March 27 - April 2, 2023

Connor McCool | SR., Men's Gymnastics | Major: Recreation, Sport & Tourism

Connor McCool finished the 2023 Big Ten Men's Gymnastics Championship last week in Columbus, Ohio, as one of three title winners for the Illini, the program's most since 2017. 

McCool took home the top spot in the floor exercise, posting a near-perfect routine to score 14.725 as the second-to-last competitor in the final round on Saturday. Paul Barnes of Penn State, the only gymnast to score higher in the event the night before, followed McCool but could not outscore the Illini senior, finishing with a 14.3 to give McCool the crown. 

McCool is the first Illini gymnast to win the Big Ten title in the floor exercise since C.J. Maestas in 2015. 

A native of Wildwood, Mo., McCool is pursuing a graduate degree in Recreation, Sport, & Tourism from Illinois.

º2022-23 Scholar Athlete of the Week Winners