CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Brandon Dang and Matthew Vu Nguyen earned Big Ten weekly honors, the conference announced Tuesday, March 4. Dang tallied another Specialist of the Week win, while Nguyen was named Freshman of the Week.
Just a week after being named to the USA Gymnastics Senior National Team, Brandon Dang was back at it for the Orange and Blue. The sophomore won his sixth pommel horse title of the season with a score of 14.700, bringing his career total to 14. The San Jose, Calif., native currently ranks second in the nation on pommel horse, and first in the Big Ten. Dang has now won the Specialist of the Week title on four occasions this season (Jan. 21, Feb. 11, Feb. 25, March 4), and six times in his career. The pommel horse specialist will begin his first USA Gymnastics international assignment in Baku, Azerbaijan later this week (March 6-9).
Matthew Vu Nguyen stepped up for the injury-depleted Illini vs. Army and Greenville on Saturday, March 1. The freshman made his collegiate debut on the vault with a 13.700 before earning a new career-high 14.050 on the parallel bars, good for first place. The Houston, Texas native was also part of the high bar squad who maintained the Illini lead in the final rotation. This is the all-arounder's first conference recognition.
The Illini will be back in action in Huff Hall on March 8 to take on No. 6 Penn State for Senior Day. Competition begins at 1 p.m. CT.
Big Ten Weekly Awards - March 4, 2025
Gymnast of the Week - Josh Karnes, Penn State
Specialist of the Week - Brandon Dang, Illinois
Freshman of the Week - Matthew Vu Nguyen, Illinois
