UNIVERSITY PARK, PA.- The Fighting Illini men's gymnastics team fell to Penn State 399.300-399.150 Sunday afternoon in a tightly contested Big Ten matchup. The Illini drop to 2-1 (1-1 B1G), while Penn State improves to 2-0 (1-0 B1G).

The Illini came away with four event titles and the all-around title, though the effort wasn't enough as Penn State scored high on the high bar in the final rotation, while Illinois struggled on parallel bars.

"We continue to get better on some things but we hit some lower lows on a few events today that offset any gains we've been making" head coach Justin Spring said. "We have to stop having multiple misses on the same event if we want to win against tough B1G teams."

Junior Michael Fletcher earned his first event title of the year, scoring a career-high 13.700 on pommel horse while also setting a new career-best 14.000 on floor. Graduate student Danny Graham collected his second rings title on the year with a season-best 14.200.

Sophomore Evan Manivong recorded his third straight vault title with a 14.600, finishing in a tie for first with Penn State's Matt Cormier. Junior Hamish Carter collected the event title on high bar with a score of 13.750, and grabbed his second straight all-around title with an 80.250.

Freshman Will Hauke set new career-highs on floor and high bar with scores of 13.900 and 13.050, respectively. Fellow freshman Logan Myers recorded a career-best rings score of 13.700, and sophomore Dylan Kolak set a new career-high of 14.050 on the vault. Junior Ian Skirkey also set a career-high on pommel horse with a score of 13.050, a full point above his previous career-best.

HOW IT HAPPENED

First Rotation- Pommel Horse (65.550)

• Fletcher took home the gold on pommel horse with a career-best 13.700. Skirkey followed Fletcher in second with a score of 13.600, followed by Penn States Nick Mock in third with a score of 13.050.

Second Rotation- Floor Exercise (69.200, season-best)

• Sophomore Connor McCool took silver on the floor with a 14.200, tied with Penn State's Robbie Shamp. Fletcher followed in fourth place with a career-best 14.000, and Hauke placed fifth with a 13.900, also a career-best.

Third Rotation- Vault (69.650)

• Manivong tied for first on the vault with Penn State's Matt Cormier, scoring a 14.600. Sophomore Dylan Kolak placed fourth with a career-best 14.050.

Fourth Rotation- Still Rings (66.450)

• Graham took the gold on rings with a season-best score of 14.200. Myers took bronze in the event with a career-high 13.700, and Fletcher followed in fourth with a score of 13.300.

Fifth Rotation- High Bar (65.400, season-best)

• Carter placed first on the high bar with a season-best score of 13.750. Hauke followed in fifth place with a career-best 13.050.

Sixth Rotation- Parallel Bars (62.600)

• Carter took the silver medal on parallel bars with a 13.500. Senior Jordan Kovach placed fourth with a score of 13.400.

EVENT TITLES

Pommel Horse- Michael Fletcher (13.700)

Still Rings- Danny Graham (14.200)

Vault- Evan Manivong (14.600)

High Bar- Hamish Carter (13.750)

All-Around- Hamish Carter (80.250)

UP NEXT

Due to COVID-19 and state health department protocols with the Michigan Athletics program, the Illini's scheduled home meet vs Michigan next weekend is postponed. Illinois is working with the B1G conference to reschedule this meet and a new opponent for next weekend will be announced at a later time.

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