LOUISVILLE, Ky. -Â Hasan Aydogdu, Brandon Dang, Ian Sandoval, and Preston Ngai traveled to represent the Illini at the 2025 Winter Cup, a USA Gymnastics Senior National Team qualifying event.
Unfortunately, the injury bug would strike the Illini on their journey, first with Aydogdu, as he sustained an injury in podium training the day before competition and was unable to compete.
Winter Cup Day 1 action began on Feb. 21 on pommel horse for the Orange and Blue, where Dang posted a 14.000 to place third and Ngai tallied a 13.450 to place eighth. Both would qualify to compete for the podium on Day 2 of the series.
In the second rotation, Ngai tallied a 13.150 on still rings, which was good for fifth place, advancing him to Day 2 in a second event. It was at this point that Sandoval sustained an injury, and would miss the remainder of the competition.
Ngai would continue through the rotations on Day 1, but would opt to take the scratch on floor to preserve himself for Day 2 action.
"Losing Hasan and Ian to injury was a really tough start to the Winter Cup," said head coach Daniel Ribeiro, "but the way that Brandon and Preston responded showed their true Fighting Illini spirit."
On Feb. 23, the competition resumed, with Ngai starting off Day 2 on the vault with a 13.650, before earning a 12.850 on high bar.
In the fifth rotation, Brandon Dang notched a 14.350 to put his two-day total at 28.350. He would lead the field with one rotation to go. Ngai would score a 13.600 to sit in third on the apparatus.
In the final rotation, Ngai scored a 12.900 on the still rings to close out the 2025 Winter Cup for the Orange and Blue.
Ultimately, Preston Ngai would finish fourth on pommel horse and eighth on the still rings. Brandon Dang, on the other hand, was able to hang onto his first-place spot and take home the title of USA Winter Cup Pommel Horse champion.
Later in the evening, Dang was named to the USA Gymnastics Senior National Team. The San Jose, Calif., native will go on three international assignments for the FIG World Cup Series, competing in Baku, Azerbaijan (March 6-9), Antalya, Turkey (March 20-23), and Cairo, Egypt (April 25-28).
"Brandon once again showed that he is the best pommel horse worker in America, and he is not slowing down," Ribeiro said.
Dang joins Illini alum Alex Diab on the roster, as well as current Illini Tate Costa, who is a Senior National Development Team member.
The full Illini squad will be back in Huff Hall on March 1 to take on Army and Greenville on Pride Night at 1 p.m. CT. After the meet, Illinois will host their annual Ninja Warrior competition. Those who wish to participate can register here.
