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The independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871

The Daily Illini
The independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871

The Daily Illini
The independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871

The Daily Illini
The independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871

The Daily Illini

Bradley Zimmerman

Former Illini Tyson Bull sits atop the Olympic rings in Tokyo before heading home to Australia. Bull finished his Olympic debut in fifth-place in the horizontal bar.

Bull finishes Olympic debut with fifth-place finish in horizontal bar final

By Bradley Zimmerman, Staff Writer • Aug 8, 2021
Tyson Bull prepares to perform on horizontal bar at the Tokyo Olympics. Bull advanced to the finals of the event.

Bull secures Australia gymnastics milestone, advances to horizontal bar final at Tokyo Olympics

By Bradley Zimmerman, Staff Writer • Jul 24, 2021
Bobby Roundtree (97) takes on an opposing offensive lineman during the game against Minnesota at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018. Roundtree passed away on Friday at the age of 23.

Former Illinois defensive lineman Bobby Roundtree passes away at age 23

By Bradley Zimmerman, Staff Writer • Jul 16, 2021
Members of the Illinois men's gymnastics team cheer for coach and former teammate Alex Diab at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials. Diab will be an alternate for Team USA and will travel with the team to Tokyo.

Illini gymnasts bring energy to Olympic Trials as Diab’s cheering section

By Bradley Zimmerman, Staff Writer • Jul 12, 2021
Illinois gymnastics alum warms up on still rings ahead of the U.S. Olympic Team Trials. Diab was named an alternate after missing out on a starting spot as a still rings specialist, though he will still travel to Tokyo.

Diab named an alternate for Team USA

By Bradley Zimmerman, Staff Writer • Jun 26, 2021
Illinois alum Alex Diab performs on the still rings at the 2021 U.S. Gymnastics Championships on June 3. Diab will compete for a spot on the Olympic team on Thursday.

Diab competes for ticket to Tokyo Olympics

By Bradley Zimmerman, Staff Writer • Jun 23, 2021
Alex Diab performs on the still rings during the U.S. Gymnastics Championships in Fort Worth, Texas. Diab won the event, earning him a spot on the U.S. national team and a place in the Olympic Team Trials at the end of June.

Diab repeats as still rings champion, qualifies for Olympic Team Trials

By Bradley Zimmerman, Staff Writer • Jun 12, 2021
Junior Michael Fletcher dismounts from the still rings at the NCAA Championships on April 17. Fletcher, along with Illinois alumni Michael Paradise and Alex Diab, will be competing in Fort Worth, Texas, at the U.S. Gymnastics Championships.

Three Illini to compete at U.S. Championships

By Bradley Zimmerman, Staff Writer • Jun 3, 2021
Junior Clay Mason Stephens poses for judges at a meet. The Illinois gymnast will compete on Friday for a spot in the next Olympics.

Stephens to compete for spot in Olympics on Friday

By Bradley Zimmerman, Staff Writer • May 20, 2021
The men’s gymnastics team cheers during the meet against Ohio State Jan. 23 at Huff Hall in Champaign. The Illini had injury issues all year, though they still had several individual accolades throughout the season.

Men’s gymnastics season rewind: Illini claim individual titles during difficult season

By Bradley Zimmerman, Staff Writer • May 3, 2021
Junior Ian Skirkey performs on a pommel horse at the NCAA Championships Saturday. Skirky won the NCAA pommel horse championship, which is the first in his career.

Illini of the Week: Skirkey wins NCAA pommel horse championship

By Bradley Zimmerman, Staff Writer • Apr 22, 2021
Junior Ian Skirkey performs on pommel horse at the NCAA Championships Saturday. Skirkey won his first career national pommel horse title with a 14.166.

Skirkey wins national pommel horse title, team finishes sixth at NCAA Championships

By Bradley Zimmerman, Staff Writer • Apr 18, 2021
Junior Michael Fletcher performs a routine on the parallel bars against Iowa on Feb. 13. The Illinois men's gymnastics team will compete in the NCAA national championships this week as an eight-seed.

Illini to compete in NCAA Championships as 8-seed

By Bradley Zimmerman, Staff Writer • Apr 16, 2021
Sophomore Evan Manivong sticks his landing and celebrates after by showing off his vaccine card during the meet against Minnesota on March 22. While originally meant as a joke between teammates, Manivong used the stunt to raise awareness about vaccinations.

Manivong goes viral with vaccine card celebration

By Bradley Zimmerman, Staff Writer • Apr 12, 2021
Junior Clay Stephens poses on the parallel bars during their meet on Jan. 23. The men's team continues to practice and work on their skills before the NCAA Men's Gymnastic tournament.

Fletcher wins vault, Illinois finishes fourth at Big Ten Championships

By Bradley Zimmerman, Staff Writer • Apr 4, 2021
Non-competing members of the Illinois men’s gymnastics team cheer while overlooking a teammate on the pommel horse in a meet against Ohio State Jan. 23. The team is set to compete in Lincoln, Nebraska, this weekend for the Big Ten Championships despite multiple gymnasts being injured.

