men's gymnastics - College Sports Live
UIC FLAMES MEN’S GYMNASTICS 2009 MEDIA GUIDE
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2009 UIC MEN’S GYMNASTICS ROSTER
Name
Year
Event
Hometown
Andrew Arnold Kevin Baune Bill Behnke Mike Behun Jeffrey Bill Alex Bymaster George Clauser Andrew Crowley Scott Durso Aaron Eyster Konrad Grzeszkowiak Eric Heine Dan Hutton Alex Kadar Gabriel Kadar Ned Kamimura Nikolai Korepanov Joshua Krauss Keith Lage Chris Mattes Anthony May David Mohr Nick Persino Matthew Phillips Brandon Rhame Bobby Solomon Andrew Stover Zarek Taylor Neal Thompson Jeff White
RS Fr. Sr. Sr. Fr. Sr. Fr. So. So. Sr. Fr. Sr. RS Fr. Fr. Jr. RS Fr. So. Jr. So. Fr. Fr. Sr. So. Sr. So. Sr. Sr. Jr. Sr. So. Sr.
ME AA SR SR AA AA ME ME SR ME ME ME AA AA ME AA AA ME PH/SR PH AA ME AA AA AA AA AA AA AA AA
Palatine, Ill. Temecula, Calif. Mount Prospect, Ill. Mount Prospect, Ill. Wheeling, Ill. Walnut, Calif. Lake Zurich, Ill. Spring, Texas Itasca, Ill. Rochelle, Ill. Mount Prospect, Ill. Madison, Miss. Monkena, Ill. Chicago, Ill. Chicago, Ill. Diamond Bar, Calif. Tallahassee, Fla. San Bruno, Calif. Naperville, Ill. Arlington Heights, Ill. Cypress, Texas Palatine, Ill. Des Plaines, Ill. West Dundee, Ill. Norman, Okla. Long Grove, Ill. Fullerton, Calif. Elk Grove, Calif. Woodside, Calif. Lilburn, Ga.
Head Coach: “CJ” Johnson Assistant Coach: Charley Nelson
High School
Palatine Chaparral Prospect Prospect Buffalo Grove Walnut Lake Zurich Klein Lake Park Rochelle Township Prospect Veritas School Lincoln-Way Central Kennedy Whitney Young Diamond Ranch Lincoln High Tech Bayshore Naperville Central Prospect Cy-Fair Fremd Elk Grove Jacobs Norman North Stevenson Troy Sheldon Carlmont Parkview
UIC FLAMES MEN’S GYMNASTICS 2009 MEDIA GUIDE QUICK FACTS • MEDIA INFORMATION • TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK FACTS UNIVERSITY Name: University of Illinois at Chicago Location: Chicago, Ill. Founded: 1896 Enrollment: 24, 541 Nickname: Flames Colors: Navy Blue and Fire Engine Red Affiliation: NCAA Division I Conference: Eastern College Athletic (ECAC) President: B. Joseph White Chancellor: Paula Allen-Meares Athletic Director: James W. Schmidt NCAA Faculty Representatives:
Sylvia Furner & David Koehler Athletic Department Phone:
(312) 996-2772 UIC Athletics Home Page:
www.uicflames.com COACHING STAFF Head Coach: “CJ” Johnson (35th year) Alma Mater (Year): UIC (1972) Career Record: 274-244 Assistant Coach: Charley Nelson Alma Mater (Year): UIC (1999) Office Phone: (312) 996-5614
Team Information 2008 Overall Record: 16-11 ECAC Conference Finish: Third Final National Ranking: 12th Letterwinners Returning: 16th Newcomers: 6 Sports Information Gymnastics Contact: Zoe Kind Email: [email protected] Office Phone: (312) 413-9340 Office Fax: (312) 996-8349 Mailing Address: Flames Athletic Center 839 W. Roosevelt Rd. Chicago, IL 60608-1516
2009 SCHEDULE January 17 WINDY CITY INVITE 24 at Iowa 31 TEMPLE
PEB Iowa City, Iowa PEB
7:00 p.m. 2:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m.
February 5 at Winter Cup 7 at Michigan 21 at Ohio State 28 MINNESOTA
Las Vegas, Nev. Ann Arbor, Mich. Columbus, Ohio PEB
1:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m.
