Windy City Invite Results

CHICAGO- C.J. Maestas won the floor, rings and all-around titles at the Windy City Invitational as the Illinois men's gymnastics team won the event for the first time since 2011. Illinois finished with a team score of 428.100, while two-time defending national champion, Michigan, grabbed the second spot with a mark of 422.950. Ohio State (414.800), Iowa (414.000), Minnesota (410.350) and UIC (388.400) rounded out the field.

Illinois clinched six titles on the evening as Maestas (FX, SR, AA), Jordan Valdez (PB, HB) and Bobby Baker (VT) helped the Orange and Blue to the team title.

On the floor, Maestas came away with the title after turning in a 15.150 performance. Matt Foster and Joey Peters tied for ninth in the event with a 14.200, which tied Foster's career best. Baker tied for 16th with a 13.750 while Taylor Smith grabbed the 18th spot with a score of 13.650. Mike Wilner finished with a 12.800.

Pommel horse was the only event that the Illini did not take a title in on the night. Logan Bradley placed second with a 14.800 just behind Doug Sullivan of Iowa who won the event with a 14.900 mark. Foster came in third turning in a 14.700. Maestas grabbed the fifth spot after a 14.400 performance while Baker also finished in the top-10 with a seventh place outing with a 14.000. Jacob Tilsley (12.700), Brandon Ngai (12.600) and Joey Peters (12.500) all finished in the top-25 of the event standings.

Coach Spring shared "Our pommel horse team really stepped it up and I was very impressed with our fight as a whole."

Maestas led the Illini on the rings with a 15.400 carding as Wilner notched a second place finish with a score of 15.300. Baker was fourth at 14.700, while Peters tied for sixth (14.500) and Max Mayr (14.400) finished ninth. Tom Gibbs turned in a 14.100 putting him in the 12th spot.

With the rings title, Maestas moved into a tie for fifth on the Illini's career still rings titles list at 16 titles.

Baker led the way for Justin Spring's crew on the vault with a 15.050 mark to top the field. Peters finished in a three-way tie for fourth at 14.850. Maestas carded a 14.600 to secure the eighth spot. Gibbs turned in a 14.400 while Valdez produced a 14.100. Eric Uster saw his first action of the season on the event and finished with a mark of 13.100.

On parallel bars, Illinois' final event of the night due to the six-team rotation, Valdez claimed the top spot with a 14.950 performance. Baker finished fourth with a score of 14.500. Maestas turned in a 13.450 for the Illini followed by Tyson Bull at 12.750 and Gibbs' 12.550. Peters left midway through his routine with some heavy cramping but still received a mark of 10.750.

Illinois started the night on the high bar where Valdez produced a 15.100 performance, enough for a tie for the title with Cory Paterson of Iowa. Maestas slated a 14.500 for sixth place while Peters finished 12th with a 14.200. Mayr earned a 13.950 while Baker and Bull tied with a 13.300 for the Illini.

"A lot of the other teams had rough competitions and they will be much better later on in the season," stated Spring. " We snuck a win in tonight but we have to be much better as we progress through the season."

Spring's unit will return to action this upcoming weekend against the Ohio State Buckeyes. The meet is set for Saturday, Jan. 24 at 3 p.m. CST in Columbus, Ohio.