Michigan Ousts No. 3 Illinois for Home Victory

Sunday, March 15

Ann Arbor, Mich.

1:00 PM

Michigan

435.750

428.500

Illinois

3/15/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Gymnastics

March 15, 2015

• Complete Results | Notes

Site: Cliff Keen Arena (Ann Arbor, Mich.)
Score: #4 Michigan 435.750, #3 Illinois 428.500
Records: U-M (10-3, 6-2 Big Ten), Illinois (11-3, 7-1 Big Ten)
Attendance: 913
Next U-M Meet: Saturday, March 21 -- vs. UIC - Senior Day (Cliff Keen Arena), 7 p.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 4-ranked University of Michigan men's gymnastics team knocked off the No. 3-ranked Illinois Fighting Illini Saturday (March 21) at Cliff Keen Arena. Michigan, which never trailed in the meet, was led by Newt Loken Award winner Adrian de los Angeles as well as a pair of top-two finishes from senior Nick Hunter en route to the victory.

The Wolverines started off strong during the first rotation on floor against the Illini, earning the two through four spots in the event and led the meet 73.95-70.15. Senior Stacey Ervin led the team with a 15.10, while senior Paul Rizkalla Jr. tied his career high on floor with a 15.05.

On pommel horse in the second rotation, Michigan was led by de los Angeles, who scored a 14.50 and earned an event title. Senior Nick Hunter followed with a 14.25 as the Wolverines continued with a lead of 1.8 points (144.15-142.35).

In the third rotation on still rings, senior Colin Mahar (15.05) and de los Angeles (14.90) captured the number two and three scores of the event. Halfway through the meet, the team scores were Michigan at 217.60 and Illinois at 216.15.

Moving on to vault, the fourth rotation of the day, Illinois cut into Michigan's lead (290.6-289.9). Sophomore Anthony Stefanelli and Rizkalla Jr. anchored Michigan with 15.20s to share the event title.

After the fifth rotation on parallel bars, the Wolverines increased their lead to 364.65-361.40. Hunter, de los Angeles and senior Mark Panhorst secured the top three spots with scores of 15.25, 15.10, and 14.70, respectively.

Finishing the meet on high bar, Michigan closed with a 71.10 as Hunter's 14.80 earned him second in the event.

U-M will close out its 2015 home slate next Saturday (March 21) vs. the UIC Flames on Senior Night from Cliff Keen Arena. The meet is slated to commence at 7 p.m. (note time change).

Team Standings	FX	PH	SR	VT	PB	HB	Total
Michigan	73.950	70.200	73.450	73.000	74.050	71.100	435.750
Illinois	72.200	70.150	73.800	73.750	67.100	71.500	428.500

Event Winners/U-M Finishers

Floor Exercise (73.95)Taylor Harrower        14.20Hub Humphrey           14.85Paul Rizkalla Jr.      15.05 (3)Stacey Ervin           15.10 (2)Anthony Stefanelli     14.75 Pommel Horse (70.20)Mark Panhorst          13.65Adrian de los Angeles  14.50 (1)Dylan James            13.85Nick Hunter            14.25 (3)Nolan Novak            13.95     Still Rings (73.45) Hub Humphrey           14.60Adrian de los Angeles  14.90 (3)Dmitri Belanovski      14.20Paul Rizkalla Jr.      14.70Colin Mahar            15.05 (2) Vault (73.00) Dylan James            13.85Michael Strathern      14.75Anthony Stefanelli     15.20 (1)Stacey Ervin           14.00Paul Rizkalla Jr.      15.20 (1) Parallel Bars (74.05)Mark Panhorst          14.70 (3)Dmitri Belanovski      14.60Adrian de los Angeles  15.10 (2)Stacey Ervin           14.40Nick Hunter            15.25 (1) High Bar (71.10)Michael Strathern      14.00Dmitri Belanovski      13.30Adrian de los Angeles  14.50Stacey Ervin           14.50Nick Hunter            14.80 (2)

N O T E S

• Michigan is now 10-7 all-time against the Illini under Kurt Golder and has won three straight meets dating back to the 2010 season.

• Senior Paul Rizkalla Jr. shared an event title on vault (15.20) and tied his career best on floor with a 15.05.

• Sophomore Anthony Stefanelli tied a career high on vault with a 15.20. He and Rizkalla tied for the event title, giving Rizkalla his first vault title and Stefanelli his second.

Communications Contact: Scott Kemps (734) 763-4423