CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Junior Jordan Kovach and former Fighting Illini Alex Diab will head to Las Vegas for the 2020 Winter Cup Challenge, held at the Westgate Resort, on Thursday, Feb. 20 through Saturday, Feb. 22. Diab will be making his fifth trip to the event, while marking the first appearance for Kovach.

The Winter Cup Challenge will be a chance for athletes to try to qualify for the 2020 Olympic Team Trials, and performances at the meet will help determine the 12 men who will comprise the U.S. Senior National Team competing at the 2020 U.S. Gymnastics Championships in Fort Worth, Texas, June 4-7.

The first day of competition will consist of one session for the senior division that will see 42 athletes compete. The top 28 senior athletes will advance to the finals session according to the Men's Program Committee's points-ranking system. For the senior division. All-around tanking will be determined on the first day of competition, and individual event champions will be determined by way of a combined two-day score.

A year ago, Diab earned a second-place finish on still rings with a two-day total of 29.150. The former Illini also finished 10th on floor (27.250) and vault (28.350).

Sebastian Quiana found success at last year's event, taking ninth on both floor (27.300) and high bar (26.600). Michael Fletcher put together two top-10 finishes of his own on pommel horse with a score of 26.550 (sixth) and on vault with a total of 28.600 (eighth).

Looking Ahead

Following the Winter Cup Challenge, the Orange and Blue will be back in action at Iowa City, Iowa on March 1, as the take on Iowa at 1 p.m. CT.

Next Home Meet

Join the Fighting Illini men's gymnastics team for a tri-meet at Huff Hall against Michigan and Penn State on Saturday, March 7 at 4 p.m. CT for Senior Day.

Before the meet, there will be a ceremony held to recognize the five Illini seniors. At the conclusion of the meet, the team will hold a post-meet autograph session. Free Senior posters will be distributed to the first 100 fans, and there will be a free kids zone and a balloon artist in attendance.

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