Jan. 17, 2007

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. ­ - Junior Wes Haagensen garnered his second career Big Ten Gymnast of the Week honor, and the season's first selection, the Big Ten Conference announced today. Haagensen earns the honor after capturing the all-around title at the 37th Annual Windy City Invitational with a score of 52.700, leading the Illini to a second-place finish overall, ahead of three Big Ten teams.

"Wesley did a fine job winning the all-around in his first competition of the season," head coach Yoshi Hayasaki said. "It has been a five-year drought since we have had an all-around champion at Windy City. That shows how good an all-around gymnast he is. It's a huge win for him against a very tough field."

Haagensen become the first Illinois gymnast to win the title since Leo Oka (1998-2001) took home the crown in 2001 with a score of 51.250. As a team, the No. 6 Illini had a strong performance in front of almost 2,000 fans, finishing second for the second straight year with a score of 209.750.

Haagensen added to his all-around title by grabbing the floor exercise title (9.350), tying for fourth on parallel bars (9.300), fifth on vault (8.650) and tied for eighth on pommel horse (8.550).

No. 8 Michigan took home the team crown with a score of 212.750, while Illinois (209.750), No. 3 Ohio State (209.500), No. 9 Minnesota (205.650), No. 7 Iowa (198.400) and No. 11 UIC (196.150) round out the six-team field.

Haagensen's prior Big Ten weekly accolade came on March 8, 2006. The Belleville, Ill., native is the first Orange and Blue gymnast to receive the distinction since Adam Pummer was selected on Match 15, 2006.

Illinois will return to action when it travels to Minnesota on Jan. 20 for its Big Ten opener in Minneapolis, Minn., at 7 p.m.