Jan. 10, 2008

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Seniors Wes Haagensen and Tyler Yamauchi of the No. 8 Illinois men's gymnastics team received their second straight All-Big Ten preseason selections, announced the conference office on Thursday, Jan. 10. The Illini were picked to finish fourth by the conference coaches as a team, while defending NCAA Champion and No. 2-ranked Penn State was chosen as the preseason league favorite. Coming in at second was No. 6-ranked Michigan, while three-time defending Big Ten champion and fourth-ranked Ohio State was picked third, followed by No. 7 Minnesota and No. 9 Iowa rounding out the list.

Illinois grabbed the ranking after finishing fifth at Big Tens and NCAAs last season, surprising everyone in the country but themselves by making the Super 6 at nationals despite not having a senior on the roster and going through a rebuilding year after the graduation of one of the most talented seniors classes to ever wear the Orange and Blue in 2006.

In 2008, the Illini are looking once again to be a national contender behind the efforts of Haagensen and Yamauchi, as well as fellow All-Americans seniors Ross Bradley and Chris Silcox, junior Chris Lung and sophomore Chad Wiest. Along with the All-American returnees, the Illini feature one of the top senior classes in the country, a contingent that brings with it a total of 11 All-American accolades and a combined two Big Ten event titles, three All-Big Ten selections, eight CGA All-America Scholar Athlete awards and eight Academic All-Big Ten selections.

Illinois opens the 2008 season at the 2008 Windy City Invitational, hosted by Illinois-Chicago at the UIC Physical Education Building on Saturday, Jan. 12, at 7 p.m. The field includes top-ranked Stanford, Ohio State, Michigan, Minnesota, Illinois, Iowa and event-host No. 13 UIC.

The 2008 Windy City Invitational will kickoff at 7 p.m. at the UIC Physical Education Building on Saturday. A full recap of the event will be available at www.fighitngillini.com, following the conclusion of the meet. Live stats will not be available for this meet.

2008 BIG TEN PRESEASON POLL

1. Penn State
2. Michigan
3. Ohio State
4. ILLINOIS
5. Minnesota
6. Iowa

2008 PRESEASON ALL-BIG TEN MEN'S GYMNASTICS TEAM
Name, School, Yr., Hometown

Wes Haagensen, ILLINOIS, SR., BELLEVILLE, ILL.
Tyler Yamauchi, ILLINOIS, SR., SUGARLAND, TEXAS
Jacob Becker, Iowa, Sr., Northampton, Pa.
Geoff Reins, Iowa, Jr., Buffalo Grove, Ill.
Chris Cameron, Michigan, Fr., Winter Haven, Fl.
Thomas Kelley, Michigan, Fr., Libertyville, Ill.
Kit Beikmann, Minnesota, Jr., Brighton, Colo.
Andre Berry, Minnesota, So., Hempstead, Texas
Jake Bateman, Ohio State, Jr., Kingsport, Tenn.
DJ Bucher, Ohio State, Sr., Mason, Ohio
Tommy Ramos, Penn State, Sr., Guaynabo, P.R.
Casey Sandy, Penn State, Jr., Brampton, Ont.