March 7 20 22 28
at Illinois Champaign, Ill. AIR FORCE & NEBRASKA PEB AIR FORCE PEB at Stanford Palo Alto, Calif.
2:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 2:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m.
April 4 at ECAC Championships West Point, N.Y. 5:00 p.m. 5 at ECAC Championships West Point, N.Y. 5:00 p.m. 16-18 at NCAA Championships Minneapolis, Minn. TBA
Media Information In-Season Interview Policy: All requests for student-athlete or coach interviews must be made through Zoe Kind, Sports Information Assistant at (312) 413-9340. Media Services Results of all events, as well as top scores and school records, will be updated throughout the season and can be found by logging on to the official website of the UIC Athletic Department at uicflames.com.
Team Roster and Photo...............................................Inside Front Cover Quick Facts.............................................................................................1 2009 Schedule........................................................................................1 Media Information.................................................................................1 Coaching Staff........................................................................................2 Team Bios............................................................................................3-6 2008 Results...........................................................................................6 School Records.......................................................................................8
Credits The 2009 UIC Flames Men’s Gymnastics Media Guide was designed, written, compiled and edited by Zoe Kind, Sports Information Assistant, with the assistance of Sports Information Director John Jaramillo and Associate Athletic Director for Communications and Marketing Mike Cassidy. Photography provided by Steve Woltmann and John Economides. Printing by MultiAd Sports of Peoria, Ill.
1
HEAD COACH
Locally, Johnson shares his gymnastics expertise outside of UIC by acting as a clinician for the Illinois High School Gymnastics Coaches Association. On 10 different occasions, Johnson has served the association at its Winter Clinic as well as at the Fall Retreat in Lake Geneva, Wis. Not only does Johnson make himself available as a coach, he has also judged the IHSA State Gymnastics Series over the past decade and has helped organize some of the biggest prep meets in the state.
“CJ” JOHNSON 35th Season • UIC (1972) Entering his 35th season at the helm of the UIC men’s gymnastics team, “CJ” Johnson continues to add to his legacy as one of the all-time great contributors to the sport.
“CJ” is an active member of the College Gymnastics Association and served as that organization's president from 1994-96.
During Johnson’s tenure of over three decades, UIC has cultivated a tradition of excellence. His program has accumulated numerous championships and awards, including a pair of Division II National Championships, an impressive run of four consecutive team appearances in the NCAA Division I Regionals from 1994-97, and, most recently, the school’s first-ever Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) championship in 2004. He has developed 26 All-Americans and helped over 70 individuals earn all-around certificates.
Johnson’s gymnastics foundation began in the 1960s as a competitor at the club, high school and college levels. A two-year captain for UIC under Bill Roetzheim, Johnson excelled on horizontal bar and vault. After graduating from UIC in 1972, he began his coaching career at Proviso West High School, where he produced three high school All-Americans before heading back to the UIC campus as a coach. Johnson and his wife, Jean, have two daughters, Katie and Renee, and reside in LaGrange, Ill.
Undoubtedly one of the top gymnastics coaches in the country, Johnson has received a slew of awards throughout his career for his outstanding contributions. Among his most recent honors are the ECAC Coach of the Year and the NCAA East Region Coach of the Year awards that he earned in 2004.
