Men's Gymnastics

Roster | Schedule | Statistics | Archives

April 17, 2008

Follow Illini action at Session II NCAA Qualifying live HERE.

Heading into the 2008 NCAA Men's Gymnastics Championships this Thursday, April 17 on the campus of Stanford University, Illinois Sports Information Director Kevin Martinez will take fans to the behind the scenes happening of the Illinois gymnastics team as the team prepares for the 2008 national championship competition. Martinez will document through a blog the travels of the team during their stay under the sunny skies of California, and keep fans up-to-date with the moves and events that fill the team's time in Stanford, Calif.

The fifth edition of the blog is all business as the Illini prepare for the night session of the NCAA Team Qualifying.

Thursday, April 17:

As I start writing this blog, "Eye of the Tiger" is playing in the gym, and it could not more be setting the mood of how I and the team feels right now. Its time! It's time to get serious. It's time to begin the first day of what is a two-day process to crowning the national champion. I don't know about you, but the "Eye of the Tiger" in the background, along with me mouthing the words as well (You know your were singing it in your head too ... It's at the chorus right now in case your were wondering), I almost can't sit still in my chair as I think how exciting this moment is, and I am not even on the floor.

Well, to bring you up to date with the day before this moment, I will start off with the entire team and I slept in this morning. I would say slept in a lot, but with my body still on Central time, I am still waking up at 9 a.m., but the team pretty much slept until 10 a.m. The coaches and the captains told the team they needed to get their bodies ready for being at its peak later in the day, since that is when we would be competing for the next three days. So it was important for everyone to be training his body for late-night competition.

It also was a very relaxing day for the team, not too many stories to really tell about what happened. Many of the guys spent their time resting, staying hydrated and getting good meals before tonight's qualifying session.

Just so you understand what is at stake, the top-three teams advance from each qualifying session into the Super Six, which is the final six teams that compete tomorrow night for the national championship. In men's gymnastics, since there are not that many schools in the country with men's gymnastics programs, the men do not have Regionals like the women do. Instead, dependent upon your finish at your conference championships and your overall national rank, the top-12 teams advance to NCAAs, where they split into two qualifying sessions where the three top teams from each advances. Outside of that, the top-three or four individual finishers from each qualifying session on each apparatus that are not on the top-three qualifying teams also advance to team finals on Friday night, giving them a chance to also compete for a spot in individual finals on Saturday night. I know, a mouthful to understand and take in, but I hope for yours and our Illini's sake, we don't have to worry about qualifying individuals, because I plan on sitting on press row tomorrow night covering our bid for an NCAA title. Again, so as not to jinx anything, I will not talk anymore about advancing, because as I said before, It's time to put it all on the floor and see what happens.

Well, I am currently sitting on press row, which is in the rafters of the nosebleed section in Maples Pavilion. It actually is pretty dark up here since there is no lights above that are on, so I could actually take a nap. But then I think to myself, that's is a crazy thought since I have the chance in about an hour to see the best gymnasts in the country compete. So, I will forgo the nap for sure.

So, before I let you go, because I need to get mentally, physically and emotionally prepare for tonight myself, I have a couple of things. I am thinking about doing that visualization technique that freshman Paul Ruggeri taught me the other day. All I have to do is visualize myself typing a great release from my eyes, keeping with good grammar and making sure to hit spell check. I am visualizing coming up with a great headline that woos everyone into reading the story. I see it now, it' brilliant. All right, but now on to the serious stuff.

I had the chance to meet Mrs. and Mr. Ribeiro, along with Mrs. and Mr. Ruggeri today at the hotel before I went off to lunch. I also met Paul Ruggeri's brother, Chris, and sister, Morgan, and his aunt, Karen. A very lively bunch, and some of the most proud family members I have met. Of course, all the parents I am sure are proud of this team, because I am only 25 and without any kids, and I am beaming with joy as to how proud I am of this team so far. Well I look forward to seeing them at the championships. I also had the honor of meeting the grandparents, Judy and Wayne Whicker, of senior Wes Haagensen last night at the banquet, along with his cousin Matthew Haagensen. Overall, there is not a one of you that has not bestowed upon great values on the great group of young gentleman. They have been a pleasure to be around, and if nothing else, kept me laughing the whole time.

In fact, on the drive up here to the gym this afternoon, sophomore Andres Saavedra and senior Chris Silcox both decided to do their impressions of car salesman from the south trying to sell someone a non-American car. The idea stemmed from us looking around and noticing that there are a lot of high-priced cars driving around Palo Alto, Calif., most of which are foreign. It was a great skit, again it seemed to be rehearsed, but I am pretty sure it was impromptu.

So, that is all that I have for today. Again, it's time for releases and actual information. I appreciate all of you who have been through each blog with me throughout this journey. I now look forward to writing some great releases about our Illini and keeping you up-to-date with all that is happening in Stanford, Calif.

Until next time fans ... GO ILLINI!

KMART