Illini Take the Title at Windy City Invitational

RECAP

CHICAGO - The Fighting Illini men's gymnastics team claimed the Windy City Invitational victory over No. 4 Michigan by a score of 321.700-316.600 on Saturday, Jan. 18.

Five gymnasts made their Illini debuts throughout the invitational, all playing major roles in the team's win.

The Illini started the night on still rings, where Nebraska transfer Sam Phillips debuted with a career-high 13.900. The score earned him the event title in his first outing for the Orange and Blue. Freshman Hasan Aydogdu also contributed right from the jump, earning a 13.500 in his first collegiate appearance.

As the team rotated to the vault, veteran Amari Sewell and Big Ten Gymnast to Watch Garrett Schooley each tallied a 14.450 to lead the way for the Illini and earn a share of the event title. In his Illini debut, Ian Sandoval added a 14.100 to the mix.

Freshmen Nathan Whitaker (12.250) and Matthew Vu Nguyen (12.600) made their debut in the third rotation on parallel bars, but it was again Phillips who surged to the front of the pack, scoring a 13.500.

The newcomers continued to produce for the Orange and Blue all night, with Nguyen scoring a 13.400 and Phillips earning another 13.900 in the next rotation (high bar).

Shortly thereafter, Whitaker was back with a vengeance, tallying a 13.700 on floor exercise to lead Illinois and take the title. Sewell wasn't far behind, coming through with a 13.600 in his second event of the night.

A lineup of underclassmen closed out the competition, starting with Preston Ngai's career-high 14.350. Brandon Dang stepped up next and delivered a 14.700, the winning score, before Sandoval and Aydogdu finished off the rotation with a 12.250 and 13.500 respectively.

Sam Phillips took the top spot in the all-around (80.100), automatically qualifying him for this year's Winter Cup, an event at which gymnasts have the chance to earn national points to qualify for the U.S. Gymnastics Championships.

"I am really proud of the way our guys performed today," head coach Daniel Ribeiro said. " We hit our season-opening goals and competed as a unit with high energy. Philly [Sam Phillips] crushed it like a veteran and we got to watch a number of freshmen come out and dominate in their debuts. We still have a lot of work to get done, but this was a great start to the season."

The Illini will be back in action Saturday, Jan. 25 at No. 1 Oklahoma at 6 p.m. CT.