UIC NCAA APPERANCES UNDER JOHNSON 1975 - Div. II Championships 1976 - Div. II Championships 1977 - Div. II Championships 1978 - Div. II National Champions 1979 - Div. II National Champions 1980 - Div. I Championships
In the spring of 2000, Johnson received the prestigious NCAA Honor Coach Award for excellence and giving over 25 years to gymnastics as a contributor, coach and athlete. Johnson also earned one of gymnastics’ most prestigious awards for his accomplishments and dedication to gymnastics at the 1990 National Congress in New Orleans, where the United States Gymnastics Federation rewarded him with its Distinguished Service Award, which is second only to the USAG’s Coach of the Year Award. For his leadership and success in the gym, Johnson's 1978 and 1979 Division II National Championship teams brought him two consecutive NCAA Coach of the Year Awards. Since UIC JOHNSON’S gained Division I status, he has also been named the RECORD Mideast Region Coach of the Year on four different occasions, first in 1980 when his team was 10th in the nation, then again in 1988, 1994 and 1995. Season Record 1974-75 14-3 On May 10th, 2002, Johnson’s support of prep 1975-76 14-1 gymnastics earned him induction into the Illinois High 1976-77 8-5 School Gymnastics Coaches Association Hall of Fame. 1977-78 13-3 1978-79 5-3 Johnson is not only a legend in the United States; 1979-80 5-2 he has made his name very well-known overseas. 1980-81 5-5 In 1978, he was selected by the NCAA to coach the 1981-82 9-5 USA All-Star Team that competed in Mexico City. He 1982-83 8-5 traveled to Budapest, Hungary, a year later to coach 1983-84 12-5 the USA Men’s Gymnastics Team at the Hungarian 1984-85 4-11 Invitational. Johnson also served as head coach of the 1985-86 4-7 East Region Team at the 1987 U.S. Olympic Festival. 1986-87 3-14 1987-88 9-8 Ten years after the festival he was selected to work 1988-89 8-6 with the coaching staff of the Irish National Team as a 1989-90 13-2 clinician and lecturer, which resulted in his appoint1990-91 11-7 ment as head coach of that squad in 1988. In this 1991-92 7-4 role, he guided former Flame Barry McDonald to the 1992-93 14-4 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta and fellow UIC 1993-94 7-2 alum Gareth Robinson to the 1995 World Games in 1994-95 8-7 Sabae, Japan. 1995-96 7-3 1996-97 7-4 His international experience doesn’t stop there. 1997-98 0-9 Johnson’s other globetrotting coaching adventures 1998-99 7-6 include his appointment as an international clinician 1999-00 3-9 to Costa Rica by the United States Olympic Commit2000-01 3-16 tee and the United States Gymnastics Federation. 2001-02 2-16 He also served as the National Gymnastics Coach of 2002-03 5-13 Barbados at the British Commonwealth Games in 2003-04 9-9 Victoria, British Columbia, where UIC gymnast Sean 2004-05 12-13 Grosvenor competed. Most recently Johnson helped 2005-06 8-15 prepare current all-around standout Neil Faustino for 2006-07 13-11 his second trip to the Southeast Asian Games as part 2007-08 16-11 of the Philippine National Team in 2005. totals 274-244
1990 - NCAA East Regionals 1991 - NCAA East Regionals 1994 - NCAA East Regionals 1995 - NCAA East Regionals 1996 - NCAA East Regionals 1997 - NCAA East Regionals 2004 - NCAA Qualifying Session I
ASSISTANT COACH CHARLEY NELSON 10th Season • UIC (1999) Charley Nelson, an acclaimed contributor for the University of Illinois at Chicago men’s gymnastics program for over a decade, begins his 10th season as an assistant coach for the Flames. One year after completing his standout gymnastics career at UIC in 1999, head coach “CJ” Johnson brought Nelson back as a student assistant coach. The following season Nelson was hired as a full-time assistant coach. Nelson enjoyed a stellar tenure as a member of the Flames men’s gymnastics team. From 1996-1999 the Oak Park, Ill., native became a force on the still rings for Johnson’s teams. Nelson’s competitive career was capped off with the two most prestigious awards in the UIC men’s gymnastics program. Nelson was named the winner of the Robert Gunnells Memorial Award in 1999, an honor given annually to the senior UIC gymnast who displays exemplary leadership, sportsmanship and goodwill towards the community. Nelson also earned the Edward Jay Saleh Memorial Scholarship, awarded annually to a senior male gymnast who has demonstrated both academic merit and gymnastics excellence. In 2003 Nelson’s outstanding coaching was recognized when he was named the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Assistant Coach of the Year. Nelson played an even bigger role in 2004, helping UIC smash their previous-best performance in ECAC competition to win the 2004 ECAC/EIGL Cup while assisting Eric Novick to the ECAC all-around title and Neil Faustino to All-America status on vault at the NCAA Championships. International experience is also on Nelson’s resume. Twice he served as a coach for the Philippine National Gymnastics Team that participated in the South East Asian Games, guiding the team to an unprecedented haul of individual and team gold medals. Nelson also takes time to coach the UIC Summer Camp every year.
