Wolverines Travel to Penn State for Critical B1G Tri-Meet

» Entering a crucial tri-meet on the Big Ten schedule, U-M is tied at 2-1 with this weekend's opponent Illinois, and last weekend's opponent, Iowa.
» Jacob Moore enters the meet ranked No. 1 in the country on floor exercise after marking a school-record 15.300 against Iowa.
» In the latest RoadToNationals rankings, U-M ranks No. 3, and is rated as the No. 4 team in the CGA Coaches poll.

THIS WEEK
Saturday, March 16 -- at No. 6 Penn State, vs. No. 3 Illinois (State College, Pa.), 4 p.m.
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The No. 4-ranked University of Michigan men's gymnastics team travels to State College, Pennsylvania, for a crucial Big Ten tri-meet versus the host No. 6 Nittany Lions and the No. 3 Fighting Illini at 4 p.m. from Rec Hall. Illinois and Michigan (along with Iowa) are tied atop the Big Ten standings with a 2-1 mark, while Penn State is 1-1 in Big Ten competition.

Wolverine Bites

• Sophomore Jacob Moore enters the meet ranked No. 1 in the country on floor exercise after marking a school-record 15.300 against Iowa (March 9). The score is the top tally in the Big Ten, and is tied for the top score in the nation this season with Oklahoma's Yul Moldauer.

• In the latest Road To Nationals (RTN) rankings, U-M ranks No. 3 with a team four-score average of 410.783, and is ranked No. 4 in the CGA Coaches poll.

• Based off season averages, U-M ranks in the top-six on five of six events. The squad's highest ranking is on floor exercise, checking in at No. 3 with a four-score average of 69.933. Michigan is No. 4 on still rings (68.233), parallel bars (67.800) and high bar (67.050), and is No. 6 on vault with an average of 71.167.

• Individually, junior Mack Lasker ranks No. 9 on pommel horse with a 13.850 average, while sophomore Cameron Bock ranks 11th (13.800). Bock is also ninth on still rings (14.117) and third on parallel bars (14.433).

• Against Iowa (March 9), three Wolverines made their season debuts. Junior Socrates Gavallas (parallel bars) competed in his first meet of the season, and second as a Wolverine, while freshman Miles Miller and sophomore Parker Chiapuzio made their season debuts on floor exercise.

Opponent Preview

• The Fighting Illini rank third in the CGA Coaches poll, one spot ahead of the Wolverines, and are No. 4 in the RTN rankings (408.883). Illinois ranks third on a pair of events, pommel horse (66.483) and vault (71.567). Individually, Alex Diab ranks No. 1 in the country on still rings (14.867), while Michael Paradise is second on pommel horse (14.833). Johnny Jacobson checks in as the 10th all-arounder in the country (78.35).

• Penn State enters Saturday's meet ranked fifth in the RTN rankings with a four-score average of 408.733, and is sixth in the CGA Coaches poll. The top pommel horse team in the country with an average score of 67.867, the Nittany Lions are also ranked third on still rings (69.200) and high bar (67.177). Led by U.S. Senior National team member Stephen Nedoroscik, he ranks No. 1 in the land on pommel horse with a 15.133 average mark. Sam Zakutney is one of the best overall gymnasts in the conference, ranking No. 6 on floor (14.467), seventh on parallel bars (14.067) and fourth on high bar (14.117).

• Illinois defeated U-M, 403.150-402.000, in the season-opening Windy City Invitational on Jan. 19. U-M is 16-15 all-time against the Nittany Lions, while the Wolverines are 13-15 in the all-time series against the Illini. U-M last competed in Rec Hall in the 2015 season, and was the site of the 2013 NCAA Championship victory.

Tweet of the Week

Jacob Moore with a @umichgym School Record score of 15.300 on the Floor Exercise today at Cliff Keen Arena. #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/txDWhFzGI9
— mgobluetv (@mgobluetv) March 10, 2019

Keep Up With the Wolverines

Stay current with everything going on with the Wolverines by following Michigan men's gymnastics on Twitter (@umichgym) and "liking" the Wolverines on Facebook! Fans can also follow in-meet commentary via the Twitter channel, with live streaming available for select meets via Facebook. Additional content will be provided via Instagram (@umichgym), and Snapchat (@umichathletics).

Next Event

Saturday, March 23 -- at Nebraska (Lincoln, Neb.), 1:30 p.m. CDT