Results (PDF)
MINNEAPOLIS – The Illinois men's gymnastics team took home a third place finish at the six-team meet held by Minnesota tonight. UI turned in a team score of 429.750 to finish behind Stanford (432.800) and Minnesota (432.650). Illinois topped the Canadian National Team (427.000), Iowa (419.700) and the Minnesota Club team (161.950). Sophomores Brandon Ngai and Tyson Bull continued to shine as they picked up event titles on the evening.
"Tonight was a great meet filled with a lot of energy," opened Illinois head coach Justin Spring. "After a tough rotation on parallel bars, the guys responded with one of the best high bar events I've ever seen and then finished strong on floor. Looking ahead, we have a lot to work on and improve over our break."
Illinois opened the night on pommel horse, posting a combined effort of 70.550. UI was the only team to post a score above 70 on the apparatus at the meet. Brandon Ngai's 15.050 stood strong through all six rotations as the sophomore grabbed a share of his fifth-consecutive title on the event. Matt Foster's mark of 14.400 held on for a share of fourth place while Tom Gibbs' 14.150 earned a sixth place finish.
On the still rings, Illinois posted scores of 14.0 across the board, combining for a team reading of 72.400. Four Illini picked up bonus points with stuck landings. Dennis Minton's stuck landing helped him to a final reading of 14.750 and a share of third place on the event. Alex Diab finished eighth with a mark of 14.550 and Max Mayr was close behind in ninth at 14.500. Gibbs finished 11th, scoring a 14.400.
For the second-straight event, all six Illini posted in a score of 14.0 or better. The Illini turned in their highest event score of the evening on the vault with a 73.300. Chandler Eggleston posted a 14.900 to finish seventh while Fred Hartville turned in a 14.850 for eighth. Diab earned a reading of 14.750 for a share of 12th place.
The Fighting Illini posted their lone sub-70 event score of the day on the parallel bars. Eggleston led the Illini efforts with a 13.850. Johnny Jacobson turned in a 13.600 for Illinois' second-best reading on the night. Tyson Bull was just shy of his career high, posting a 13.050 and a stuck landing on the parallel bars.
UI came back strong on the following event, high bar. The Illini turned in readings of 14.0 or better in all six slots for the third time on the night, including three stuck landings. Bull picked up the second title of his career in as many weeks with his first score above 15.0. The sophomore's 15.150 is the second-best Illinois high bar score this season. Eggleston was the runner up on the event, posting a score of 14.900. Jacobson turned in the next best Illinois effort, scoring a 14.350 followed by 14.250 by Gibbs. Illinois finished with a team score of 72.800 on the apparatus.
Closing the day on floor, Illinois turned in a mark of 73.250 for the second-best team score on the event. Blake Martin, Jacobson and Hartville shared the top effort by the Illini with readings of 14.900, a season best for all three gymnasts to tie for sixth on the day.
In the all around, Jacobson grabbed a fourth place finish, combining for an 84.550. Diab finished fifth, scoring an 83.050 while Gibbs took sixth at 82.550.
LOOKING AHEAD
Upon return from Minnesota, the Orange and Blue will be off for three weeks until heading to Air Force for a triangular meet with California at the U.S. Air Force Academy. The meet is slated for Saturday, March 5, with a 5 p.m. CT start time.
Next weekend, selected gymnasts from the nation's top programs will be competing for spots on the U.S. National Team that has already secured a spot at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
EVENT WINNERS
Pommel horse – Brandon Ngai – 15.050
High bar – Tyson Bull – 15.150
NOTES
- Illinois has claimed the pommel horse title at every meet this season. Brandon Ngai's title tonight was his fifth-consecutive crown on the event.
- Tyson Bull claimed his second career title in as many weeks winning the high bar competition at today's meet. Bull's score of 15.150 was his first above 15.0 and is Illinois' second best score in the event this season.
- UI was the only team at today's meet to post a pommel horse score above 70 with a 70.550.Â
- The Illini collected bonus points from 13 stuck landings at today's meet.
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