CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Three Fighting Illini received regular season awards, the Big Ten announced Wednesday, April 2. Brandon Dang earned the conference's Specialist of the Year award, while Ian Sandoval was named Freshman of the Year. Amari Sewell was named Illinois' Sportsmanship Team honoree.
Sophomore pommel horse specialist Brandon Dang received the Specialist of the Year award after going undefeated during the 2025 regular season (7-0). Dang was a four-time Big Ten Specialist of the Week (Jan. 21, Feb. 11, Feb. 25, March 4) and three-time CGA Specialist of the Week (Jan. 29, Feb. 27, March 5). He spent 11 straight weeks ranked in the top three nationally and recently entered the Illinois Top-10 All-Time Pommel Horse Titles list with 16 in just two seasons. The San Jose, Calif., native was also named to the USA Gymnastics Senior National Team after taking home the pommel horse title at the Winter Cup on Feb. 23. Dang has since been on two international assignments to Baku, Azjerbaijan and Antalya, Turkey where he placed first and sixth respectively.
Ian Sandoval was unanimously selected as the conference's Freshman of the Year award recipient. The Frisco, Texas native earned five event titles over the course of the first half of the season before sustaining an injury that would cause him to miss over a month of competition. Despite his absence from the lineup, Sandoval remained in the rankings and was the only freshman to rank nationally in every event, including holding down the No. 2 spot in the all-around. Sandoval's win marks the first time in program history that an Illini gymnast has won the Freshman of the Year award in back-to-back years (Dang earned the title in 2024).
"We are so proud of what Brandon and Ian accomplished this year," said head coach Daniel Ribeiro. "Their meticulous work ethic and drive has developed them into some of the most disciplined gymnasts in the NCAA. These awards are so well deserved!"
Senior Amari Sewell is Illinois' addition to the Big Ten Sportsmanship Team. Sewell has two vault titles on the year, breaking him into the Illinois Top-10 All-Time Vault Titles list with 12.Â
Big Ten Award Winners
Gymnast of the Year - Taylor Christopulos, Nebraska
Specialist of the Year - Brandon Dang, Illinois
Freshman of the Year - Ian Sandoval, Illinois (unanimous)
Big Ten Sportsmanship Team Honorees
Amari Sewell, Illinois
Paul Juda, Michigan
Chris Hiser, Nebraska
Justin Ciccone, Ohio State
Matt Underhill, Penn State
