Feb. 3, 2009
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The Illinois men's gymnastics team is taking a break from collegiate competition this week, as nine Illini gymnasts are set to travel to the 2009 Winter Cup Challenge in Las Vegas, Feb. 5 and 7 at the Las Vegas Sports Center.
A plethora of Illini gymnasts including seniors Ross Bradley and Chris Lung, junior Brian Liscovitz, sophomores Paul Ruggeri, Daniel Ribeiro and Roger Pasek and freshmen Austin Phillips, Tyler Mizoguchi and C.J. Padera, are all set to compete in the prestigious event.
"This is an individual competition where each guy needs to excel in order to have a chance of making the national team," Illinois head coach Yoshi Hayasaki said. "This is a difficult task as the nation's top gymnasts will be competing in Las Vegas this weekend. I think we have a very solid group of guys competing and they have all trained well and are prepared for this competition."
The senior men's national team will be re-named at the Winter Cup Challenge. Seven senior national team members are in this year's field including Guillermo Alvarez, Sean Golden, Joseph Hagerty, Jonathon Horton, Steven Legendre, Tim McNeill and David Sender.
Seven gymnasts will be named to the U.S. Men's Senior National Team based on the national team points ranking system from the Winter Cup Challenge, and one each will be selected by the Men's Program Committee and men's national team coordinator. The six members of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team for men's gymnastics can petition for spots, and the Men's Program Committee will name additional members to the senior national team if any Olympic positions are unused. The 15 gymnasts named to the team will comprise the U.S. Men's Senior National Team until the 2009 Visa Championships in August.
The Winter Cup Challenge has two days of competition. Scores from both days of competition count toward the final rankings for the all-around and individual events. The qualification round on Feb. 5 consists of two sessions, each with approximately 43 athletes, beginning at 2 and 8 p.m. CT. The top 42 gymnasts, based on the points ranking system approved by the Men's Program Committee, will advance to the finals, which begin at 8:30 p.m. CT.
Illini competing at Winter Cup Challenge (Events)
Paul Ruggeri (All-Around)
• Preseason All-Big Ten
• 2008 NCAA High Bar National Champion
• Four top-three finishes so far this season
Brian Liscovitz (PH, PB, HB)
• Making his first appearance in the 2009 season after being hampered with injuries to start the year
• 2008 NCAA All-American with a seventh-place finish on the Parallel Bars
• Posted a career best 15.250 on the Parallel Bars at the Big Ten Team Championships last season
Chris Lung (VT, HB, PB, PH)
• NCAA All-American in 2006 placing fifth on the Pommel Horse
• Set career highs in five different events in 2008, including a 14.150 finish on the Still Rings at the NCAA Team Finals
Ross Bradley (PH, HB)
• Placed fifth on the High Bar at the NCAA Finals, garnering All-American honors
Roger Pasek (PH, VT, FX)
• Two top-three finishes this season on vault and floor
• Posted a career best 15.950 on the Vault during the Big Ten Team Championships
Daniel Ribeiro (PH, PB, FX)
• Preseason All-Big Ten selection
• 2008 Big Ten Pommel Horse Champion
• All-American on pommel horse
Austin Phillips (All-Around)
• Placed third in the all-around against Ohio State
• Three-time New Jersey State Champion
Tyler Mizoguchi (All-Around)
• Placed third on parallel bars in the meet against Ohio State
• Finished 18th in the all-around at the 2008 Visa Championships
C.J. Padera (FX, VT, HB, PB, PH)
• Won the individual event title on parallel bars in the meet against Ohio State
• Runner-up on pommel horse against Ohio State with a 14.150
• Pommel Horse state champion as a high school freshman
