CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The No. 7 Illinois men's gymnastics team returns to Huff Hall on Saturday to host No. 4 Michigan in a high-stakes Big Ten dual meet. The meet is set for 12 p.m. start and will celebrate our annual Hail to the Orange Out. Admission is free.
The Fighting Illini (0-4-1, 0-1 Big Ten) are looking to bounce back from last weekend's loss at Penn State. Despite the team result, Illinois captured three individual event titles in University Park and will look to carry that momentum into Saturday.
Freshman Nathan Whitaker continues to be a standout for the Illini, coming off a floor exercise title against the Nittany Lions with a score of 13.600. Whitaker has already proven his high ceiling this season, having posted a 14.550 earlier this year at the Sam Mikulak Invitational.
On vault, Garrett Schooley remains a primary scoring threat after winning the event title last week with a 14.350. He is joined in the winner's circle by Sam Kaplan, who secured the parallel bars title against Penn State with a 13.650.
The Illini will also rely heavily on sophomore Brandon Dang on the pommel horse. Dang remains one of the most decorated specialists in the program's recent history, moving up to a four-way tie for seventh most all-time pommel horse titles in Illini history.
Michigan arrives in Champaign ranked No. 4 nationally, having already faced the Illini once this season at the OSU Open in January.
Following the matchup with the Wolverines, Illinois will have a two-week hiatus from team competition before several athletes travel to the Winter Cup in late February.
