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Spring Captures NCAA Parallel Bars Title
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Junior Justin Spring highlights the Illini's successful weekend at the NCAA Championships in West Point, NY winning the 2005 Parallel Bars title Saturday.
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April 9, 2005
WEST POINT, NY - In the final day of competition at the 2005 NCAA Men's Gymnastics Championships, the Illini gymnastics program continued to back up their elite status with four gymnasts earning All-American status in the event finals. Senior Peter Shostchuk, Juniors Adam Pummer and Justin Spring and Freshman Tyler Yamauchi all placed in the top-eight among the nation's best collegiate gymnasts, bringing more hardware back to Champaign-Urbana.
Illinois qualified five competitors for Saturday's event final, which was the second- highest behind Oklahoma with seven. The junior duo of Spring and Pummer highlighted the Illini qualifying corp. Spring, who collected All-America honors in the all-around Friday, earned the right to defend his 2004 NCAA High Bar title, as well as a chance for more hardware on parallel bars. Pummer, who had an extraordinary night Friday, qualified in every event he competed in (floor, vault, parallel bars, high bar).
As the leadoff competitor on pommel horse, Shostchuk delivered a clean routine, earning a score of 8.862 to place him eighth on the event. The finished notched Shostchuk his fourth All-American award, and made the Glen Garden, N.J. native the first gymnast in Illinois history to capture All-American status all four years.
After four dominant performances in Friday's team final, Pummer stayed consistent this evening to place in the top-eight on floor, vault, parallel bars and high bar. The Allentown, Pa. native finished sixth on floor (9.337) and parallel bars (9.300), eighth on vault (9.275), and tied for third on high bar (9.475). Pummer's four All-America nods are the most earned by an Illini gymnast in one season since Travis Romagnoli captured five in 1998.
"It feels good (to win four All-American awards)." Pummer commented. "I'm glad I got through everything because competing on all four was pretty tiring. Having Justin (Spring) on the floor at the same time, though was really motivating--just having that other teammate competing, cheering you on; It just gives you more energy to feed off of."
With a 2005 All-American accolade in the all-around already under his belt, Spring's work was not yet complete as the Illinois tri-captain took the stage in hopes of becoming Illinois' first double National Champion since Romagnoli conquered the feat in 1998, winning the title in the all-around and on vault. As the sixth competitor on parallel bars, Spring performed a near-perfect routine, earning a 9.737 and securing his second NCAA title. As the last competitor on high bar, Spring would need to carry that momentum to knock off Ohio State's Ronald Ferris' 9.762 to repeat as NCAA high bar champion. Unfortunately, a slight step on the landing would be the difference-maker as Spring's score of 9.737 fell just short, but good enough for second place.
While two event titles are always better than one, Spring was still pleased in his success this evening.
"Parallel bars was the one event that I had a hard time finding consistency on, but I was finally able to put everything together," said Spring. "Although winning both titles was my goal, I'm glad that I won parallel bars so I could show that I can excel on other events besides high bar."
Although a rookie on the Illini squad, Yamauchi performed like a veteran on rings, in an extremely talented field, to earn a score of 9.625 for fourth place. Yamauchi finished a successful 2005 season as the only Illini rookie to earn All-American accolade, as freshman Chris Silcox finished just behind Pummer on vault with an 8.650 for ninth.
As the 2005 men's gymnastics season comes to a close, head coach Yoshi Hayasaki would have liked to see a different outcome in the team finals Friday, but is excited his squad's potential in 2006.
"Overall I am very, very proud of the guys." "The way they performed in the past three days was remarkable. Peter (Shostchuk) becoming the first Illinois gymnast to earn All-American all four years is beyond words. Adam (Pummer) getting All-America on four events, a freshman All-American with Tyler (Yamauchi), plus Justin's national title and All-American performances--those are some big accomplishments." Hayasaki continued. "I'm sure everyone is still disappointed in not winning the title, but we still did so much and we will be back next year. Everything is looking up; our freshman will mature and three of our four All-American from tonight will be back, so I am very confident in the future of this team."
2005 NCAA Men's Gymnastics Championships
Hosted by the U.S. Military Academy
Individual Event Champions
FX
Graham Ackerman, Cal 9.600
PH
Luis Vargas, Penn State 9.787
SR
David Henderson, Oklahoma 9.700
V
Michael Reavis, Iowa 9.550
PB
Justin Spring, Illinois 9.737
HB
Ronald Ferris, Ohio State 9.762
Illinois Individual Results
FX
Adam Pummer 9.337
PH
Peter Shostchuk 8.862
SR
Tyler Yamauchi 9.625
V
Adam Pummer 9.275
Chris Silcox 8.650
PB
Adam Pummer 9.300
Justin Spring 9.737
HB
Adam Pummer 9.475
Justin Spring 9.737
