Dang Turns into NCAA Pommel Horse Champion, Illini End Fifth at NCAA Championships

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Junior Brandon Dang turned the NCAA pommel horse champion because the Fighting Illini completed fifth on the NCAA Championships on Saturday evening at State Farm Center.

Dang – the primary Illini nationwide champion since 2024 – posted a 14.700 on the occasion to safe the primary NCAA title of his profession, whereas 5 completely different Illini claimed All-American standing on the competitors.

As a group, the Orange and Blue tallied a season-high 322.224, ending forward of No. 5 Ohio State, whereas Stanford received the group nationwide championship.

On rings to start out the evening, the Illini mixed for a 53.598, with Ngai’s eighth-place end of 13.666 marking the group’s highest rating on the equipment alongside Hasan Aydogdu’s similar mark. All 4 scores surpassed 13.1 as Illinois sat in fourth after the primary rotation.

Shifting to vault, Illinois tallied a 53.865 as Garrett Schooley led the way in which as soon as once more with a 14.233, good for fifth place and his eleventh straight outing on the equipment with a rating of 14+. Dylan Shepard was not far behind as he set a career-high 14.066.

The Illini posted their second 54 in as many days on parallel bars, logging a 54.065. Shepard carried his momentum to the group’s third rotation, tying his season-high with a 13.866, which positioned him in ninth.

After reaching the midway level, Sam Phillips marked his remaining collegiate meet with a 14.000 on horizontal bar, which noticed him take fourth and earn All-American accolades. Moving to ground for the fifth rotation, Costa collected All-America honors by way of his third-place end and his season-best rating of 14.166. The group mixed for 52.665 and 53.832 on horizontal bar and ground, respectively.

Closing the evening on pommel horse as soon as once more, the Illini’s finest rating got here on the occasion with a 54.199. In the anchor place, Dang demolished the earlier excessive rating with a 14.700, good for the primary NCAA title of his profession. Costa additionally had a robust finish to the evening together with his 13.633 and eighth-place end.

ILLINI MEDALISTS

Brandon Dang – Pommel Horse (First, 14.700)

Tate Costa – Floor (Third, 14.166)

NCAA ALL-AMERICANS

Tate Costa – Floor, Pommel Horse

Brandon Dang – Pommel Horse

Preston Ngai – Still Rings, All-Around

Sam Phillips – Horizontal Bar

Garrett Schooley – Vault