CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois secured its first wins of 2026 behind a team-high 319.350, defeating Greenville (310.850) and Navy (310.300) at Huff Hall on Saturday afternoon.
The Fighting Illini claimed four event titles during the tri-meet triumph, including two titles for Preston Ngai and one apiece for Brandon Dang and Garrett Schooley. The hosts also set season-best marks as a team on floor and parallel bars en route to a dominant home showing.
"The guys took a big step today," said head coach Daniel Ribeiro. "Everyone stepped up, and we had a really strong team competition. Preston is getting into top form; he got two big titles today. Brandon hit his best routine of the year. Garrett had a big day hitting all three of his events. Philly hit a huge ring routine for us and stuck the dismount. It was a fun day. We will build on this into next week."
The Orange and Blue began the day with a season-best score of 53.750 on floor. Schooley led the way with a season-high 14.300, which also tied his career-best tally, to secure the floor event title for the third time this season. Dylan Shepard was the Illini's next highest scorer, coming in sixth with a career-best 13.650 while making his season debut on the event.
On pommel horse, Dang claimed the crown by over one full point, scoring a 14.650 for his second event title this season. Ngai notched a 13.100, finishing fourth overall, helping the Illini post a 52.700, their second-highest team score this season.
Shifting to still rings, the Orange and Blue dominated the event, posting the four highest scores on the apparatus. Ngai, anchoring the Illini lineup, used a 13.750 to win the event title, while Sam Phillips, Hasan Aydogdu, and Schooley came in second, third, and fourth, respectively.
After the meet reached the halfway point, Illinois continued its dominant showing with its highest score of the day, a 54.850 on vault. Ngai's 14.350 was good for the event title, his first on the apparatus this season, while the Illini have now won the vault title at all five team meets this season.
The Illini then set a new season-high team score of 53.500 on parallel bars, with Connor Micklos, Shepard, and Sam Kaplan finishing in second, third, and fourth place, respectively.
The final rotation saw the Illini post a 51.150 on horizontal bar, with Tate Costa leading the way with a 13.400.
UP NEXT
Illinois closes its regular-season home schedule next Saturday, March 7, for Senior Day against No. 5 Ohio State. The Illini will battle the Buckeyes at Huff Hall at 12 p.m. CT on B1G+.
