Michigan
Illinois, #2 Stanford
Wolverines Upset No. 3 Illinois in Tri-Meet
3/11/2017 12:00:00 AM | Men's Gymnastics
March 11, 2017
» Emyre Cole stuck his Yurchenko 2.5, capturing a season-best 15.10 and the event title.
» Justin Hopgood made his career debut with a monstrous 14.40 to lead the Wolverines on high bar.
» Mitchell Brown and Samuel Su secured new career bests on pommel horse.
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Cliff Keen Arena)
U-M Team Standing: 2nd Place of 3 Teams (407.300)
Attendance: 907
Next U-M Meet: Saturday, March 18 -- at Penn State (State College, Pa.), 2:30 p.m.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 11-ranked University of Michigan men's gymnastics team took second (407.300) in its second home meet of the season against national contenders No. 2 Stanford (417.150) and No. 3 Illinois (404.000) Saturday afternoon (March 11) inside Cliff Keen Arena.
The Wolverines began the meet with a solid 68.000 showing on floor exercise. Senior Anthony Stefanelli has been consistent all season on floor, leading the way with a 14.000. In just his third career meet, freshman Parker Chiapuzio contributed a 13.50. Illinois was on pommel horse, earning a 65.750 while Stanford tallied a 71.150 on still rings.
Moving to pommel horse, freshman Mitchell Brown and sophomore Samuel Su bolstered U-M's team score with new career bests. Brown secured a 13.60 as Su marked a 13.95 after a smooth handstand dismount. After Stanford extended its lead on floor and Illinois completed its second rotation on rings, U-M's team total of 134.000 landed it in second behind the Cardinal but ahead of the Illini.
At the halfway point, the squad continued on still rings with a 67.450. They were steadied by strong sets from underclassmen sophomore Ryan Dunning, who earned a 14.25, and freshman Thomas Paul, who scored a 13.55. Close behind powerhouse Stanford, U-M increased its lead over Illinois.
In the fourth rotation, U-M showcased its high-flying vaults with four gymnasts breaking the 14.00 plateau, totaling to a 71.500 team performance. Sophomore Emyre Cole stuck his Yurchenko 2.5 to secure a season-best 15.10 and the event title, followed by a 14.95 tsukahara double pike by sophomore Anthony McCallum, a 14.45 by Stefanelli, and a 14.00 by sophomore Alec Krystek. The young Wolverines continued to challenge an impressive Stanford, narrowly trailing the Cardinal by a few points.
On parallel bars, Cole's 13.90 and McCallum's 13.75 helped U-M remain in second place as Illinois competed well on high bar and Stanford vaulted.
Concluding the day, freshman Justin Hopgood made a splashy finish as he recorded a 14.40 and a stuck dismount during his career debut. Krystek also earned a stick for his 13.70 performance, helping Michigan earn a new season-best high bar total of 67.600.
Tweet of the Day 
This vault trio contributed some 🔥🔥🔥 vault scores!! Cole stuck his Yurchenko 2.5 for a 15.10. McCallum secured a 14.95 & Stefanelli a 14.45. pic.twitter.com/Uy8mhDt6s6
-- Michigan Gymnastics (@UMichGym) March 11, 2017
The Wolverines will now hit the road, traveling to State College to take on the Penn State Nittany Lions Saturday (March 18) at 2:30 p.m. from Rec Hall.
Communications Contact: Scott Kemps
Players Mentioned
