University of Illinois
Oklahoma
Diab Wins Rings Title, Illini Place Third at NCAA Championships
April 21, 2018 | Men's Gymnastics
Eight gymnasts earn 12 All-America honors
Final Results
CHICAGO - The second-ranked Fighting Illini men's gymnastics team posted its third-highest total (411.689) of the season to secure a third-place finish at the NCAA Championships. Oklahoma won the title for the fourth-straight year (414.858), while Minnesota finished second (411.923).
"I saw a lot of fight and at the end a lot of tears and a lot of broken hearts to be completely honest," said head coach Justin Spring. "We were probably the best team here just not the best team on the floor today. We kind of gave a national championship away and that hurts a lot. We had five and a half, almost six falls today. Minnesota had a perfect meet and Oklahoma had two falls and we lost by just under four points."
The Illini got things started on pommel horse and posted a season-high 68.965. Senior Brandon Ngai finished with the second-highest score on the event (14.500), while sophomore Michael Paradise tied for seventh with a 13.933.
The Orange and Blue were on rings next and junior Alex Diab came away with a 14.500 to earn the national title on the event. The three-time Big Ten Still Rings becomes the 58th individual national champion in school history and the third on the event. The title gives Diab 10 rings titles on the season, which is the most in a season in school history. The junior is also now tied for the second most rings titles in a career (20).
Seniors Bobby Baker and Dennis Minton also placed in the top-eight on the event, as the gymnasts finished with scores of 13.866 and 13.766, respectively. The top rotation of the night for Illinois came on vault, as UI posted five 14+ scores to come away with a season-best 72.464. The total ranks second all time in school history (under the current scoring system). Baker led the way on the event (14.766), followed by Jacobson (14.633), Jacob Light (14.566), Chandler Eggleston (14.366) and Max Diab (14.133).
On parallel bars, Jacobson produced a season-best 14.666 to place second on the event. Baker also came away with a season-high routine, finishing with a 14.233. The Illini struggled on high bar in the fifth rotation, but Eggleston was a bright spot, posting a 14.233 to place third. Finishing the meet on floor, sophomore Sebastian Quiana and Alex Diab scored the top totals for the Illini. Quiana hit a 13.366 to tie for second place, while Diab tied for seventh with a 14.166.
All-Americans
Bobby Baker - All-Around, Vault, Still Rings
Alex Diab - Still Rings, Floor
Johnny Jacobson - Parallel Bars, Vault
Chandler Eggleston - High Bar
Brandon Ngai - Pommel Horse
Michael Paradise - Pommel Horse
Sebastian Quiana - Floor
Dennis Minton - Still Rings
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Final scores from Chicago #ILLINI
— Illini M Gym (@IlliniMGym) April 22, 2018
???? place 3?rd with the third-highest team total of the season 411.689! pic.twitter.com/ImiWbbHI6V
After posting a 14.500, @alex_diab10 is the 2018 Still Rings National Champion!
— Illini M Gym (@IlliniMGym) April 22, 2018
Diab becomes the 5?8?th individual national champion in school history and the 3?rd to do so on rings #ILLINI pic.twitter.com/KuyJRNlw2L
What a season! ????
— Illini M Gym (@IlliniMGym) April 22, 2018
8? #ILLINI gymnasts earn 1?2? All-America honors! pic.twitter.com/kx0yp3swq5