Illini travel to Lincoln, set for Big Ten Championships

By Bradley Zimmerman, Staff Writer • Apr 2, 2021
Michael Fletcher swings himself over the pommel horse at a meet against Ohio State on Jan. 23. Fletcher stepped up against Minnesota this weekend and received the Illini of the Week award for competing all-around seamlessly while most of the team’s top performers were injured.

Illini of the Week: Fletcher steps up for injury-riddled team

By Bradley Zimmerman, Staff Writer • Apr 1, 2021
Graduate student Danny Graham celebrates after coming off of the rings at a competition against Iowa on Feb. 13. Graham returned to the team after recovering from a broken tibia and has been performing better than ever.

Graham returns from injury with impressive comeback

By Bradley Zimmerman, Staff Writer • Mar 24, 2021
The Illini men’s gymnastics team joins a huddle during a meet against Penn State on Jan. 31. The Illini recently competed against, and assumed a narrow win over, the Minnesota Golden Gophers on Monday.

Illinois defeats Minnesota in regular season finale

By Bradley Zimmerman, Staff Writer • Mar 22, 2021

Illinois to finish regular season with dual meet against Minnesota

By Bradley Zimmerman, Staff Writer • Mar 22, 2021
Danny Graham celebrates after a his routine on the rings during a meet against Iowa on Feb. 13, 2021. Graham recently received the Nissen-Emery award, which is the most distinguished award in college gymnastics.

Graham earns College Gymnastics Association’s Nissen-Emery Award nomination

By Bradley Zimmerman, Staff Writer • Mar 11, 2021
Freshman Logan Meyers performs his pommel horse routine during the meet against Iowa on Feb. 13. Illinois split the tri-meet against Michigan and Nebraska on Sunday.

No. 7 Illini split senior day tri-meet

By Bradley Zimmerman, Staff Writer • Feb 22, 2021
Junior Hamish Carter competes in the rings event during the meet against Ohio State on Jan. 23. The Illini will face off in a tri-meet against Michigan and Nebraska today.

Illinois to face second-, third-ranked opponents in home tri-meet

By Bradley Zimmerman, Staff Writer • Feb 21, 2021
Junior Michael Fletcher performs his parallel bars routine during the meet against Iowa on Saturday. Illinois fell to Iowa 402 to 400.5.

Illinois comes up short against Iowa in last-ever dual meet

By Bradley Zimmerman, Staff Writer • Feb 14, 2021
Junior Clay Mason Stephens performs his parallel bars routine during the meet against Ohio State on Jan. 23. Illinois will face Iowa this Saturday.

Illinois, Iowa to face off in last dual meet ever

By Bradley Zimmerman, Staff Writer • Feb 12, 2021
Gymnast Brandon Ngai poses after finishing a routine during competition in the 2017-2018 season. Ngai has now graduated from the University but found ways to maintain involvement in the sport.

Illinois alum finds new ways to stay involved in gymnastics

By Bradley Zimmerman, Staff Writer • Feb 11, 2021
Graduate student Danny Graham competes in the rings event during the meet against Ohio State at Huff Hall on Jan. 23. The Illinois men's gymnastics team fell to Penn State on Sunday in a narrow loss.

Illinois falls to Penn State in top-five meet

By Bradley Zimmerman, Staff Writer • Feb 1, 2021
Junior Léo Valentin competes in the Pommel horse event during the meet against Ohio State on Jan. 23.

Illinois travels to Penn State for top-five showdown

By Bradley Zimmerman, Staff Writer • Jan 31, 2021
Junior gymnast Hamish Carter finishes his high bar routine and poses for the judges at Huff Hall on Saturday. Carter was named Male Gymnist of the week by the CGA and Big Ten.

Illini of the Week: Hamish Carter honored by Big Ten, College Gymnastics Association

By Bradley Zimmerman, Staff Writer • Jan 28, 2021
Sophomore Evan Manivong competes in the vault event during the meet against Ohio State on Saturday.

No. 3 Illini defeat Buckeyes in Big Ten opener

By Bradley Zimmerman, Staff Writer • Jan 23, 2021
Junior Clay Mason Stephens prepares to perform during competition. Stephens will return to compete for the Illini tomorrow after recovering from an ACL tear.

No. 3 Illini to open Big Ten schedule against Ohio State

By Bradley Zimmerman, Staff Writer • Jan 23, 2021
Freshman Logan Myers competes in the rings event during the meet against Northern Illinois on Jan. 15.

Myers named College Gymnastics Association’s Rookie of the Week after first collegiate meet

By Bradley Zimmerman, Staff Writer • Jan 22, 2021
Freshman Logan Myers competes in the rings event during the meet against Northern Illinois on Friday.

Illinois knocks off Northern Illinois in first-ever virtual meet

By Bradley Zimmerman, Staff Writer • Jan 16, 2021
Junior Leo Valentin practices for the Illinois men's gymnastics team. The Illini have their first meet tonight, competing virtually against NIU.

Illini to start 2021 season tonight in unprecedented virtual meet

By Bradley Zimmerman, Staff Writer • Jan 15, 2021
Members of the Illinois men’s gymnastics team lock arms in a circle at a gymnastics meet during the 2019 season..

