CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – No. 7 Illinois men's gymnastics is set to host No. 4 Ohio State at Huff Hall on Saturday at 12 p.m. for Senior Day.Â
Last Saturday, the Illini emphatically defeated Greenville (310.850) and Navy (310.300) behind a season-high score of 319.350. The Illini claimed four event titles, including two from Preston Ngai and individual wins from Brandon Dang and Garrett Schooley. The Orange and Blue also set season-best team scores on floor and parallel bars.Â
The team opened strong on floor, scoring a season-best 53.750. Schooley led the way with a 14.300, tying his career-high and securing the floor title for the third time this season. Dylan Shepard followed with a career-best 13.650. On pommel horse, Dang dominated with a 14.650 to claim his second event title, while Ngai got fourth place with a 13.100.Â
The Illini kept up the momentum on vault, posting their highest score of the day (54.850) with Ngai winning his first vault title of the season (14.350). On parallel bars, the team set a new season-high 53.500, led by Connor Micklos, Dylan Shepard, and Sam Kaplan. The meet wrapped up on horizontal bar with a 51.150 team score anchored by Tate Costa's 13.400.Â
ABOUT OHIO STATE
Ohio State capped its Senior Day with a tri-meet, posting a season-high 320.650 to defeat No. 13 Army (308.100) and No. 14 William & Mary (305.100) at the Covelli Center.
The Buckeyes started strong with season-best performances on floor and pommel horse. Chase Davenport-Mills led the way with a season-high 14.000 on floor, while Lukas Ross posted a career-best 13.450. On pommel horse, Ohio State swept the top four spots, highlighted by Parker Thackston's 15.300 for his second consecutive title and a career-high 14.150 from Collin Simpkins. Kristian Grahovski and Jace Hashimoto added season-high scores of 13.700 and 13.400.Â
On rings, they got a 1-2-3 finish led by senior Jesse Pakele's career-high 13.650. On vault, Jacob Harmon and David Ramirez each posted season-high 13.900 scores for second place. On parallel bars, Pakele (13.600), Tyler Burgess (13.500), and Ramirez (13.400) claimed the top spots, and Harmon capped the day with a high bar win at 13.850.
NGAI NAMED B1G GYMNAST OF THE WEEK
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.
