Gymnastics NATIONAL COLLEGIATE MEN’S
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Gymnastics NATIONAL COLLEGIATE MEN’S Highlights Illinois rallies to win fi rst NCAA title since 1989: Trailing by more than two points with two rotations remaining, Illinois coach Justin Spring guided his gymnasts toward the pommel horse, an event in which the Illini had been inconsistent all season. They picked the right time to post their season-high score in the event. A 60.75 put Illinois within striking distance, and the Illini followed with a strong performance on the rings to pass No. 1 Oklahoma on April 27 and win their fi rst NCAA title since 1989. Led by U.S. Senior National Team members Paul Ruggeri and C.J. Maestas, Illinois posted a team score of 358.85, 1.4 points better than Oklahoma, which failed to win the national title in its home arena. It was Illinois’ third win of the season against the Sooners and the second in as many days. Oklahoma’s Jacob Dalton took the all-around title. ”This moment has been a long time waiting,” said Spring, a former U.S. Olympic team member who’s in his third season as Illinois’ coach. ”This team is one that truly took ownership of the details and that is not easy to do when you are in a sport that’s based off perfection.” Illinois has won 10 NCAA titles, but before this championship only one had come since 1958. After what Spring called a disappointing eff ort on the high bar, the Illini trailed Oklahoma by 2.05 points with two rotations remaining. They followed with the top performance of the night on the pommel horse and then posted a 59.45 on the rings — in which they were ranked second nationally — to close the gap. ”We went to pommel horse and turned it on like I’ve never seen them all year,” Spring said. ”They had just amazing routines. Then they fi nished in an amazing way (on the rings). I’m so proud of these guys.” In its last event, the high bar, Oklahoma posted a 57.15, its second-worst score in that event this season and its worst since the season opener. When it became evident the Illini would win, Oklahoma coach Mark Williams walked across the arena to shake hands with Spring. Williams said the Sooners, who have 10 freshmen on their 18-man roster, knew they’d have ”to be awesome” on the high bar to have a chance, ”and we were sub-awesome. We didn’t give ourselves the best chance to win there by any means. ”The way the judging had been on rings, it was a little tight. Compared to what we got on high bar (in the semifi nals) and what we got on rings, we still had an opportunity, but you have to put the performance out there. We didn’t totally give it away but we really missed two routines.” Dalton, another U.S. Senior National Team member and the nation’s top-ranked collegiate gymnast, won the individual all-around title with a score of 91. Sam Mikulak of Michigan and Maestas tied for second at 89.7. Dalton’s best event was the vault, in which he posted the best mark, a 15.550. He also fi nished second in the fl oor exercise. ”[Tonight] was all about the team,” Dalton said after the meet. ”I just went out and did my best, but we came up a little bit short.” Williams compared Dalton to former Oklahoma greats including 1984 Olympic gold medalist Bart Conner and 2008 Olympic silver medalist Jonathan Horton. ”When Jake is having a night like [tonight], I don’t have to worry about him,” Williams said after Dalton’s win. ”I just tried to make some jokes with him and keep it light and get him to relax. I knew that the crowd was doing all the motivating that he needed. The training behind what he had done is there. He focused in, he got it done. ”We wouldn’t have been anywhere close to a national title without him.” In the team race, Penn State was third, followed by California, Stanford and Michigan. 2012 TEAM STANDINGS 2012 INDIVIDUAL RESULTS Steven Lacombe, California, 14.950; 5. Chris Stehl, Oklahoma, (Note: Scores for the top six teams are from the team-final ses- All-around: 1. Jacob Dalton, Oklahoma, 91.000; 2. (tie) Sam 14.900; 6. Troy Nitzky, Oklahoma, 14.750; 7. Nihir Kothari, sion. Scores for all other teams are from the team-preliminary Mikulak, Michigan, and C.J. Maestas, Illinois, 89.700; 4. Glen Penn St., 14.550; 8. Anthony Sacramento, Illinois, 14.500; session.) Ishino, California, 88.400; 5. Dennis Mannhart, California, 9. Mike Behles, Ohio St., 13.900; 10. James Fosco, Stanford, 1. Illinois .....................................................................358.850 87.550; 6. Yoshi Mori, Illinois, 87.100; 7. Felix Aronovich, Penn 13.800. 