CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois men's gymnastics team will host No. 3 Ohio State in the final regular season meet at Huff Hall for "Spring into Huff" and Senior Night. Competition is set to begin on Friday, March 24, at 7 p.m.
"I think we are moving forward in the right direction," said head coach Justin Spring. "We are still not 100 percent health-wise, but our routines are solidified and we are ready to hit. We figure we are going up against the team we are most concerned about in Big Tens. It's important to see how our guys hit, and how they handle the pressure. It's a really great tune-up and prep for Big Ten Championships."
Illinois is coming off a 417.050 performance against top-ranked Oklahoma, the second-best score for the Illini of the 2016-17 campaign. The Orange and Blue will be facing Ohio State for the second time this season, after defeating the Buckeyes at the Windy City Invitational, 412.150-403.450.
Illinois will have five seniors that will be recognized following the meet: Matt Foster, Tom Gibbs, Joey Peters, Taylor Smith and Marlon Vernon.
"This was an unexpected class, as far as where they came from," Spring said. "Taylor was just a walk-on. Marlon was in his second year when he came in, and Matt Foster was one of our big recruits, so we had pretty high expectations for him. The class ended up exceeding our expectations as far as work ethic and commitment, and honestly quality of gymnastics. Joey has been one of the most passionate and engaged guys we have ever had on this team. It's been a rocky road with his injury, but it didn't come from lack of fight or determination to be his best. It's not just gymnastics, you always miss the quality and the character and the attitude of your seniors when they move on."
SCOUTING OHIO STATE
Ohio State is ranked No. 3 in this week's CGA Coaches Poll. Using the four-score average, the Buckeyes' team score ranks third nationally (417.333), and are ranked second on pommel horse (70.350), third on parallel bars (69.950) and fourth on high bar (68.400).
Individually, Ohio State's Jake Martin is the top Big Ten gymnast in the all-around, and ranks second nationally with an 84.650 four-score average. Martin is also fourth in the nation and second in the conference on high bar (14.633). Alec Yoder ranks second nationally and is the top gymnast in the Big Ten on pommel horse (14.950), while Jake Dastrup is No. 4 in the nation and first in the conference on parallel bars (14.483).
PROMOTIONS – SPRING INTO HUFF AND SENIOR NIGHT
-Free spring rolls from Panda Express for first 200 fans
-Free Illinois leotard T-shirt for the first 450 fans
NO. 4 IN THE NATION
Illinois is holding steady at fourth place in the latest CGA Coaches Poll. The Illini were No. 3 for eight-straight weeks, and are up one spots from their preseason ranking.
LOOKING AHEAD
Illinois will return home for a final meet against Ohio State next weekend on Friday, March 24, at 7 p.m. CT. The meet will be the last for the Illini before the Big Ten Men's Gymnastics Championships at State Farm Center.
BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIP AT STATE FARM CENTER
The 2017 Big Ten Men's Gymnastics Championships will be hosted by Illinois and held at the State Farm Center on April 7 & 8. The Big Ten Championships were last held at Illinois in 2011, which saw the Illini take home the Big Ten title. Tickets are on sale now at fightingillini.com
