University of Illinois
Stanford
Skirkey Claims National Championship, Illini Place Sixth
April 17, 2021 | Men's Gymnastics
Recap
MINNEAPOLIS, Min. – The Fighting Illini men's gymnastics team finished sixth in the nation at Saturday night's NCAA Championship with a score of 397.991.
Junior Ian Skirkey claimed the 2021 NCAA Pommel Horse title with a score of 14.166, the first Illini pommel horse national champion since Brandon Ngai claimed the title in 2016. Sophomore Connor McCool claimed an All-American honor via his sixth-place finish on the floor, posting a season-best 14.733.
NATIONAL CHAMPION!!!!@IanSkirkey posts a 14.166 to claim the 2021 NCAA Pommel Horse title! #Illini ???? pic.twitter.com/VPzdPN6J12
— Illinois M Gym (@IlliniMGym) April 18, 2021
Junior Michael Fletcher posted a career-best score on the floor with a 14.033 and added a season-best 13.466 on the high bar. Fletcher placed 11th in the all-around, posting a 79.431 on the evening. Sophomore Josh Cook also added a season-high on high bar with a 13.100.
Your 2021 #Illini All-Americans! ??
— Illinois M Gym (@IlliniMGym) April 18, 2021
??@_connormccool, Floor Exercise
??@IanSkirkey, Pommel Horse pic.twitter.com/dGS3ol0gWT
HOW IT HAPPENED
| Floor Exercise |
Max Diab (13.433)
|
Josh Cook (14.100) | Michael Fletcher (14.033) | Evan Manivong (14.233) | Connor McCool (14.733) |
| Pommel Horse | Tyler Schmidt (10.500) | Emanuele Muehlhauser (11.800) | Tommy Mistretta (13.033) | Hamish Carter (13.133) | Ian Skirkey (14.166) |
| Still Rings |
Josh Cook (11.900) |
Jordan Kovach (13.566) | Logan Myers (13.233) | Michael Fletcher (12.666) | Danny Graham (13.666) |
| Vault | Connor McCool (14.266) | Logan Myers (14.000) | Max Diab (14.233) | Michael Fletcher (14.433) | Evan Manivong (13.433) |
| Parallel Bars | Logan Myers (13.333) | Joel Diaz (13.200) | Jordan Kovach (13.333) | Michael Fletcher (13.533) | Hamish Carter (12.233) |
| High Bar | Evan Manivong (11.700) | Josh Cook (13.100) | Logan Myers (12.633) | Michael Fletcher (13.466) | Hamish Carter (12.900) |
MEET NOTES
- Junior Ian Skirkey claimed his first national championship on the pommel horse with a score of 14.166. He is the first Illini to win a pommel horse national championship since Brandon Ngai in 2016.
- Sophomore Connor McCool claimed All-American honors on floor exercise, his second year in a row being named an All-American on the floor.
- Sophomore Connor McCool posted a season-best score of 14.733 on the floor.
- Sophomore Josh Cook posted a season-best 13.100 on high bar.
- Junior Michael Fletcher posted a career-high 14.033 on the floor and a season-high 13.466 on high bar.
