Final Results
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The fourth-ranked Fighting Illini men's gymnastics team registered season-high totals on four events en route to a season-best 413.050 to take down both No. 2 Stanford and No. 5 Minnesota on Saturday at Huff Hall. Illinois improves to 9-2 overall on the season and 2-1 in conference competition.Â
The Illini got off to a strong start on floor exercise, as the team secured a season-best 70.050 on the event. Senior Alex Diab led the way with a season-high 14.800 to win the event, followed by freshman Hamish Carter (14.100), junior Sebastian Quiana (14.050), senior Johnny Jacobson (13.900) and freshman Clay Stephens (13.900). Up next was pommel horse and Illinois once again got a huge contribution from Michael Paradise, as the junior scored a 14.650, marking his fourth 14.6+ score of the season.Â
It was the Alex Diab show on still rings yet again on Saturday, as the Glen Ellyn, native secured a career-best 15.200 to win his 25th career title on the event. The score marks a new Illinois program record, which was previously held by Diab (15.050, vs. UIC on 1/12/18). Illinois' ring total of 68.500 also marked a new season high for the Orange and Blue.Â
UI continued a strong meet through the fourth rotation, as the team strung together four 14.2+ scores on vault to secure a 71.450 team total. Freshman Clay Mason Stephens led the way with a career-best 14.600 on the event.
Needing to hold off No. 2 Stanford with two rotations to go, Illinois put together its best parallel bars and high bar rotations of the season. Jacobson led an impressive parallel bars rotation with a season-best 14.500 to help the Illini to a season-high 70.050 on the event, while Carter registered a career-high 14.200 on high bar to help clinch the Illinois victory. Illinois' 66.600 on high bar also marked a new season best.Â
Event Titles
Floor Exercise - Alex Diab (14.800)
Pommel Horse - Michael Paradise (14.650)
Still Rings - Alex Diab (15.200) - career high
Vault - Clay Mason Stephens (14.600) - career high
Senior Day
Saturday's meet also marked senior day, as Illini gymnasts Alex Diab, Johnny Jacobson, Blake Martin and Ross Thompson were honored prior to the start of the meet.Â
Up Next
The Illini will head to Norman, Oklahoma, to take on the four-time defending champion Oklahoma Sooners. Meet competition is set for March 9, at 4 p.m. CT.Â
Follow the Illini
Stay tuned to FIGHTINGILLINI.com for all the latest information on Fighting Illini Men's Gymnastics. Use @IlliniMGym to follow the Orange and Blue on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook for complete coverage.
