Oct. 27, 2011

Results

GUADALAJARA, Mexico - Illini freshman C.J. Maestas captured his second bronze medal at the 2011 Pan American Games on Thursday, as the Corrales, N.M. native finished third on rings at the Nissan Gymnastics Stadium in Guadalajara, Mexico.

"It's indescribable," Maestas said. "We knew what we had to do to come in here, and we did it. We wear this USA on our chest for a reason, and it's good to know that I contributed to that individually and team-wise. This is what it's all about. Everybody asks me why I train so hard, and this is it right now."

Maestas scored a 15.550 on rings to secure a spot on the podium for the second time this week. The two-time senior national team member finished just five hundredths of a point behind silver medalist Arthur Zanetti (15.600) of Brazil, while U.S. teammate Brandon Wynn took home the gold medal with a score of 15.625.

Meanwhile, fellow Illini and three-time senior national team members Tyler Mizoguchi (14.125) and Paul Ruggeri (11.400) finished seventh and eighth on floor.

Maestas will be back in action tomorrow on high bar, while Ruggeri will compete on vault, high bar and parallel bars.

Results and recap will be available at fightingillini.com. Video coverage of the Pan Am Games is available HERE.

Schedule

Friday, Oct. 28 - 1 p.m. CT
Individual Event Finals (vault, parallel bars, high bar)

U.S. Qualifiers for Friday's Event Finals

Vault
Paul Ruggeri (Illinois)

Parallel bars
Sho Nakamori (Champions Academy)
Paul Ruggeri (Illinois)

Horizontal bar
Paul Ruggeri (Illinois)
C.J. Maestas (Illinois)