STANFORD, Calif. – No. 6 Illinois will compete for the first time in three weeks in a tri meet against No. 2 Stanford and No. 10 Cal in Stanford, Calif. at 6 p.m. CT on March 4.
ABOUT THE MEET
The Illini will be hitting the road for their first meet in three weeks against powerhouse Stanford and California for a tri meet.
As a team, Illinois is coming off a loss to No. 7 Ohio State, however, Ian Skirkey, Connor McCool and Michael Fletcher are fresh off the Winter Cup where Skirkey earned a gold medal and a spot on the U.S. Senior National Team and McCool and Fletcher earned bronze medals -- McCool on floor and Fletcher on vault.
last time out - ohio state
The Illini had a strong floor performance, sweeping the first three spots. McCool got the title with a 14.150 with Amari Sewell close behind him with a 14.000 and a new career-high. Michael Fletcher got the third place slot with a 13.900.
The Orange and Blue was again in the top three on pommel horse, topped by Skirkey with a season-high 14.900. Max Farkhadau took second with a 13.850 and David Pochinka was third with a 13.650.
Ashton Anaya not only took the title, but also broke his career-high with a 14.800 on still rings. Josh Cook, who competed in the all-around, was the next highest scoring Illini with a 13.600.
The Illini fumbled a bit on vault, with Evan Manivong getting the highest Illinois score with 14.200.
Will Hauke had a standout performance on parallel bars, taking the title and a 14.000. Fletcher was a step behind him, scoring a 13.900.
Illinois finished the day on high bar, with Manivong securing a 13.600.
last time out - winter cup
Skirkey placed first on pommel horse, making him the first current Illini to make the U.S. Senior National Team since 2016 when Paul Ruggeri and C.J Maestras made the team.
McCool placed third on floor, while Michael Fletcher third on vault. Former Illini Alex Diab placed first in still rings and future Illini Brandon Dang placed fourth on pommel horse. Vahe Petrosyan was injured and unable to compete.
The past, present and future Illini competed two different days, with the scores from each day averaged together.
On his first performance, Skirkey scored a 14.972 and then a 15.972 on the second day – breaking his own record of the highest score in program history.
McCool also had great performances, securing a 13.803 and 13.843 on floor and a 14.150 and 13.450 on vault.
Fletcher recorded a 14.450 and 13.900 on vault while Diab scored a 12.900 and a 13.500 on still rings. Dang secured an impressive 14.466 and a 13.307.
etching their names in the record book
McCool has reached the Top 10 All-Time Titles in floor, tying for 10th with C.J. Maestras in floor. Skirkey also made his way into the Top 10 on pommel horse, tying Howard Beck with 15.
Titles are unique to Illinois men's gymnastics, created by head coach Daniel Ribeiro in 2012. Ribeiro then backlogged every event winner in program history and titles have been recorded ever since.
Skirkey became the first current Illini to make the U.S. Senior National Team since 2015 when Maestras and Paul Ruggeri.
Skirkey and the other Illini competed two different days, with the scores from each day averaged together.
On his first performance, the graduate student scored a 14.972 and then a 15.972 on the second day – breaking his own record of the highest score in program history.
