #8 Minnesota 341.400
4) #3 Ohio State 337.650
5) #12 UIC 327.700
6) #9 Iowa 325.900
