CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The fifth-ranked Fighting Illini men's gymnastics team eclipsed their season-high team score for a second-straight week, scoring a 408.400, but ultimatley fell to the fourth-ranked Michigan Wolverines, who scored a 411.850, on senior day in Huff Hall.
Illinois eclipsed their season-highs in team total (408.400), floor (69.000), pommel horse (69.450) and still rings (68.150) leading to three-point lead heading into the final three events. After a strong vault rotation that scored 71.650, Illinois struggled on parallel bars, scoring a 61.750 as opposed to Michigan's 68.550, and ultimatley could not climb out of the hole despite a season-high 68.400 on high bar.
Senior Hamish Carter earned the floor exercise title with a career-high 14.350, while senior Ian Skirkey claimed the pommel horse title with a 14.300. Carter broke his own school-record for highest performance in the all-around, scoring an 83.900 in the all-around in his final meet in Huff Hall.Â
After the meet, six Illini seniors were honored for their contributions to the Orange and Blue. Hamish Carter, Sebastian Abedi, Emanuele Muehlhauser, Jordan Kovach, Leo Valentin, and Clay Mason Stephens all participated in senior day ceremonies after competing in their last meet at Huff Hall.Â
HOW IT HAPPENED
MEET NOTES
- Illinois set new season high team scores on floor (69.0), pommel horse (69.45), still rings (68.15), high bar (68.4) and total team score (408.400).Â
- Illinois scored the fourth-highest pommel horse score and best since 2017 with their 69.45 on Sunday.
- Senior Hamish Carter set a new career-high in the all-around with an 83.9, eclipsing his previous school record in the all-around. He also tallied career-highs on floor (14.35) and tied his career-best on pommel horse (13.7). A new season-high of 14.25 was set on high bar as well.
- Senior Michael Fletcher set a season-best score on floor (13.85), and still rings (13.4).
- Sophomore Will Hauke set new career-best scores of 13.95 on pommel horse and 13.65 on high bar.
- Junior Evan Manivong set a new career-high on high bar (13.55).
UP NEXT
Illinois will wrap up the regular season next Saturday, March 19, when they head out to Colorado to take on Air Force.
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