Saturday marked the end of the Illini’s (5-3, 2-2) season with the conclusion of the NCAA tournament. After fighting to make the top three in their regional Friday, the Illini advanced to the Super Six for the finals.
Head coach Daniel Ribeiro gave insight to the goals the team had before their competition weekend. From team to individual goals, exceeding expectations and falling short, the Illini saw it all in the Crisler Center.
Team placement
Goal: Make it to Super Six after regionals day one. Finish in top four in final day two.
Reality: Made it to the Super Six after day one. Finished in sixth place on day two.
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“First, we got to stay focused in the regional competition to try and make the Super Six,” Ribeiro elaborated. “That’s going to be a major goal for us to advance onto the final. Then, on Saturday in team finals, our goal is to finish in the top four and make the Final Four. I think that’ll be a great finish for us if we can do that. On some more kind of strategic goals, we really have to be consistent and hit, so we’re really aiming for hitting all 24 routines on both days.”
With the Illini’s regular season finish, they were placed in the harder of two sessions Friday. Illinois needed to finish in the top three against power schools like Stanford (10-3), Michigan (12-3, 3-1) and Ohio State (4-4, 1-3).
Under those conditions, the Illini needed to hit all of their routines back-to-back. Ribeiro mentioned how, in other circumstances, several athletes would be given a break, but this was no longer the case if the team wanted to advance to day two.
In the end, the Illini advanced to day two, where they finished in sixth place with a score of 316.293.
Brandon Dang:
Goal: Fight for pommel horse title and earn All-American
Reality: Career low performance
“Brandon obviously has the opportunity to get a national title on pommel horse,” Ribeiro said.
Both Ribeiro and anyone who has kept up with sophomore Brandon Dang’s undefeated season knew he was a contender for the national title on pommel horse. After a 14.233 on Friday, Dang fell to a career low of 12.533 Saturday during the finals. Ribeiro noted how he had a similar experience to Dang when he competed for the Illini.
“He (Dang) didn’t have his best performance on the last day and that happens,” Ribeiro said. “I did the same thing. I was the best at (pommel) horse my whole career, and my junior year at championships, I didn’t even make finals. He will learn from it, he will grow from it.”
The sophomore doesn’t have much time to dwell on his performance though. Dang will continue to compete for Team USA internationally at the FIG Artistic Gymnastics Apparatus World Cup beginning April 24 in Cairo, Egypt.
Preston Ngai:
Goal: Battle with Ian Sandoval for all-around All-American and potential for All-American on pommel horse
Reality: All-American on both pommel horse and all-around
Even though Ribeiro forecasted sophomore Preston Ngai could “squeak” an All-American on still-rings, Ngai came back to Champaign with All-American honors in different events. Ngai earned a score of 14.100 on the pommel horse, which earned him an All-American.
Ngai walks away as Illini to earn two All-Americans at the 2025 NCAAs, also earning an All-American on the all-around with a score of 81.298. Last weekend was also Ngai’s first time competing in the all-around during his collegiate career, which makes his finish that much more impressive.
“To finish fourth in the nation and get an All-American finish right behind two Olympians and right ahead of the Emery Award winner was a pretty incredible thing to see,” Ribeiro said.
Ian Sandoval:
Goal: Battle with Preston Ngai for all-around All-American
Reality: Underwhelming performance
Big Ten Freshman of the Year Ian Sandoval did not make headlines at NCAAs. While Ribeiro mentioned him and Ngai would be fighting for the All-American for the all-around competition, Sandoval ultimately fell short.
Despite a mid-season injury, Sandoval was still making a name for himself in the rankings. However, he failed to turn in an award-winning performance.
Competing in the all-around on back-to-back days is difficult for any gymnast, especially one that is coming back from injury. Ribeiro applauded Sandoval for his effort to compete both days last weekend. He also looks forward to what Sandoval will be able to do next season as he sits with this disappointment.
“He’s (Sandoval) going to have to sit with that competition for the next six months,” Ribeiro said. “It’s going to be great for Ian. He’s a freshman. It’s going to fire him up and you’re going to see an absolute monster next year.”
Garrett Schooley:
Goal: Potential for All-American
Reality: Third place vault finish and All-American
Sophomore Garrett Schooley is racking up his awards for this season. Even though Ribeiro said Schooley had a chance at the All-American on the floor and vault events, it was his vault performance that earned him awards. Schooley’s 14.533 score led him to the third place finish and All-American honor on the vault.
Schooley is part of the core that is returning to Illinois next season. With much of the Illini lineup coming back, Ribeiro is confident in his team’s chance for national victory in 2026. Schooley’s offseason development both in his skills and as a leader will be a large part in reaching that goal.
Amari Sewell:
Goal: Potential for All-American
Reality: All-American for vault
Following a couple of lackluster meets for senior Amari Sewell, he met the goal Ribeiro knew he could do and earned an All-American on the vault, scoring 14.366.
“I’ve never broke out crying in the middle of a competition before but that was insane,” Ribeiro said. “That was a storybook finish.”
For Sewell, a roller coaster of events led him to be an Illini. He undoubtedly left his mark as an Illini and made the most of his time. Sewell led the young Illinois gymnasts this season and pushed through the toll gymnastics was taking on his body to keep competing.
Ribeiro wanted nothing more than to see Sewell end his collegiate career on a performance he could look back on and be proud of. With the up-and-down end of the season that Sewell had, getting to leave Illinois as an All-American and Big Ten Champion is the perfect send-off.
“I want these guys to be able to leave the sport knowing that they finished at their highest level and Amari could not have finished off any higher,” Ribeiro said. “That was a moment that he will never ever forget.”