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SCOTT DURSO
KEVIN BAUNE
Still Rings • Senior Itasca, Ill. • Lake Park
All-Around • Senior Temecula, Calif • Chaparral Seawind Gymnastics
Three-time NCAA High Bar Qualifier (2006-2008)
KONRAD GRZESKOWIAK Multiple Events • Senior Mount Prospect, Ill. • Prospect
BILL BEHNKE Still Rings • Senior Mount Prospect, Ill. • Prospect
ANTHONY MAY All-Around • Senior Cypress, Texas • Cy-Fair Cypress Academy of Gymnastics
Two-Time NCAA All-Around Qualifier (2007, 2008) 2008 ECAC Still-Rings Runner-Up
JEFFREY BILL All-Around • Senior Wheeling, Ill. • Buffalo Grove Midwest Academy of Gymnastics
NICK PERSINO All-Around • Senior Des Plaines, Ill. • Elk Grove Buffalo Grove Gymnastics
Three-Time NCAA Vault Qualifer (2006-2008) Two-TimeFloorQualifer (2006,2007) 2008 NCAA High Bar Qualifier
Two-Time NCAA High Bar Qualifier (2006,2008)
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ALEX KADAR
BRANDON RHAME
All-Around • Junior Chicago, Ill. • Kennedy Chicago Park District
All-Around • Senior Norman, Okla. • Norman North Bart Connor School of Gymnastics
2008 NCAA Floor, Still Rings and Vault Qualifier 2006 NCAA Floor, Vault and Parallel Bars Qualifier
BOBBY SOLOMON All-Around • Senior Long Grove, Ill. • Stevenson Buffalo Grove Gymnastics Academy
NIKOLAI KOREPANOV All-Around • Junior Tallahasse, Fla. • Lincoln Gym Force Gymnastics
Three-Time NCAA Vault Qualifer (2006-2008) 2007ECAC FloorExercise Runner-Up
ZAREK TAYLOR All-Around • Senior Elk Grove, Calif. • Sheldon Technique Gymnastics
Two-Time NCAA Still Rings Qualifier 2007 NCAA Qualifier Parallel Bar 2007 ECAC Rookie of the Year 2007 ECAC Still Rings Champion
ANDREW STOVER All-Around • Junior Fullerton, Calif • Troy Scats Gymnastics
2008 Edward J. Saleh Scholarship Winner
JEFF WHITE All-Around • Senior Liburn, Ga. • Parkview Gymnastics Academy
11th Place 2008 AllAround NCAA Championships Finals 2007 NCAA Floor, Still Rings and High Bar National Qualifier
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DAVID MOHR
GEORGE CLAUSER
Multiple Events • Sophomore Palatine, Ill.• Fremd Spring Hill Gymnastics 2008 NCAA Pommel Horse Qualifier 2008 ECAC Pommel Horse Runner-Up
Multiple Events • Sophomore Lake Zurich, Ill. • Lake Zurich Ultimate Gymnastics
ANDREW CROWLEY Multiple Events • Sophomore Spring, Texas • Klein Houston North Gymnastics
MATTHEW PHILLIPS All-Around • Sophomore West Dundee, Ill. • Jacobs Spring Hill Gymnastics
NED KAMIMURA All-Around • Sophomore Diamond Bar, Calif • Diamond Ranch Scats - Diamond Elite
NEAL THOMPSON All-Around • Sophomore Woodside, Calif. • Carlmont San Mateo Gymnastics 2008 ECAC Rookie of the Year 2008 NCAA All-Around Qualifier 2008 ECAC Parallel Bars Champion
JOSHUA KRAUSS Multiple Events • Sophomore San Bruno Calif •High Tech Bayshore Mateo Gymnastics
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ALEX BYMASTER
NEWCOMERS
Freshman • All-Around Walnut, Calif. • Walnut
ANDREW ARNOLD
AARON EYSTER
RS Freshman • Multiple Events Palatine, Ill. • Palatine
Freshman • Multiple Events Rochelle, Ill. • Rochelle Township
DAN HUTTON
ERIC HEINE RS Freshman • Multiple Events Madison, Miss • Veritas School
Freshman • All-Around Monkena, Ill. • Lincoln-Way Central
GABRIEL KADAR
KEITH LAGE
RS Freshman • Multiple Events Chicago, Ill. • Whitney Young
Freshman • Pommel Horse/Still Rings
MIKE BEHUN
CHRIS MATTES