2. Oklahoma ............................................................357.450 St., 86.750; 8. Eddie Penev, Stanford, 86.450; 9. Paul Ruggeri, Vault: 1. (tie) Eddie Penev, Stanford, and Paul Ruggeri, 3. Penn St. .................................................................354.800 Illinois, 86.400; 10. Donothan Bailey, California, 86.350; 11. Illinois, 15.500; 3. Presten Ellsworth, Oklahoma, 15.200; 4. California ..............................................................353.000 4. Stacey Ervin, Michigan, 15.150; 5. (tie) Jacob Dalton, 5. Stanford ................................................................352.650 Adrian de los Angeles, Michigan, 85.950; 12. Dylan Akers, Oklahoma, 85.600; 13. Andrew Faulk, Navy, 84.750; 14. Javier Oklahoma, and Steven Lacombe, California, 15.100; 7. 6. Michigan...............................................................351.050 Balboa, Iowa, 84.050; 15. Rohan Sebastian, Michigan, 83.500; Patrick Piscitelli, Oklahoma, 15.050; 8. Michael Heredia, 7. Ohio St. ..................................................................345.350 16. Adam Al-Rokh, Temple, 82.750; 17. Daniel Potemski, Oklahoma, 15.000; 9. Larry Mayer, Ohio St., 14.250; 10. Sean 8. Minnesota ............................................................343.350 William & Mary, 82.550; 18. Chris Mooney, Temple, 80.350; Senters, Stanford, 14.050. 9. Nebraska ..............................................................340.550 Parallel bars: 1. Jacob Dalton, Oklahoma, 15.250; 2. Paul 10. Temple ...................................................................339.450 19. Broderick Shemansky, Iowa, 80.200. Floor exercise: 1. Eddie Penev, Stanford, 16.100; 2. Jacob Ruggeri, Illinois, 15.000; 3. (tie) Danny Berardini, Oklahoma, 11. Iowa ........................................................................336.650 Dalton, Oklahoma, 15.950; 3. Stacey Ervin, Michigan, 15.450; and Misha Koudinov, Ohio St., 14.950; 5. Felix Aronovich, 12. Air Force ................................................................333.750 4. Grant Perdue, Nebraska, 15.400; 5. Sean Senters, Stanford, Penn St., 14.800; 6. Cameron Foreman, Stanford, 14.550; 15.150; 6. (tie) Paul Hichwa, Stanford, and Danny Steiner, 7. Dennis Mannhart, California, 14.500; 8. Sam Mikulak, Ohio St., 15.050; 8. Parker Raque, Penn St., 14.950; 9. (tie) Michigan, 14.400; 9. C.J. Maestas, Illinois, 14.200; 10. Dylan Akers, Oklahoma, 14.900; 10. Craig Hernandez, Penn Jonathan Liu, California, 13.800. St., 14.500. Horizontal bar: 1. Sam Mikulak, Michigan, 15.450; 2. Glen Pommel horse: 1. Glen Ishino, California, 15.600; 2. Craig Ishino, California, 15.050; 3. Jacob Dalton, Oklahoma, 14.900; Hernandez, Penn St., 15.350; 3. Michael Newburger, Ohio 4. Dennis Mannhart, California, 14.850; 5. (tie) Kris Done, St., 15.100; 4. Adrian Evans, Penn St., 14.800; 5. Yoshi Mori, Ohio St., and Jordan Valdez, Illinois, 14.700; 7. Austin Phillips, Illinois, 14.600; 6. C.J. Maestas, Illinois, 14.550; 7. Ty Echard, Illinois, 14.350; 8. Nestor Rodriguez, Penn St., 14.300; 9. Ohio St., 14.450; 8. Chad Mason, Illinois, 14.350; 9. Cole Cameron Foreman, Stanford, 13.900; 10. C.J. Padera, Illinois, Smith, Illinois, 14.300; 10. John Martin, Stanford, 13.500. 13.850. Rings: 1. C.J. Maestas, Illinois, 15.300; 2. Scott Rosenthal, Penn St., 15.250; 3. Jacob Dalton, Oklahoma, 15.100; 4. 2 MEN’S GYMNASTICS—HISTORY History Team Results Championships Year Champion Coach Points Runner-Up Points Host or Site Attendance 1938 ............................Chicago Dan Hoffer 22 Illinois 18 Chicago — 1939 ............................Illinois Hartley Price 21 Army 17 Chicago — 1940 ............................Illinois Hartley Price 20 Navy 17 Chicago — Temple 17 1941 ............................Illinois Hartley Price 68.5 Minnesota 52.5 Chicago — 1942 ............................Illinois Hartley Price 39 Penn St. 30 Navy — 1948 ............................Penn St. Gene Wettstone 55 Temple 34.5 Chicago — 1949 ............................Temple Max Younger 28 Minnesota 18 California — 1950 ............................Illinois Charley Pond 26 Temple 25 Army — 1951 ............................Florida St. Hartley Price 26 Illinois 23.5 Michigan — Southern California 23.5 1952 ............................Florida St. Hartley Price 89.5 Southern California 75 Colorado — 1953 ............................Penn St. Gene Wettstone 91.5 Illinois 68 Syracuse — 1954 ............................Penn St. Gene Wettstone 137 Illinois 68 Illinois — 1955 ............................Illinois Charley Pond 82 Penn St. 69 UCLA — 1956 ............................Illinois Charley Pond 123.5 Penn St. 67.5 North Carolina — 1957 ............................Penn St. Gene Wettstone 88.5 Illinois 80 Navy — 1958 ............................Michigan St. George Szypula 79 Michigan St. — Illinois Charley Pond 79 1959 ............................Penn St. Gene Wettstone 152 Illinois 87.5 California — 1960 ............................Penn St. Gene Wettstone 112.5 Southern California 65.5 Penn St. — 1961 ............................Penn St. Gene