CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The No. 3 ranked Fighting Illini men's gymnastics team heads to Chicago to compete in the 49th annual Windy City Invitational, held at Credit Union 1 Arena. The event, hosted by UIC, will see the Illini face off against No. 4 Minnesota, No. 5 Michigan, No. 9 Iowa, No. 17 Washington and No. 18 UIC. The Orange and Blue have claimed the last four Windy City titles.

The Windy City Invitational was first held during the 1976-77 season. Illinois won the tournament for the first time on Jan. 16, 1988. The Illini have won the event eight times since its inception, with six of those eight coming under Spring's leadership.

The Field (all-time series record)

Iowa: 161-82                                     Minnesota: 162-96

UIC: 76-16                                         Michigan: 127-91-1

Washington: 8-0                               Total: 534-285-1

Opening Weekend over UIC

Senior Alex Diab won three event titles and freshman Michael Fletcher came away with the top all-around total to help Illinois blow past UIC, 404.550-352.800, last Saturday night at Huff Hall. Illinois now holds a 77-16 advantage in the all-time series against the Flames.

Fletcher Named B1G Freshman of the Week

Following an impressive performance in a win over UIC, Fighting Illini gymnast Michael Fletcher was been named Big Ten Freshman of the Week.

Fletcher earned the all-around crown in his first meet for the Orange and Blue, finishing with 80.050 total. The Nashua, N.H., native also tied for the top spot on high bar (13.500) and posted the following scores: Floor (13.250), Pommel Horse (13.100), Still Rings (13.000), Vault (14.400) and Parallel Bars (12.800).

CGA Preseason Coaches Poll

Illinois men's gymnastics placed third in the 2018-19 Preseason Coaches Poll, released by the College Gymnastics Association. The Fighting Illini have been ranked in the top five of the preseason poll in nine of the last ten years. Oklahoma, the reigning national champions, was tabbed at No. 1, followed by Stanford. Minnesota and Michigan round out the top five.

Big Ten Preseason Poll

The defending Big Ten Champion Fighting Illini men's gymnastics team took the top spot in the 2019 Big Ten Preseason Coaches' Poll. Illinois came away with the program's 28th Big Ten title a year ago in Ann Arbor, Mich., putting up a season-best team score of 413.900.

Current Illini in the Record Book

Alex Diab enters the weekend with 21 career titles on rings, good for second all time in school history. Diab trails Dave Romero, who claimed 23 titles on the event during his time as an Illini. Diab also holds the top scores (under the current scoring system) on both floor (15.000) and still rings (15.050).

Johnny Jacobson also holds a number of spots in the record book, as the senior has secured three of the top five parallel bars scores in program history. Jacobson also claimed the third-best all-around total of 81.850 at Arizona state on 1/21/17.

Junior Sebastian Quiana holds the second and third-best floor totals in school history, finishing with scores of 14.950 and 14.850, respectively.

Illinois to Host 2019 NCAA Championships

The 2019 NCAA Men's Gymnastics Championships will be April 19-20, 2019 at the State Farm Center. It will mark the first time Illinois has hosted the NCAA Men's Gymnastics Championships since 2004.

Looking Ahead

Following the Windy City Invitational, Illinois will return home for a dual meet with Iowa on January 26, at 6 p.m. CT.