CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The No. 7 Illinois men's gymnastics team will be back in Huff Hall for the final time this season against No. 5 Nebraska on March 12 at 3 p.m.
ABOUT THE MEET
The Illini haven't been back in Huff Hall in over a month when they beat Penn State, 408.800-401.750, on Feb. 4.
The Orange and Blue have the upper hand against the Cornhuskers with a 43-30 overall record. Illinois is looking for a comeback after losing to Nebraska, 405.650-408.050, in Lincoln last season.
This meet will also serve as Senior Day for three gymnasts -- Ian Skirkey, David Pochinka and Josh Cook, as well as one student manager, Tyler Schmidt.
LAST TIME OUT
No. 6 Illinois men's gymnastics team grabbed the second-place spot in a tri meet with No.2 Stanford and No. 10 Cal with a score of 399.400 in Stanford, Calif.
Stanford, who has won the national title the past three years, took first place with a score of 410.200 and Cal took third with a 386.250.
Illinois started the meet off on rings where Ethan Boder took the top Illini spot with a 13.650 and also tied for fifth place in his first meet back since Jan. 21. Ashton Anaya was a step behind him, securing a 13.100.
Next up was floor where Connor McCool snatched his 12th floor title with a 14.500, putting him ninth in the All-Time Title leaders on floor. Will Hauke scored a 13.800, .10 from tying his career-high.
Skirkey, fresh off being named to the National Senior Team, rounded out a shaky pommel horse performance with a 14.450 – just .2 away from beating Stanford's Khoi Young.
Kyle Mayotte, Ryan Vanichtheeranont and Pochinka all had the top Illini score on high bar with a 13.400, marking Mayotte's first time on the event and Vanichtheeranont's new career-high. Evan Manivong was close behind them with a 13.200
Manivong took the top spot on vault, with an impressive 14.750 and second place in the event. Michael Fletcher, fresh off his third-place finish at the Winter Cup in the apparatus, secured a solid 14.700.
Illinois ended the meet strong on parallel bars with Pochinka tying his career-high and earning the title with a 14.600 with Hauke taking a 14.000. Connor Micklos, who stepped in the lineup last minute, broke his career-high with a 12.900.
HE'S JUST THE MCCOOL
After another title win at Stanford, McCool is the sole holder of tenth place in the Top 10 All-Time Titles list for floor.
The Wildwood, Mo., native claimed his 12th title on the apparatus. After the next event win he will be in a three-way tie with Paul Ruggeri and Charlie Lakes for the eighth place spot.
