Six Past, Present, Future Illini Set for Winter Cup

No. 3 Illinois at Winter Cup
Date | Time	Friday, Feb. 23, 12:30 p.m. CT | Sunday, Feb. 25, 4:30 p.m. CT
Location	Louisville, Ky. | Kentucky International Convention Center
Live Stream	USA Gymnastics' Youtube Channel
Live Stats	myusagym app
Printable Notes	Illinois
Social Media	@IlliniMGym  |  @IlliniMGym | Facebook

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – No. 3 Illinois men's gymnastics will be well-represented at the upcoming Winter Cup, with a combined six current, former and future Fighting Illini ready to compete on Feb. 23 at 12:30 p.m. CT and Feb. 25 at 4:30 p.m. CT at the Kentucky International Convention Center. 

Fighting Illini grad student Connor McCool, sophomore Tate Costa and freshman Brandon Dang will represent the Orange and Blue alongside program alumni Alex Diab and Jordan Kovach. Class of 2024 signee Ian Sandoval will also be competing.

History 

Diab competed in the Winter Cup all four years of college, starting in 2016, when he placed eighth on still rings. In 2017 he tied for sixth on floor, in 2018 he placed second on still rings and in 2019 he placed 10th on floor and vault and second in still rings. In his post-Illinois career, he placed 15th on floor, 14th on vault and first on still rings in 2021. In 2022, he placed fifth on floor and first on still rings. Last year, Diab placed first on still rings and earned himself a spot on the national team. 

This is McCool's second Winter Cup, following a 13.803 and 13.843 on floor and a 14.150 and 13.450 on vault last year. 

This marks Dang's first appearance at the event of his college career after placing fourth on the pommel horse last year as a junior. 

This will be Costa's first Winter Cup of his collegiate career and Kovach's first of his professional career.  

About the Winter Cup

The 2024 Winter Cup is a qualifying event for the 2024 U.S. Gymnastics Championships. The Winter Cup will also culminate in the selection of the Men's Junior and Senior National Teams, which will be named following the competition.

The Winter Cup serves as an opportunity to earn more national points to qualify to compete in the U.S. Gymnastics Championships – a top-tier gymnastics meet with the most outstanding gymnasts in the country – in August. More information about the Winter Cup can be found here.

Who competes?

Athletes can earn a spot in the Winter Cup in one of four ways:  

1. Being a member of the U.S. National team (Diab). 

2. Competing in the 2023 U.S. Championships last August and earning at least one National Team Point (McCool). 

3. Qualifying from one of the four designated qualifying meets (Costa, Dang, Sandoval). 

4. Submitting a petition, a waiver requested when an athlete is injured, and having it be accepted (Dang). 

What is the National Point System?

National points are based on a gymnast's finishes in the meet: 

1st = 11 points 

2nd = 10 points

3rd = 9 points

4th = 7 points

5th = 6 points

6th = 5 points

7th = 4 points

8th = 3 points

9th  = 2 points

10th = 1 point

The program skips from nine points (third place) to seven points (fourth place) to provide greater emphasis on finishing in the top three on each event. 

The total number of national points earned determines if the athlete makes the U.S. Championships in August.