The pommel crew’s relationship out of the gym has allowed them to shine during competitions
By Kieran Hampl
April 10, 2014
For the Illinois men’s gymnastics team, the pommel crew, as they like to call themselves, goes beyond being one of best components in the fifth-ranked Illini lineup. Most gymnasts on the team compete in multiple events in each competition and have to spend practice time preparing accordingly. Soph...
Illini men’s gymnastics hopes to bring home national title
By Kieran Hampl
April 10, 2014
The No. 5-ranked Illinois gymnastics team hopes to top the field this weekend at the 2014 NCAA Championships. Late Tuesday afternoon, the Illini boarded the bus to Ann Arbor, Mich., with a practice day scheduled for Wednesday, before the three-day event begins. The team, which placed fourth at the ...
Illinois men’s gymnastics finishes 4th at Big Tens
By Kieran Hampl
March 31, 2014
The Illinois men’s gymnastics team placed fourth at the Big Ten Championships this weekend in Lincoln, Nebraska. Despite lofty preseason expectations, the No. 6 Illini were unable to put it together as a team, falling to No. 1 Michigan, No. 4 Ohio State, and No. 8 Penn State. Michigan took home the ...
Illini struggle to the top futile as Hawkeyes dominate
By Kieran Hampl
March 17, 2014
With time in the regular season running out, the No. 6 Illinois men’s gymnastics team was unable to get the job done this weekend, placing second in its last meet of the regular season at Nebraska. The Illini put up a score of 434.850, which placed ahead of No. 5 Minnesota, No. 10 Air Force and No...
Illini gymnastics team uses simulation to prepare for tournaments
By Kieran Hampl
March 13, 2014
The No. 6 Illini men’s gymnastics team will look to account for the crowd, the other teams and the nerves of this weekend’s meet. This weekend, the team will travel to Lincoln, Neb., to compete against No. 5 Minnesota, No. 7 Iowa, No. 10 Air Force and No. 12 Nebraska. To prepare for the final meet...
Illini handle UIC on senior day
By Kieran Hampl
March 10, 2014
Despite not having top gymnast, sophomore C.J. Maestas, the No. 7 Illini easily defeated No. 13 University of Illinois at Chicago 427.850-401.900 on senior day. Maestas, who suffered a season-ending tricep injury last year, was rested because of his intense schedule in recent weeks. Because of the W...
Illini men’s gymnastics celebrates senior night
By Kieran Hampl
March 6, 2014
For the No. 6 Illinois men’s gymnastics team, the week of rest has allowed for a refinement of some skills heading into the final stretch of the season. Before the final push in the Big Ten and NCAA Championships, the Illini will host their last home meet of the season, which will be the last of th...
Illini men’s gymnastics wrap up competition at Winter Cup
By Kieran Hampl
February 25, 2014
None of the five Illinois men’s gymnasts who traveled to last weekend’s Winter Cup qualified for a spot on the U.S. national team. Only three Illini managed to reach event finals. Freshman Chandler Eggleston, sophomore C.J. Maestas and junior Mike Wilner qualified for the finals on Saturday, despite su...
Illini gymnasts look to earn berth on national team
By Kieran Hampl
February 20, 2014
All year it has been about the team for the Illinois men’s gymnastics program and making a run at the end of the season during the Big Ten and NCAA championships. That is not the case this weekend for the five Illini who will be competing in the Winter Cup in Las Vegas for a chance to claim a spot ...
No. 5 Illini fall to No. 7 Penn State
By Kieran Hampl
February 18, 2014
The No. 5 Illinois men’s gymnastics team came up short last weekend against No. 7 Penn State, losing 436.050 to 431.150, which came as a surprise after a strong week of practice for the Illini. “This result was completely unexpected with the way we’ve been building in practice,” head coach J...
Illinois men’s gymnastics prepares for Penn State, Winter Cup
By Kieran Hampl
February 14, 2014
This weekend’s meet against No. 7 Penn State is just another stop for the No. 5 Illinois men’s gymnastics team on the way to its ultimate goal of winning the Big Ten Championship and then the NCAAs. This does not mean the Illini are taking Penn State lightly because like Minnesota proved two wee...
Illini gymnasts come from all over the country
By Kieran Hampl
February 13, 2014
In most sports at Illinois, teams find their success by recruiting top in-state athletes who want to stay at home and play for their state’s team. The gymnastics teams, on the other hand, differ drastically when looking at the geographic landscape of their current rosters. Out of the 19 players on th...
