CHAMPAIGN, Ill. –Illinois will host Minnesota this weekend in its first home dual meet of the 2016-17 campaign on Saturday, Jan. 28. The Fighting Illini have competed against the Golden Gophers once already this season, when the two teams met at the Windy City Invitational two weeks ago. Illinois finished first, with a score of 412.150, while Minnesota finished in fourth at 397.600.
"I'm looking for an exciting, energetic and loud event," said head coach Justin Spring. "The team has had two amazing competitions to open the season, but we are still trying to get better, still trying to upgrade. We are gunning for a top finish at the end of the year, so every weekend we have to get better and progress."
Minnesota is currently ranked No. 5 in the CGA Coaches Poll, but the Golden Gophers were picked fourth in the preseason poll. In the Big Ten preseason poll, Minnesota was picked second, behind reigning Big Ten Champion Ohio State and ahead of Illinois.
"This meet is unique because Minnesota was ranked above us in the preseason and is a strong opponent," Spring said. "I think there is a reason they were ranked above us. We need to game-up, and we need to be better than we were the last two weekends. It should be an awesome showdown between us and a ranked Big Ten opponent."
Illinois and Minnesota are scheduled to begin competition at 4 p.m. CT on Saturday, Jan. 28.
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN GOPHERS
In between this week and the Windy City Invitational, Minnesota hosted Air Force at home and was victorious over the Falcons, 407.700-395.350. The Golden Gophers boast the top performer on vault on the Big Ten in Yaroslav Pochinka, who is averaging a 14.875. Justin Karstadt ranks among the top 10 in the conference in the all-around, averaging a 79.150.
NO. 3 IN THE NATION
Illinois is holding steady at third place in the latest CGA Coaches Poll, the same position the team was in last week and up two spots from its preseason ranking.
12 ILLINI TITLES ON THE YEAR
The Illini have captured 12 event titles out of a possible 14 so far this season. At the Windy City Invitational, Matt Foster (pommel horse), Alex Diab (rings), Bobby Baker (vault), Johnny Jacobson (parallel bars) and Tyson Bull (high bar) all took home titles. At Arizona State last weekend, the Illini swept all the events. Alex Diab (floor, rings) and Johnny Jacobson (parallel bars, all-around) claimed two titles each, while Matt Foster (pommel horse), Bobby Baker (vault) and Chandler Eggleston (high bar) each won a single title.
PROMOTIONS
Saturday's meet will feature free blueberry pancakes from Bob Evans for the first 200 fans, and free Illini socks for the first 300 fans. Saturday is also a camper reunion, and the free youth clinic will take place following the meet.
UP NEXT
Illinois will return to Champaign, Illinois, for a Big Ten home meet against Penn State on Friday, Feb. 3 at 7 p.m.
