CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – No. 7 Illinois men's gymnastics will travel to Lincoln, Neb., to compete against No. 3 Nebraska for its last conference meet. The Illini and the Cornhuskers are set for a Saturday afternoon dual at 4 p.m. CT on B1G+.
ABOUT ILLINOIS
Last week, the Illinois men's gymnastics team fell to No. 4 Ohio State, 316.200–313.900, on Senior Day at Huff Hall. Despite the loss, the Illini captured four individual event titles and delivered several strong performances throughout the meet.
Tate Costa opened with a season-high 14.050 on floor to claim the event title and lead Illinois to a 53.100 team score on the apparatus. Brandon Dang added another title on pommel horse with a 14.600, his third performance of at least 14.600 this season, while Preston Ngai recorded a 13.100 and Connor Micklos posted a 13.000 for the Illini.
On rings, Ngai and Hasan Aydogdu tied for the team's top mark with identical scores of 13.600 as Illinois trailed by just three-tenths at the halfway point. The Illini recorded their highest team score of the meet on vault with a 53.950, led by Garrett Schooley's 14.100 to secure the event title. Dylan Shepard also contributed with a career-tying and season-best 14.000.
NEBRASKA NOTES
No. 3 Nebraska competed in a tri-meet against Simpson and Greenville on March 7 in Indianola, Iowa. The Huskers finished first with the score of 319.000 ahead of Simpson (300.000) and Greenville (295.700). Nebraska captured four individual event titles during the meet.
Chase Mondi led the Huskers on floor exercise, earning the event title with a 13.650, while Ethan Cox added a career-high 13.500 and Sam Rakita posted a 13.350. Nebraska continued its strong showing on pommel horse, on which Nik Tarca anchored the rotation with a 13.450 to claim the title, supported by Wyatt Reynolds 13.350 and Caden Clinton's 13.300.
On high bar, Anthony Koppie secured another event title for Nebraska with a career-high 13.400. Alex Nitache followed with a matching 13.400, while Grant Bowers made his career debut on the apparatus with a 12.550.
Nebraska also posted one of its strongest rotations on vault, recording a 56.550 team score behind big performances from Ty Roderiques (14.200), Chase Mondi (14.250), Alex Nitache (14.100), and Luke James (14.000). The Huskers closed the meet on parallel bars, with Nitache claiming the event title with a 13.500 to help Nebraska secure the overall victory.
LAST TIME VS. THE HUSKERS
The last time Illinois and Nebraska competed was on Jan. 31, 2025, when the Illini defeated the Huskers, 321.300–320.800, in their home opener at Huff Hall. Illinois earned the narrow victory behind several standout individual performances and a strong team effort across all six rotations.
Brandon Dang delivered a standout performance for Illinois, winning the pommel horse title with a 14.250, while Preston Ngai added a 13.550 to place fourth on the event. On still rings, Hasan Aydogdu recorded a career-high 13.600 to finish second for the Illini. Ryan Vanichtheeranont and Ngai helped secure the win on high bar with scores of 13.450 and 13.400, sealing the Illini's victory over Nebraska.
Nebraska also delivered several standout performances. Luke James tied for the floor exercise title with a career-high 13.600, while Chris Hiser earned the still rings title with a 13.900, marking his sixth career rings victory.
On parallel bars, Alex Nitache tied for first with 13.700, and Cole Partridge claimed the high bar title with a 13.600. Despite Nebraska winning the final event, Illinois held on to secure the narrow victory, finishing just five-tenths ahead of the Huskers.
NGAI NAMED B1G GYMNAST OF THE WEEK (MARCH 3)
Fighting Illini junior Preston Ngai was named Big Ten Men's Gymnast of the Week following his standout performances against Greenville and Navy, the conference office announced on Tuesday (March 3).
Ngai secured two event titles during Illinois' tri-meet win, claiming individual triumphs on still rings and vault.
On rings, the Elk Grove, California, native anchored the Illini lineup, using a 13.750 to secure the event title.
After the meet reached the halfway point, Ngai's 14.350 on vault was good for his second title of the afternoon and his first on the apparatus this season.
Ngai became the first Illini gymnast to win a weekly conference award this season, while it marked the second Big Ten Gymnast of the Week honor of his career.
