Illini Advance Seven to Individual Competition, Place Fourth at B1G Championships

RECAP

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Illinois finished fourth at the Big Ten Championships team competition on April 4 with a score of 320.950.

The Orange and Blue started the night on still rings, where Garrett Schooley led off with a 12.900 before Logan Myers put together a 13.150 for the second-straight meet. It was Preston Ngai who led the way for the Illini, scoring a 13.550 to place ninth.

Over on vault, Dylan Shepard and Amari Sewell started for the Illini with a pair of 13.950s. Schooley came through with a season-high 14.700 to lead Illinois and place second overall.

In the third rotation, Shepard stuck his parallel bars dismount for a career-high 14.050, good for fifth place. Ian Sandoval also earned a career high (13.750) and Will Hauke rounded out the rotation with a 13.450.

On the high bar, the Illini needed to count a fall, but Ryan Vanichtheeranont (13.450) pulled through with a strong routine for the squad. He would finish fourth overall.

Vahe Petrosyan (12.950), Sandoval (12.950), and Sewell (13.000) got the Illini started on floor in the fifth rotation. Schooley closed out with a 14.200, good for second place.

Illinois would finish the night on pommel horse. Max Farkhadau led off with a 13.200 (10th place) before Hauke's season-high 13.800 (fifth place). Brandon Dang closed out the meet with a 14.850 to win the event title.

Seven gymnasts qualified for the individual competition. Three Illini advanced on the pommel horse: Dang, Hauke, and Farkhadau. Schooley advanced on floor and vault, while Ngai advanced on still rings. Shepard's career high propelled him to the next round, and Vanichtheeranont earned his spot on high bar.

The individuals will resume competition tomorrow, April 5, at 6 p.m. CT.