Weekly Release #10
3/25/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Gymnastics
Upcoming Schedule
Fri-Sat., March 28-29 -- at Big Ten Championships (Columbus, Ohio), 7 p.m.
Fri-Sun., April 11-13 -- at NCAA Championships (Philadelphia, Pa.), 1 p.m./4 p.m./2 p.m..
What's Ahead for the Wolverines
The sixth-ranked University of Michigan men's gymnastics team will travel to Columbus, Ohio, to compete in the Big Ten Championships Friday and Saturday (March 28-29) in St. John Arena. The Wolverines will be squaring of with some of the best gymnastics teams in the country. All six teams in the Big Ten are ranked in the top 10 of the GymInfo rankings, including No. 2 Penn State, No. 3 Ohio State, No. 5 Illinois, No. 7 Minnesota and No. 8 Iowa. The Wolverines have squared off against all of the teams in the Big Ten at some point this season.
The Maize and Blue have been crowned Big Ten Champions 14 times. The Wolverines won back-to-back Big Ten Titles in 1999 and 2000. The Wolverines were the runner-up the last two seasons, giving them top two finishes the last four years.
Looking at Illinois
The Wolverines' only meeting of the year with the Fighting Illini was at the Windy City Invitational (Jan. 11), where U-M placed third, one spot ahead of Illinois. Illinois' best performance of the 2003 season (216.450) came at home (March 1) against Iowa and Penn State as the Illini finished in second place behind PSU.
Illinois on the Web: www.fightingillini.com
Looking at Iowa
The Wolverines have split two meetings with the Hawkeyes this season. Iowa placed second, one spot a head of the Wolverines (208.750) at the Windy City Invitational. The teams last met on Feb. 21 in Ann Arbor at Cliff Keen Arena and the Wolverines narrowly edged the Hawkeyes 213.075-212.225. Iowa's highest score of the season (218.00) came in a loss at California (March 16).
Iowa on the Web: www.hawkeyesports.com
Looking at Minnesota
The Maize and Blue have competed against the Gophers twice this season, with the Wolverines compiling a 2-0 record against them. At the Windy City Invitational (Jan. 11) Michigan finished two spots ahead of Minnesota (207.150-202.900). The Wolverines and Gophers met again on Feb. 15 in Minneapolis, Minn., where Michigan beat Minnesota 212.350-208.975. The Gophers posted their best team score (215.575) against Ohio State at home (March 9).
Minnesota on the Web: www.gophersports.com
Looking at Ohio State
The Wolverines and Buckeyes have squared off two times this season, with Ohio State earning the victory on both occasions. Ohio State captured the crown at the Windy City Invitational (Jan. 11), by placing two spots ahead of Michigan 213.000-207.150. The Wolverines and Buckeyes met in Columbus (March 15) to wrap up the regular season, with the Maize and Blue posting their best road score of the season in the loss (221.200-214.350). Ohio State achieved its best team score (221.200) during the season finale at the expense of the Wolverines (March 15).
Ohio State on the Web: www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com
Looking at Penn State
Michigan and Penn State met once this season with the Nitany Lions handing the Wolverines a loss. The Wolverines and Nitany Lions faced off Jan. 25 at Rec Hall in State College, Pa., where Penn State defeated Michigan 219.400-210.350. The Nitany Lions posted their highest offensive output of the season (221.525) with a home victory against Army (March 15).
Penn State on the Web: www.gopsusports.com
Recapping the Wolverines' Last Meet of the Regular Season
Michigan traveled to Columbus, Ohio, where they took on the Ohio State Buckeyes (March 15) for their last regular-season meet. The Buckeyes were too much for the Wolverines to handle as they posted their highest scoring output of the season, defeating the Wolverines 221.200-214.350. Michigan posted its highest road score of the season in the loss.
Senior captain Scott Vetere (Pennsburg, Pa./Quakertown HS) competed in the all-around competition (52.150) for the first time this season and captured third place. The Wolverines also had the top two finishers on the pommel horse, as senior Brian Peterson (Albuquerque, N.M./Eldorado HS) and freshman Justin Laury (Marietta, Ga./McEachern HS) finished tied for first (9.200).
Looking Back on the 2002 Big Ten Championships
The Wolverines finished in second place (215.100) behind Ohio State (218.100) at the 2002 Big Ten Championships in Minneapolis Minn. The Wolverines were led in the event finals by Jamie Hertza (West Bloomfield, Mich./West Bloomfield HS) who finished tied for first on the pommel horse (9.400) and captured a share of the title for the event. Conan Parzuchowski (Northville, Mich./University of Detroit Jesuit HS) finished as the runner-up on the still rings (9.550) and Eddie Umphrey (Albuquerque, N.M./La Cueva HS) placed fifth on the floor exercise (8.800).
