July 15, 2010

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Current Illini Daniel Ribeiro and Chad Wiest were among the top 23 Senior Division gymnasts to secure a spot in the 2010 USA Gymnastics Visa Championships next month, after solid performances at the Men's National Qualifier in Colorado Springs, Colo., July 10. The seniors-to-be will join teammates Tyler Mizoguchi and Paul Ruggeri and former Illini Wes Haagensen, who are current members of the U.S. Senior National team, at the event scheduled to take place Aug. 10-14 in Hartford, Conn.

At the qualifier, Ribeiro finished 10th overall in total points, with 44, led by his second-place finish on pommel horse (15.250) and seventh-place finish on parallel bars (14.350). Wiest claimed 17th place with 32 points after he tied for eighth place on floor exercise (14.500) and placed ninth on vault (15.450).

Ruggeri has won two bronze medals this summer competing for the national team, as he placed third on high bar (15.075) at the Moscow World Stars, May 15, and helped lead the squad to a third-place finish at the Japan Cup on July 3. Mizoguchi was forced to withdraw from the XXXV Memorial Blume in Barcelona in early June due to injury. Haagensen placed third in the all-around at last year's Visa Championships to earn an automatic spot on the national team and has remained on it ever since.

For additional information on the Visa Championships, click HERE.