Final Results

CHICAGO - The Illinois men's gymnastics team earned its fifth-straight Windy City Invitational title on Saturday, as the third-ranked Illini edged out No. 4 Minnesota, No. 5 Michigan, No. 9 Iowa, No. 17 Washington and No. 18 UIC with a final team total of 403.150. The Orange and Blue were led by freshman Clay Mason Stephens, who picked up the first two event titles of his career. 

The Illini got started on rings and posted a team total of 68.150. Once again Illinois was led by senior Alex Diab, who claimed his 22nd career title on the event with a 14.750. Diab is now just one rings title shy of tying Dave Romero for the Illinois program record. 

Vault was up next and four Illini scored runs of 14+. Stephens secured the top total (14.500), followed by A. Diab (14.400), and freshmen Michael Fletcher (14.350) and Max Diab (14.200).

In the third rotation, senior Johnny Jacobson came away with the top parallel bars total for Illinois (13.950), good for third overall on the event. Senior Ross Thompson posted the best Illini total on high bar in the fourth rotation, securing a 13.700 to finish fourth on the event. 

Stephens and junior Michael Paradise helped the Illini finish the night strong on both floor exercise and pommel horse. Stephens finished with a career-best 14.550 on floor to claim the event title, while Paradise earned his second-straight pommel horse title in as many weeks, pacing the field with a 14.200. 

Event Titles 

Floor - Clay Mason Stephens (14.550)

Pommel Horse - Michael Paradise (14.200)

Still Rings - Alex Diab (14.750)

Vault - Clay Mason Stephens (14.500)

Looking Ahead

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

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