Recapping the 2003 Regular Season
The 2003 Wolverines have had their ups and downs this season. The Maize and Blue have battled through injuries and remained in the top ten of the GymInfo rankings throughout the season. Michigan finished the regular season with a record of 8-7.
The Maize and Blue can contribute much of the regular season success to a strong core of senior leadership. Senior Conan Parzuchowski was one of the key ingredients for Michigan this season as he captured five first-place finishes on still rings. Senior captain Scott Vetere is another important piece of the puzzle as he made his return from shoulder surgery this season to provide U-M's best performance on the floor exercise (9.150) at Ohio State (Mar. 15). Senior Jamie Hertza has provided the Wolverines with their best performance of the season on the pommel horse (9.350) at the Windy City Invitational (Jan. 11). Senior Brian Peterson has steadily improved his performance on the pommel horse this season, with his best performance coming the last meet of the regular season (9.200) at Ohio State (March 15).
Individual Season Bests
| Name | FX | PH | SR | V | PB | HB | AA |
| Brian Berends | 8.700 | -- | -- | 9.000 | -- | 9.000 | -- |
| Luke Bottke | 9.050 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Geoff Corrigan | 8.950 | -- | 9.000 | 8.900 | 8.900 | 9.000 | -- |
| Derek Croad | 8.800 | -- | -- | 9.325 | -- | -- | -- |
| Devin Deer | -- | -- | 8.250 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Andrew DiGiore | -- | 8.250 | -- | 9.400 | -- | -- | -- |
| David Flannery | 8.650 | -- | -- | -- | 8.000 | 8.800 | -- |
| Chris Gatti | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Kevin George | 7.600 | 9.050 | 9.000 | -- | -- | 8.550 | -- |
| Andre Hernandez | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Jamie Hertza | 9.000 | 9.350 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Justin Laury | 8.800 | 9.200 | 9.450 | 9.200 | 8.600 | 9.100 | 54.200 |
| Conan Parzuchowski | 8.650 | -- | 9.725 | 9.000 | 9.000 | 8.550 | -- |
| Brian Peterson | -- | 9.200 | 8.600 | 8.950 | 8.500 | -- | -- |
| Gerry Signorelli | 8.900 | 8.925 | 8.350 | 9.050 | 8.950 | 9.000 | 52.700 |
| Brian Skvarla | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Eddie Umphrey | 8.950 | 8.500 | 9.200 | 9.350 | 8.250 | -- | -- |
| Scott Vetere | 9.150 | 9.250 | 9.300 | 9.100 | 9.000 | 8.200 | 52.150 |
| Kris Zimmerman | -- | -- | -- | -- | 8.650 | 7.950 | -- |
Season-Best Team Scores
| Event | Score | Date | Opponent | Site |
| Team Total | 215.050 | 2/2 | Illinois-Chicago | Ann Arbor, Mich. |
| Floor Exercise | 35.800 | 2/15 | Minnesota | Minneapolis, Minn. |
| Pommel Horse | 36.075 | 2/15 | Minnesota | Minneapolis, Minn. |
| Still Rings | 37.050 | 3/15 | Ohio State | Columbus, Ohio |
| Vault | 36.800 | 2/2 | Illinois-Chicago | Ann Arbor, Mich. |
| Parallel Bars | 34.900 | 2/2 | Illinois-Chicago | Ann Arbor, Mich. |
| Horizontal Bar | 36.025 | 2/2 | Illinois-Chicago | Ann Arbor, Mich. |
GymInfo National Rankings (3/24/03)
(by Two Score Average)
Rank, Team Region Score 1. Oklahoma W 219.837 2. Penn State E 218.275 3. Ohio State E 217.512 4. California W 213.812 5. Illinois E 213.712 6. MICHIGAN E 213.350 7. Minnesota E 213.275 8. Iowa E 213.162 9. Stanford W 212.012 10. William & Mary E 211.187
Coming Up Next
The top 12 teams in the GymInfo rankings as of March 31 will be invited to participate at the NCAA Championships (April 11-13) in Philadelphia, Pa. at the Liacouras Center. There will be two seesions of the Qualifying Rounds on Friday (April 11) at 1 p.m. (Session I) and 7 p.m. (Session II). Team and All-Around Finals, as well as the qualifications for event finals, will begin at 4 p.m. on Saturday (April 12). The Event Finals will commence on Sunday (April 13) at 2 p.m.
Contact: Chris Kolesar (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
