Final Results
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois Men's Gymnastics successfully defended its home turf on Saturday, earning a win against No. 5 Minnesota, 416.500-413.750. The Illini were behind by 0.800 points going into the final rotation, but had a strong finish on high bar and won five event titles on the day.
"The team did an amazing job with the close," said head coach Justin Spring. "High bar is probably right up there with pommel horse as an event that can bury you. You're having to let go and having to catch the bar with release moves. Our team, specifically, has an average of two or three release moves per routine, and our high bar team is one of our best teams that we put up every competition. It's going to be an event, like pommel horse, that makes or breaks competitions."
Starting on floor, Bobby Baker turned in a 14.300, and Alex Diab added a score of 14.500. Sebastian Quiana posted a career-best 14.650, helping the Illini to a 70.700 team score on the first rotation. Quiana, a freshman, earned his first career title in the event.
With the Illini holding the lead heading into the second rotation, Matt Foster started things off on pommel horse with a 13.950, good for his third title in as many weeks in the event. Tyson Bull scored a 13.300, and Tom Gibbs earned a mark of 13.100 as Illinois posted a team score of 66.400.
Still in the lead at start of the third rotation, three Illini posted season-bests on rings. Dennis Minton posted a 14.000, Bobby Baker scored a 14.200 in his season debut in the event, and Diab turned in a 14.900 for his third-straight rings title on the season. The Illini posted a 70.450 team score on rings, the best mark on the season so far.
Minnesota earned its first event title of the day on vault, but Baker's 14.750 score in the event was the best so far of the season. Johnny Jacobson, Alex Diab and Joey Peters also turned in season-best scores, at 14.300, 14.250 and 14.150, respectively. In his Illini debut on the event, Quiana posted a 13.900, helping Illinois to a season-high 71.400 on vault.
The Illini were on parallel bars next, and posted a 66.350 team score. Johnny Jacobson earned his third-straight title on the day with a 14.450. Tyson Bull added a 13.700, and Joey Peters scored a 13.250.
Down by less than one point heading into the final rotation, the Illini rose to the occasion. Jacobson, Diab, Eggleston and Bull posted season-high scores of 13.650, 14.200, 14.700, and 14.700 respectively. Eggleston and Bull tied for the title, earning their second high bar titles of the season.
"At Big Ten Championships we start on high bar," Spring said. "If this team shows up like it did tonight, we are going to do okay. That's going to be an amazing start. It was an amazing close, and honestly that's why we were able to edge out Minnesota tonight. Our best event was our best event. We did exactly what we were capable of doing, and honestly a little bit better. I'm proud of that finish."
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Illinois will host No. 6 Penn State next Friday at 7 p.m. CT at Huff Hall.
