University of Illinois
Iowa
Illini to Host Iowa for Big Ten Opener
January 25, 2019 | Men's Gymnastics
| Illinois vs. Iowa | |
|---|---|
| When | Saturday, Jan. 26 // 6 p.m. CT |
| Where | Huff Hall // Champaign, Ill. |
| Follow Live | Live Stats | Video Stream |
| Information | Stats | Notes |
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The No. 3 ranked Fighting Illini men's gymnastics team returns home for its Big Ten opener against No. 9 Iowa on January 26, at 6 p.m. CT. Illinois holds a 162-82 advantage all time over the Hawkeyes.
Iowa in the Rankings
» Floor Exercise - 67.450 (10th)
» Pommel Horse - 62.950 (11th)
» Still Rings - 66.150 (9th)
» Vault - 67.050 (16th)
» Parallel Bars - 64.050 (T-10th)
» High Bar - 66.550 (3rd)
» Team - 394.800 (10th)
Fifth-Straight Windy City Title
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.
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.
B1G Freshman of the Week x2
For two-straight week to begin the season, an Illini freshman has come away with Big Ten weekly honors. After leading Illinois to its fifth-straight Windy City Invite title, freshman Clay Mason Stephens was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week. Stephens earned his first two career event titles at the event for the Illini and finished third on all-around, totaling a 79.650. The freshman finished in the top spot on floor (14.550) and vault (14.500) and posted the following scores: Pommel Horse (12.200), Still Rings (12.500), Parallel Bars (13.150) and High Bar (12.750).
Following an impressive performance in a win over UIC, freshman Michael Fletcher earned the honor. Fletcher claimed 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).
Current Illini in the Record Book
Alex Diab enters the weekend with 22 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.
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.
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.