Freshman • Still Rings Mount Prospect, Ill. • Prospect
Freshman • Pommel Horse Arlington Heights, Ill. • Prospect
2008 UIC MEN’S GYMNASTICS TEAM SCORING Date Meet FLOOR POMMEL RINGS VAULT P. BAR H. BAR Jan. 12 Windy City Invitational 55.050 52.750 56.350 60.450 53.850 53.600 Jan. 26 Iowa 54.600 52.600 57.800 61.050 56.650 52.050 Feb. 9 William & Mary 55.900 54.350 56.700 60.450 55.550 53.500 Feb. 16 at Minnesota 53.650 53.400 55.850 59.750 54.900 53.150 Feb. 22 at Army w/Temple 57.200 54.200 57.500 60.750 54.300 53.150 Feb. 24 Springfield College 57.050 55.600 56.600 59.800 54.950 54.950 w/ William & Mary Mar. 7 at Air Force 57.550 51.450 56.800 60.550 56.200 51.850 Mar. 9 at Air Force 56.950 54.850 57.200 61.050 57.500 52.850 Mar. 15 Illinois 56.650 54.150 58.500 60.800 56.550 56.300 Mar. 22 at MIT Eastern Invitational 57.100 56.950 57.600 57.600 60.750 57.900 Apr. 4 at ECAC Championships 56.700 54.250 58.950 60.650 55.600 54.750
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Total
Result
332.050 334.750 336.450 330.700 337.100 340.300
6th/7 Teams L W L 2nd/2 Teams 1st/3 Teams
334.400 340.400 342.950 347.900 340.900
W W L 1st/3 Teams 3rd/6 Teams
INDIVIDUAL CAREER AND SEASON-BEST SCORES Kevin Baune Jeffrey Bill Andrew Crowley Alex Kadar Ned Kamimura Nikolai Korepanov Joshua Krauss Anthony May David Mohr Nick Persino Matthew Phillips Bobby Solomon Andrew Stover Zarek Taylor Neal Thompson
FLOOR 14.400 14.750 13.600 14.700 14.600 14.500 14.500
POMMEL 13.750 11.800 13.400 13.200 14.000 14.550 13.900 12.500 13.950 14.650
RINGS
VAULT 15.450
P. BAR 14.300 14.550
H. BAR ALL-AROUND 14.450 14.150
14.600 13.450 15.450
15.100 14.900
14.250 13.550 14.650
14.400 14.000
79.300
15.250
15.800
14.650
14.400
87.150
15.350
14.600
14.450 12.750 14.400
15.400 15.200 15.050 14.850
14.300
14.600
84.850
14.900
13.350
83.650
SCHOOL RECORDS Since 2008 (Federation Internationale de Gymnastique Scoring Sytem with open-ended Code of Points) Individual Floor Exercise – Ben Sinor, 14.850 (3-2208 at MIT Eastern Invitational) Pommel Horse – Neal Thompson, 14.650 (3-22-08, at MIT Eastern Invitational) Still Rings – Nikolai Korepanov, 15.450 (3-15-08, vs. Illinois) Vault – Anthony May, 15.800 (3-22-08, at MIT Eastern Invitational) Parallel Bars – Neal Thompson, 14.900 (3-15-08, vs. Illinois) Horizontal Bar – Nick Persino, 14.600 (3-22-08, at MIT Eastern Invitational) All-Around – Anthony May, 87.150 (3-22-08, at MIT Eastern Invitational) Team Floor Exercise – 57.550 (3-7-08, at Air Force) Pommel Horse – 56.950 (3-22-08, at MIT Eastern Invitational) Still Rings – 58.950 (4-4-08, at ECAC Championships) Vault – 61.050 (3-9-08, at Air Force) Parallel Bars – 60.750 (3-22-08, at MIT Eastern Invitational) Horizontal Bar – 57.900 (3-22-08, at MIT Eastern Invitational) Team Score – 347.900 (3-22-08, at MIT Eastern Invitational)
From 2001-2007 (FIG Code Scoring System) Individual Floor Exercise – Anthony Cirullo, 9.450 (1-19-01, at Ohio State) Pommel Horse – Nick Stavros, 9.650 (3-20-04, at ECAC Championships) Still Rings – Neil Faustino, 9.700 (2-29-04, vs. Temple; 3-7-04, at Air Force w/ California) Vault – Neil Faustino, 9.650 (3-7-04, at Air Force w/ California) Parallel Bars – Neil Faustino, 9.075 (3-20-05, vs. Air Force w/ Arizona State) Horizontal Bar – Tim Morrison, 9.350 (2-24-07, vs. Temple) All-Around – Neil Faustino, 54.200 (2-29-04, vs. Temple) Team Floor Exercise – 36.500 (2-29-04, vs. Temple) Pommel Horse – 36.450 (3-5-04, at Air Force) Still Rings – 36.950 (3-20-04, at ECAC Championships) Vault – 36.850 (3-20-04, at ECAC Championships; 2-10-02, vs. Illinois) Parallel Bars – 34.975 (3-20-05, vs. Air Force w/ Arizona State) Horizontal Bar – 35.450 (3-28-07, at ECAC Championships) Team Score – 213.650 (3-20-04, at ECAC Championship)
