U-M Posts Top Prelim Score, Advances to NCAA Finals

Thursday, April 22

Lincoln, Neb.

7:00 PM CT

Michigan

NCAA Team Preliminaries

4/22/1999 12:00:00 AM | Men's Gymnastics

By: Janine Kish

Site: Lincoln, Neb. (Bob Devaney Sports Center)
Event: #1 Michigan at NCAA Championships Team Preliminaries
U-M Team Finish: 1st of 6 teams (230.500)
Next U-M Event: Friday, April 23 -- at NCAA Championships Team Finals (Lincoln, Neb.), 7 p.m. CDT

LINCOLN, Neb. -- In its first NCAA Championships appearance since 1975, the University of Michigan men's gymnastics team confirmed that it was a title contender Thursday (April 22) as the Wolverines finished first in the preliminary round with a score of 230.500 at the University of Nebraska's Bob Devaney Sports Center.

Sophomore co-captain Justin Toman (Wallingford, Conn./Lyman Hall HS) finished second in the all-around to lead the way for the top-ranked Wolverines, who are in search of their first national title since 1970. Thursday's preliminary round cut the six-team NCAA Championships field in half, with Michigan, Ohio State (229.850) and Nebraska (229.525) moving on to the team finals, scheduled for Friday (April 23) at 7 p.m. CDT.

The Wolverines came out on top of two of the six events, finishing first on the still rings (38.900) and on the vault (38.700). Michigan was the runner-up on the pommel horse (38.500) and on the high bar (38.050). In the remaining two events, the Wolverines finish third and fourth on the parallel bars (38.250) and floor exercise (38.100), respectively.

"Our team did a fine job tonight," head coach Kurt Golder remarked on the Wolverines' performance. "They accomplished what they needed -- placing within the top three. We can't start to celebrate just yet. This was an opportunity meet, and we need to return tomorrow and do it all over again."

In taking runner-up honors in the all-around, Toman finished with a new career-high score of 57.900. This was only the second time of the season that Toman participated in the all-around. Nebraska's Jason Hardabura is the new national champion, with a 58.050 score, while Iowa's Todd Strada took third (57.875).

Wolverines won or shared four of the six individual event titles. Freshman Scott Vetere (Pennsburg, Pa./Quakertown HS) won the pommel horse with a 9.850 and took third on the vault with a new career-high score of 9.750. Freshman Daniel Diaz-Luong (Harrisburg, Pa./Bishop McDevitt HS) claimed first on the vault with a career high of 9.825 and finished second on the high bar (9.800), while Toman tied for first on the parallel bars (9.850). Kenny Keener (Maryville, Tenn./Maryville HS) was third on the still rings (9.850).

The top six finishers (including ties) in each event qualify for Saturday's (April 24) individual event finals. The Wolverines will be represented in each of the six events.

Final Team Standings

Team Scores	FX	PH	SR	V	PB	HB	Total
1. MICHIGAN	38.100	38.500	38.900	38.700	38.250	38.050	230.500
2. Ohio State	38.625	38.650	38.375	38.650	38.850	37.700	229.850
3. Nebraska	38.300	37.825	38.650	37.925	38.300	38.525	229.525
4. Penn State	37.850	38.500	38.650	38.375	37.150	37.675	228.200
5. Brigham Young	38.325	37.875	38.275	36.900	38.175	37.600	227.150
6. Stanford	37.450	38.650	37.200	37.825	37.750	37.825	226.700

Event-By-Event U-M Individual Scores

FLOOR EXERCISE
Randy D'Amura         9.000
Josh Levin            9.250
Scott Vetere          9.625
Brad Kenna            9.000
Justin Toman          9.525
LaLo Haro             9.700 (T5)
 
POMMEL HORSE
Tim Dehr              9.400
Daniel Diaz-Luong     9.550
Scott Vetere          9.850 (1)
Josh Levin            9.050
Justin Toman          9.700 (T6)
LaLo Haro             9.350
 
STILL RINGS
Ethan Johnson         9.100
Daniel Diaz-Luong     9.550
Scott Vetere          9.825 (T4)
Kenny Keener          9.850 (3)
Justin Toman          9.675
LaLo Haro             9.550
 
VAULT
Kevin Roulston        9.300
Daniel Diaz-Luong     9.825 (1)
Brad Kenna            9.675 (7)
Scott Vetere          9.750 (T3)
Justin Toman          9.450
LaLo Haro             9.200
 
PARALLEL BARS
Kevin Roulston        9.300
Daniel Diaz-Luong     9.500
Josh Levin            9.450
Scott Vetere          9.100
Justin Toman          9.850 (T1)
LaLo Haro             9.450
 
HORIZONTAL BAR
Brad Kenna            8.800
Kevin Roulston        9.050
Daniel Diaz-Luong     9.800 (2)
Scott Vetere          9.200
Justin Toman          9.700 (T4)
LaLo Haro             9.350
 
ALL-AROUND
Justin Toman         57.900 (2)
Scott Vetere         57.350 (8)
LaLo Haro            56.600