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04/17/2013
#7 Illini Travel to NCAA Championships to Defend National Title
April 19-21, 2013 // University Park, Pa. // Recreation Building
04/04/2013
#6 Illini Set to Compete for Fifth Straight Big Ten Title this Weekend
Illinois will compete in team finals Friday, event finals Saturday
03/21/2013
#6 Illini to Host #11 Nebraska for Senior Day this Weekend
Illinois will honor seniors Brown, Mori, Phillips, Smurro prior to Saturday's meet
03/15/2013
#6 Illini Travel to #8 California for Final Road Trip of Regular Season
Teams to square off Saturday at 9 p.m. CT
03/07/2013
#6 Illini Host #7 Minnesota for Match Play Event this Friday
Teams to compete under Spring's experimental scoring format
03/09/2013
Illinois vs. Minnesota (Match Play)
The Illini took down Minnesota, 21-9, in a match play meet on March 8, 2013.
12/11/2012
Orange & Blue Exhibition
Blue defeated Orange in exhibition meet on Dec. 9 at Huff Hall
Career Highlights
All-American (High Bar, 2012)
CGA All-American Scholar-Athlete (2012)
Academic All-Big Ten (2012)
Fighting Illini Newcomer of the Year Finalist (2011)
Big Ten Sportsmanship Honoree (2011)
U.S. Junior National Team Member (2010)
Junior Visa Championships Gold Medalist (Parallel Bars, 2010)
Junior Visa Championships (3rd on Pommel Horse, 4th on Floor Exercise and All-Around, 2010)
Junior Olympics National Championships (4th on Parallel Bars, 2010)
U.S. Junior National Team Member (2009)
Junior Visa Championships Gold Medalist (High Bar, 2009)
Junior Visa Championships (5th on Parallel Bars, 6th in All-Around, 7th on Vault, 2009)
National Qualifier (1st in All-Around, 2009)
Sophomore 2012
Earned All-America status on high bar at NCAA Championships with a fifth-place finish during event finals ... Finished third on high bar during Big Ten Individual Event Finals ... Captured three titles, one on high bar against UIC and two on parallel bars against UIC and at Big Ten Team Finals ... Posted 11 top-five finishes ... Competed in 13 meets, including Big Ten and NCAA event finals ... CGA All-America Scholar-Athlete ... Academic All-Big Ten ... Chosen by teammates as one of two captains for 2013 season ... Replaced his career highs on vault, parallel bars and high bar.
Freshman 2011
Competed in every meet, primarily on parallel bars and high bar ... Recorded 19 top-five finishes and individual titles on high bar and all-around ... Reached the individual event finals on parallel bars and high bar at the Big Ten Championships ... Earned the team's Fighting Illini Attitude Award ... Illinois Newcomer of the Year finalist ... Garnered Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors for the week of Jan. 31 ... Big Ten Sportsmanship honoree.
High School/Club
Graduate of Cinco Ranch High School ... Two-time U.S. Junior National team member ... Gold medalist on parallel bars at 2010 Junior Visa Championships ... Also placed third on pommel horse and fourth in the all-around and on floor exercise at 2010 Visas ... Placed fourth on parallel bars at 2010 Junior Olympics National Championships ... Gold medalist on high bar at 2009 Junior Visa Championships ... Also placed fifth on parallel bars, sixth in the all-around and seventh on vault ... Claimed first place in the all-around at the 2009 national qualifier ... Was member of Xtreme Altitude Gymnastics (2003-09) and Champion Gymnastics Academy (2009-10) ... Earned 2010 Team Captain award.
Personal
Born Jordan Crawford Valdez on May 1, 1992 ... Son of John Valdez and Amy Teetzel ... Has three siblings, Marc, Ian and Erin ... Majoring in kinesiology ... Hobbies include watching tv, seeing movies, hanging out with friends, relaxing outside and riding his bike ... His biggest thrill in sports is sticking his dismount after a great routine ... Favorite athlete is Rob Dyrdek because "he is a great skateboarder and I love his show on MTV" ... Lists his club coach, Rob, as most influencing his athletic career because "no matter what mood I was in or how well I felt, he always believed in me and pushed me to become the gymnast I am today" ... Would possibly like to go to physical therapy or massage therapy school after graduation.
Valdez's Career Highs
Floor Exercise: 14.400 (at Michigan, 2/12/11)
Pommel Horse: 13.000 (at Michigan, 2/12/11)
Still Rings: 13.600 (at Windy City Invitational, 1/15/11)
Vault: 14.700 (vs. Ohio State, 3/2/12)
Parallel Bars: 15.150 (at Iowa, 3/17/12)
High Bar: 15.100 (at UIC, 2/11/12)
All-Around: 82.850 (at Michigan, 2/12/11)