Men’s gymnastics team releases 2021 schedule

By Bradley Zimmerman, Staff Writer • Jan 4, 2021
Graduate student Léo Valentin poses on a pommel horse. Valentin came to Illinois for gymnastics because he couldn’t continue his studies and compete in his home country of France.

Léo Valentin makes history as first Illini gymnast from France

By Bradley Zimmerman, Staff Writer • Nov 11, 2020
Redshirt junior Michael Fletcher performs the splits while competing at the Big Ten Championships on April 6, 2019. Fletcher and Clay Mason Stephens return to practice with the Illini after sustaining injuries.

Fletcher, Stephens return to practice after lasting knee injuries

By Bradley Zimmerman, Staff Writer • Oct 8, 2020
Members of the Illinois men’s gymnastics team lock arms in a circle at a gymnastics meet during the 2019 season..

Illinois joins nationwide effort to save athletic programs

By Bradley Zimmerman • Sep 17, 2020
Redshirt junior Jordan Kovach competes at the Men’s Gymnastics Big Ten Championships on April 6, 2019. Kovach and the Illini have recently resumed practice for the winter season.

Men’s gymnastics begins fall practices

By Bradley Zimmerman, Staff Writer • Sep 14, 2020
Sophomore guard Ayo Dosunmu presses forward against a defender during the match against Iowa at State Farm Center in Champaign, IL on March 8.

Iowa becomes latest Division I University to cut sports amid pandemic

By Bradley Zimmerman, Staff Writer • Aug 29, 2020
The 2012 University of Illinois Men's Gymnastics team poses for a photo after winning the Big Ten Championships at Iowa City, IA on April 7, 2012.

Team of the century: 2012 men’s gymnastics team ends championship drought

By Bradley Zimmerman, Staff Writer • Jun 12, 2020
The University of Illinois Men's Gymnastics team poses for a photo after winning the Big Ten Championship on April 7, 2012. The team would go on to win the National Championship as well.

Illini celebrate eighth anniversary of National Championship

By Bradley Zimmerman, Staff Writer • Apr 20, 2020
Senior Danny Graham competes in the rings event during the match against Oklahoma on March 17, 2018

Five Illini receive All-American accolades

By Bradley Zimmerman, Staff Writer • Apr 13, 2020
Senior Sebastian Quiana competes in the high bar event during the NCAA qualifiers on April 19, 2019.

Illini of the season: Carter, McCool shine among talented roster

By Bradley Zimmerman, Staff Writer • Apr 5, 2020
Sophomore Clay Stephens competes in the Vault event during a match against Penn State on March 16, 2019.

Stephens gets second chance at Olympics

By Bradley Zimmerman, Staff Writer • Mar 27, 2020
Senior Sebastian Quiana performs on the parallel bars during the Illinois' meet against Penn State at Huff Hall on March 7.

Illini road to success comes to a close

By Bradley Zimmerman, Staff Writer • Mar 17, 2020
Junior Zach Treadway competes in the high bar event during the meet against Penn State and Michigan on Saturday. The Illini left on Wednesday to compete at the Puerto Rico Invitational this weekend.

Illini to compete in Puerto Rico

By Bradley Zimmerman, Staff Writer • Mar 12, 2020
Freshman Evan Manivong competes in the high bar event during the meet against Penn State and Michigan on Saturday. The Illini prevailed over the Wolverines and the Nittany Lions with a score of 406.900.

Illinois defeats Michigan, Penn State on Senior Day

By Bradley Zimmerman, Staff Writer • Mar 9, 2020
Senior Sebastian Quiana raises his hands after performing on the parallel bars at Huff Hall.

Illinois men’s gymnastics tied for sixth time in 90 years

By Bradley Zimmerman, Staff Writer • Mar 5, 2020
Alex Diab holds steady while competing in the still rings event. Fellow Illini Jordan Kovach was injured on Day One of the Winter Cup Challenge and unable to compete, but, Diab took home the still rings title.

Diab earns still rings title at Winter Cup Challenge

By Bradley Zimmerman, Staff Writer • Feb 27, 2020
Junior Jordan Kovach performs on the parallel bars at the Illini Orange and Blue meet at Huff Hall on Nov. 8. Kovach and his teammate Alex Diab will participate as individuals in the U.S.A. Gymnastics Winter Cup Challenge in Las Vegas this weekend.

Kovach, Diab to represent Illini at Winter Cup Challenge

By Bradley Zimmerman, Staff Writer • Feb 20, 2020
Sophomore Jordan Kovach performs on the Parallel bars for the Illini Orange and Blue meet on Nov. 11 at Huff Hall. Illinois beat Nebraska Saturday at Huff Hall, 276.20 - 267.40.

Illinois dominates No. 3-ranked Nebraska at home

By Bradley Zimmerman, Staff Writer • Feb 3, 2020

No. 8 Illinois to host top-10 match against No. 3 Nebraska

By Bradley Zimmerman, Staff Writer • Jan 30, 2020
Illinois signs seven top-25 NCAA recruits

Illinois signs seven top-25 NCAA recruits

By Bradley Zimmerman, Contributing Writer • Nov 21, 2019