No. 5 Illinois men’s gymnastics is coming off a massive win against reigning Big Ten champions No. 4 Michigan (413.800-410.350). The win puts the Illini at a 6-1 record and a six-win streak.
Junior Amari Sewell started the meet with an electrifying floor routine and an overall score of 13.350. Graduate Connor McCool secured a title win for the floor with a score of 14.550. The Illini also secured a strong lead early on at 69-66.650.
Onto the pommel horse — both the Illini and the Wolverines took tumbles off, but the Illini came out with the win. Freshman Brandon Dang was the event winner on the pommel horse with an outstanding score of 15.200, which was also the highest score of the day. Illinois secured another win in this event — 67.950-67.700.
Unfortunately for the Illini, they saw a loss on the still rings. Senior Ashton Anaya, a two-time still ring champion, secured an event win on the rings with a score of 14.400, but the Wolverines came out on top with a score of 68.550. The Illini followed closely with a score of 67.600.
The vault was the highest-scoring event for both teams, and while Michigan had the highest individual scorer, Illinois secured 72.900 points while Michigan followed close behind with a score of 71.500. Freshman Garrett Schooley was the highest Illini scorer with a score of 14.750.
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Graduate Michael Fletcher scored the highest for the Illini on the parallel bars with a score of 14.100 but did not win the event, as the Illini also fell short in this event, scoring 67.650 while the Wolverines scored 68.950.
The Illini still had a narrow lead going into the last event, but it remained anyone’s match. While the Wolverines scored the title win, it was an Illini win overall at 68.700-67.000. Sophomore Tate Costa scored the highest for the Illini on the high bar with an impressive score of 14.300.
“The results show exactly what they’ve been doing in the gym every day,” said head coach Daniel Ribeiro. “And it’s not every day for the last couple of weeks, it’s every day since the NCAAs championships.”
Ribeiro mentioned how it’s nice to see his team go out and win the way it does, especially from his perspective as its coach.
“It’s so cool to see it actually happen,” Ribeiro said. “To see guys just grind and work hard, and you see the progress week after week after week. To come in and beat Oklahoma last week and Michigan right now for our first conference meet — these guys are amazing.”
Ribeiro also shared how he believes a lot of his team’s ability to succeed comes not only from him and his coaching staff but also from the team’s leadership.
“I think it says a lot about the leadership of my captains,” Ribeiro said. “I think it says a lot about the leadership of my upperclassmen in general. They’re the ones.”
However, the team’s strength comes from not only Ribeiro. To him, the program is led by its athletes.
“If it were just me, it wouldn’t be this strong; it’s as strong as it is because it comes from my athletes,” Ribeiro said. “This isn’t a coach-led team, but it’s an athlete-led team, and that’s why this team is so strong.”
Costa stated how, despite winning events as individuals, it’s for the team. Each win is to help the team at the end of the day.
“It’s a team effort,” Costa said. “It’s not really a personal thing right now; we’re all helping each other out.”
Illinois men’s gymnastics will travel to Sarasota, Florida, this week to compete against Simpson College on Feb. 9 at 6:30 p.m. Illinois previously beat Simpson at the Windy City Invitational in January 404.450-361.250.
