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No. 6 Illinois Posts Season High Score to Take Down Hawkeyes
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Freshman Chad Wiest claimed his first event title on floor during the Orange and Blue's victory over Iowa, 214.950- 209.500.
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March 3, 2007
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The No. 6 Illinois men's gymnastics team defeated the No. 9 Iowa Hawkeyes Saturday 214.950- 209.500. In addition to posting a new team total season high, the Orange and Blue claimed four event titles, seven career-highs, and seven season-highs. The Illini also walked away recording new team total season highs on four events: pommel horse (34.250), still rings (37.550), parallel bars (34.950), and high bar (35.800).
On floor exercise, the Orange and Blue were led by freshman stand-out Chad Wiest, edging out Iowa's Geoff Reins (9.400) to card a 9.450 for the event crown. Junior Chris Silcox claimed third on the event, recording a 9.300. Sophomore Tyler Williamson and freshman Andres Saavedra also experienced personal success, recording career-highs of 9.200 and 8.300, respectively.
On pommel horse, freshman Luke Stannard battled his way to claim second place individually, additionally tallying a career-high 8.950. Junior Tyler Yamauchi claimed third on the event, recording a season-high 8.550.
Juniors Jon Drollinger and Tyler Yamauchi shared the rings title carding scores of 9.600. For Drollinger, it marked a new career-high on the event, and for Yamauchi it was his third top-three finish on the event this season. Junior Wes Haagensen claimed 9.250 to take home fourth.
Yamauchi (9.050) and Wiest (8.800) continued their success on vault, executing routines to take home second and third place finishes on the event. Chris Silcox (8.750) and Andres Saavedra (8.750) each posted new season highs, to follow their teammates to tie for fourth on the event.
The Orange and Blue were led once again by Yamauchi and Wiest on parallel bars, each tallying season-highs on the event. Yamauchi claimed his second event title of the night with a 9.300, and Wiest followed with an 8.700 (tying his previous season and career high) in third.
Junior Wes Haagensen tied his season-high 9.400 to claim the event title on high bar, followed by fellow junior and captain Michael Boyer in third (recording a season-high 9.000) Freshmen Luke Stannard and Chad Wiest also set career-highs of 8.650, respectively.
Head Coach Yoshi Hayasaki is pleased about the positive turn his team is taking mid-season. "The momentum is building," Hayasaki said. "We're starting to put it together, and it looks like we can do better. It won't be long before we start seeing scores like 216.000, 217.000 from us. Now we're talking competitive."
Hayasaki is also excited about the role the freshmen are taking on the team. "Before Luke (Stannard) got hurt, he was really showing some great improvement," Hayasaki said. "Now that he is healthier, he is coming out and performing at the level we knew he was capable of."
"What can I say about Chad," Hayasaki said. "He comes out and performs like a seasoned competitor. Every meet he had done his job. He trains well and he performs well."
Hayasaki is pleased concerning the unity of the team that is contributing to their recent successes. "We have the older guys like Tyler (Yamauchi), Chris (Silcox), and Wes really stepping up and taking leadership roles," Hayasaki said. "Everyone is contributing, including people we had not expected to contribute as much before. Everyone is really stepping up and we are seeing everything fall into place."
The Illini wrap up their road dual meet schedule when they travel to Ann Arbor, Mich., on March 10 to take on one of the nation's hottest teams in the No. 1-ranked Michigan Wolverines. The meet is scheduled for a 7 p.m. start at the Cliff Keen Arena on the campus of the University of Michigan.
