Four Illini Head to Winter Cup Competition

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - No. 5 Illinois Men's Gymnastics will have four athletes are ready to compete at the Winter Cup, which begins Feb. 21 at 5 p.m. CT. Hasan Aydogdu, Brandon Dang, Preston Ngai, and Ian Sandoval head to Louisville, Ky. for a chance at a spot on the USA Gymnastics Senior National Team.

About the Winter Cup

The 2025 Winter Cup is a qualifying event to the 2025 U.S. Gymnastics Championships. Competing athletes will be vying for all-around titles, international assignments and spots on the Senior National Team. 

Last Time Out

Last week, the Illini had a bye week after their tough loss on Feb. 8 to the then-No. 7 Michigan Wolverines 322.100-315.450. The team's uncharacteristic mistakes led to the Illini bringing home just two event titles: Dang's pommel horse win and Sandoval's all-around victory.

As for the Winter Cup, three of the four Illini are return competitors. Aydogdu competed in the Winter Cup twice (2022, 2023). This will be Dang's second Winter Cup. As a freshman last year, he was a pommel horse bronze medalist after scoring a 14.200 on Day 1 and jumping to a 14.850 on Day 2. Sandoval competed in his first Winter Cup last year in the all-around competition. This will be Ngai's first Winter Cup.

All Eyes On Us

• Preston Ngai and Garrett Schooley were named to this year's Big Ten Gymnasts to Watch list during the preseason.
• Both Ngai and Schooley were letterwinners for the Illini last season.
• Ngai competed in eight meets and showed up big in big moments, setting career highs at the Big Ten Championships (14.900 on vault) and NCAA Qualifiers (14.300 on pommel horse).
• Schooley also competed in eight meets and secured two event titles during the season (vault, all-around) as he repeatedly set and re-set career highs in all six events and the all-around.

Greater Goals, More Motivation

• Tate Costa, the reigning NCAA high bar champion, enters his junior year with a renewed sense of motivation for the season.
• After winning the high bar title in April 2024, Costa earned a spot at the 2024 Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships at the end of May. He finished 25th overall to earn a spot on the USA Gymnastics Senior Development Team and the opportunity to compete at the Olympic Team Trials in June.
• Due to his successes and his can-do attitude, Costa was named a captain for the second-straight year.
• "This last season definitely gave me a sense of belief in what I'm capable of," Costa said. "I now have goals for the next four years. I want to make an Olympic team, make a World Championships team, make the Senior National Team. I want to set myself up to compete at international competitions and show that I'm ready to compete for the United States at the Olympic Games. On top of that, in terms of NCAA goals, I want to win more national titles."

Head Coach Daniel Ribeiro

Career Record: 39-22 (.639), Third season

Big Ten: 7-4 (.636), Third season

Complete Illinois Meet Notes (PDF)