Skirkey, Anaya Earn National Titles at NCAA Championships

RECAP

Men's Gymnastics April 15, 2023

Skirkey, Anaya Earn National Titles at NCAA Championships

RECAP

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – Graduate student Ian Skirkey (pommel horse) and sophomore Ashton Anaya (still rings) both were named national champions at the NCAA Championships Saturday night in State College, Pa.

This is the first time since 2012 Illinois has two national champions when C.J. Maestas won the still rings title and Paul Ruggeri won the vault title. This is also Skirkey's second time winning the pommel horse national title, the first being in 2021.

The Illini also secured third place for the first time since 2018 with their season-high score of 415.590.

"This was a magical finish to an already incredibly successful season," head coach Daniel Ribeiro said. "This was a selfless team with a special energy and it all came together on the final night at NCAAs. We could not have done this without the help and support of my assistant coaches and support staff. This was an all out team effort and everyone deserves credit for this special season."

Illinois started off on still rings where Anaya secured a 14.800 and kept the number one spot the whole competition. Josh Cook also had a notable score with a 13.700 with Michael Fletcher scoring a 13.500 and Ethan Boder securing a 13.400.

Amari Sewell not only broke his career-high with a 14.866 on vault, but earned fourth place in the event. Connor McCool and Evan Manivong notably scored a 14.500 with Fletcher scoring a 14.466.

David Pochinka scored a 14.566 on parallel bars and placed fourth in the event while Will Hauke scored a 14.366 and earned eighth.

Manivong notched the top high bar score with a 13.466, with Tate Costa right behind him with a 13.433.

McCool earned his All-America honor with seventh-place 14.533 floor performance. Cook secured a note-worthy 13.933 with Sewell securing a 13.833.

Skirkey, who needed a 14.333 or better to win the title, landed a monster score of 15.133 to capture his second national title. Sebastian Ingersoll, who only competed twice this season, secured a 13.966, good enough for fourth place. Max Farkhadau was right behind his teammate, scoring a 13.833 and securing fifth place.

Fletcher also competed in the all-around and scored a 81.331 for seventh place.

The nine All-Americans is the most top-eight finishers Illinois has received since 2014, when the Illini secured 10.

Stanford won the competition with a 422.458, Michigan came in second with a 419.889, Oklahoma came in fourth with 414.024, Nebraska came in fifth with 412.427 and Penn State was sixth with 412.057.

This was the first time since Illinois has defeated Oklahoma since 2012, the year the Illini won the National Championship.