Wolverines Qualify Second Overall, Advance to NCAA Team Finals

Thursday, April 9

Norman, Okla.

7:00 PM CT

Michigan

NCAA Qualifier (Session 2)

Wolverines Qualify Second Overall, Advance to NCAA Team Finals

4/9/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Gymnastics

April 9, 2015

Ervin photo
Stacey Ervin

• Complete Results | Photo Gallery | Notes

Site: Norman, Okla. (Lloyd Noble Center)
Event: NCAA Championships (Session II Team Qualification)
U-M Team Results: 2nd of 6 Teams (437.000)
Next U-M Meet: Friday, April 10 -- at NCAA Team Finals (Norman, Okla.), 7 p.m. CDT

NORMAN, Okla. -- The University of Michigan men's gymnastics team inched closer to a third consecutive NCAA national title as it marked season bests on high bar (73.25) and still rings (73.65) en route to tallying a 437.000 team score for a second-place finish in session II of the NCAA Qualifier Thursday (April 9) at Oklahoma's Lloyd Noble Center.

U-M, which qualified No. 2 out of six teams, will begin team finals on pommel horse Friday night (April 10).

Michigan (19-6) began its quest for a third straight NCAA title on parallel bars, where the U-M contingent was led by senior Stacey Ervin (14.65) as well as classmate Nick Hunter (14.60). Freshman Dmitri Belanovski, competing in his first NCAA Championships, scored a 14.50 in the No. 2 position as U-M collected a 71.000, its second lowest score of the season on the event, and sat in fifth place after one rotation.

The Wolverines recovered nicely after an off night on parallel bars, hitting all five routines. Senior Michael Strathern led off with a 14.85 for a season high, while Belanovski matched Strathern's mark with a routine that featured a huge Kolman release for a new career high on the event. Hunter went on to close out the rotation on with a 14.90 as U-M totaled a season-best 73.250 and climbed into fourth place.

In rotation three, U-M, the No. 2 floor exercise team in the country, scored a 74.25 behind a career-high 15.30 from senior Hub Humphrey as well as a solid routine from anchor Anthony Stefanelli (15.05). The team mark moved U-M into second place (218.500) ahead of Iowa after three rotations, as the host school Oklahoma led with a 227.200.

Following a 71.70 on pommel horse that was paced by 14.85 from junior Nolan Novak, the Wolverines sat in third place with a 290.200.

On rings in the fifth rotation, the Wolverines solidified their No. 2 position in the session with a team season-best of 73.65. The top score began with back-to-back stuck routines, as Humphrey continued his stellar meet with his second career-best effort of the night, scoring a 15.20 in the leadoff spot. Belanovski followed with a career best of his own (14.80), while senior Colin Mahar anchored with a 14.90 as the Maize and Blue moved to its final rotation on vault leading Iowa by .400 and Ohio State by nearly three points.

Stefanelli led off the final rotation on vault with a beautiful Yurchenko 5/2 for a 15.30 and was followed by a 14.90 from senior Adrian de los Angeles. Strathern then chipped in a 14.85 as the Wolverines closed the night with a 73.15 on vault to advance to day two of competition.

Next up for U-M is the NCAA team finals, which will commence Friday (April 10) at 7 p.m. CDT.

Event-by-Event Individual Scores

Parallel Bars (71.00)Mark Panhorst           13.60Dmitri Belanovski       14.50Adrian de los Angeles   13.65Stacey Ervin            14.65Nick Hunter             14.60 High Bar (73.25)Michael Strathern       14.85Dmitri Belanovski       14.85Adrian de los Angeles   14.55Stacey Ervin            14.10Nick Hunter             14.90 Floor Exercise (74.25)Taylor Harrower         14.50Michael Strathern       14.65Paul Rizkalla Jr.       14.75Hub Humphrey            15.30Anthony Stefanelli      15.05 Pommel Horse (71.70)Mark Panhorst           14.20Adrian de los Angeles   14.35Dylan James             13.70Nick Hunter             14.60Nolan Novak             14.85 Still Rings (73.65)Stacey Ervin            14.20Hub Humphrey            15.20Dmitri Belanovski       14.80Paul Rizkalla Jr.       14.55Colin Mahar             14.90 Vault (73.15)Anthony Stefanelli      15.30Adrian de los Angeles   14.90Dmitri Belanovski       14.40Michael Strathern       14.85Paul Rizkalla Jr.       13.70