Final Results

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – First place finishes from seniors Danny Graham and Michael Paradise, and sophomore Hamish Carter were not enough as the University of Illinois men's gymnastics team was defeated (402.800-400.900) by Minnesota on Saturday night at Maturi Pavilion.

"We continue to have too many falls during practice, and that is what shows up in competition," said head coach Justin Spring. "We have the potential to be a great team this year, but our training consistency must get better."

Graham claimed the title on still rings with a career-high score of 14.350, while Paradise took the top spot on pommel horse (14.850) and Carter placed first on vault with a 14.600, which ties his career best.

Junior Jordan Kovach tied his career-high on high bar (12.950), and sophomores Emanuele Muehlhauser and Ian Skirkey set personal-bests of their own on pommel horse with a total of 12.950 and 13.900, respectively.

Senior Sebastian Quiana posted two season-bests on floor (14.300) and on high bar (13.500). Redshirt junior Tommy Mistretta's 13.600 on pommel horse was good for a season-high.

The Illini had season-highs on floor and pommel horse, as they team totaled a 68.500 and a 67.350, respectively.

How It Happened

First Rotation – Still Rings (66.950)

• Graham recorded a meet-high 14.350 on still rings to sit atop the podium. Kovach and junior Max Diab tied for fourth with a score of 13.450, and senior Satchel Hudson and freshman Josh Cook finished the rotation with a 12.850 (T-8th).

Second Rotation – Floor Exercise (68.500)

• Freshman Connor McCool and Quiana claimed silver and bronze, respectively, on floor en route to a season-best team score of 68.500. Carter and freshman Evan Manivong scored a 13.300, tying for fourth-place. Diab finished in seventh (13.200), while Cook tied for eighth (13.050) with Minnesota's Colton Dee.

Third Rotation – Pommel Horse (67.350)

• The Illini had the top three performers on pommel horse and totaled a season-high team score of 67.350. Paradise came away with the top spot as he registered a 14.850. Skirkey finished in second with a career-high 13.900 and Mistretta placed third with his season-best 13.600. Muehlhauser was sixth with a 12.950.

Fourth Rotation – High Bar (65.000)

• Quiana's season-high 13.500 was good for a second-place finish, followed by Carter in third (13.400). Kovach, Cook and Skirkey took sixth (12.950), seventh (12.750) and eighth (12.400) on the apparatus, respectively.

Fifth Rotation – Vault (69.450)

• Tying his career-best, Carter scored a meet-high 14.600 on the event. Quiana finished sixth (13.850), while Diab tied for seventh (13.800) with Valen Watrous of Minnesota.

Sixth Rotation – Parallel Bars (63.650)

• Earning fourth place for the Fighting Illini was Quiana with a total of 13.700. Mistretta scored a 13.100 to finish seventh and Graham followed in eighth with a 12.800.

Event Titles

Pommel Horse – Michael Paradise (14.850)

Still Rings – Danny Graham (14.350)

Vault – Hamish Carter (14.600)

Up Next

The Fighting Illini return to Huff Hall for a dual meet against conference rival Nebraska on Saturday, Feb. 1 at 2 p.m. CT. The meet will be host to the Illini Ninja Warrior Competition.

At the conclusion of the meet, fans will have an opportunity to take part in our annual Illini Ninja Warrior Obstacle Course Competition, to see if they have what it takes. Prizes for first, second and third place will be distributed at the end.

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