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Through 2000 (College Code Scoring System) Individual Floor Exercise – Shannon Welker, 9.900 (on three occasions, most recent 2-22-97, vs. Michigan State) Pommel Horse – Erin Willingham, 9.900 (3-17-99, at William & Mary) Still Rings – Shannon Welker and Mike D’Antino, 9.850 (Welker – 3-2-96, vs. Illinois; D’Antino – 3-17-99, at William & Mary) Vault – Anthony Cirullo and Jody Leibler, 9.850 (Cirullo – 2-26-00, vs. Michigan State; Leibler – 1-18-99, at Windy City Invitational) Parallel Bars – Barry McDonald, 9.950 (3-23-91, at National Independent Championships) Horizontal Bar – Barry McDonald and Shannon Welker, 9.850 (McDonald – 2-20-94, vs. Michigan and Michigan State; Welker – 2-23-97, at National Independent Championships) All-Around – Barry McDonald, 57.400 (2-21-93, at Western Michigan) Team Floor Exercise – 48.000 (3-12-94, at Michigan Invitational) Pommel Horse – 47.350 (3-4-94, vs. Illinois) Still Rings – 48.00 (2-20-94, vs. Michigan State) Vault – 47.600 (2-21-81, vs. Northern and Western Michigan) Parallel Bars – 47.800 (3-13-93, at Michigan Invitational) Horizontal Bar – 47.600 (2-20-94, vs. Michigan State) Team Score – 281.750 (3-4-94, vs. Illinois)
UIC Men’s Gymnastics Record Book NCAA Division I All-Americans 1984 Paul Fishbein Still Rings 1988 Mike Costa Pommel Horse 1989 Mike Costa Pommel Horse 1994 Barry McDonald Parallel Bars 1996 Shannon Welker Floor Exercise 2004 Neil Faustino Vault
1980 1988 1994 1995 2004
NCAA Division I Regional Coach of the Year Mideast “CJ” Johnson Mideast “CJ” Johnson Mideast “CJ” Johnson Mideast “CJ” Johnson East “CJ” Johnson
ECAC College Athletic Conference Coach of the Year 2004 “CJ” Johnson NCAA Division II Championships Team Finishes 1974 Third Place 1975 Runner-up 1976 Runner-up 1977 Third Place 1978 Champions 1979 Champions
1972 1973 1974 1975 1977 1978 1979
NCAA Division II Individual National Champions Steven Fox Pommel Horse Roger Wojtkiewicz Pommel Horse Greg Anderson Pommel Horse Greg Anderson Pommel Horse Jeff Kowalczyk Floor Exercise Paul Zarris Still Rings Bill Roetzheim Pommel Horse Matt Damore Parallel Bars Dan Smith All-Around George Radice Still Rings Jim Geske Pommel Horse Bill Cernicky Vault
NCAA Division II All-Americans 1970 David Biddinger Still Rings Steven Fox Pommel Horse 1971 Bob Ito Floor Exercise Rick Simmons Floor Exercise Bruce Boult High Bar All-Around 1972 Steve Fox Pommel Horse Roger Wojtkiewicz Pommel Horse Robert Misek Parallel Bars Bruce Boult Vault High Bar All Around
1973
Roger Wojtkiewicz Pommel Horse
Tom Fogal Greg Anderson Robert Misek Bruce Boult
Floor Exercise Still Rings Parallel Bars High Bar All-Around Chuck Wanner Still Rings Parallel Bars All-Around 1974 Greg Anderson Pommel Horse Roger Wojtkiewicz Pommel Horse Chuck Wanner Pommel Horse Parallel Bars High Bar All-Around Paul Kahovek High Bar 1975 Greg Anderson Pommel Horse David Ogisaka Pommel Horse Mike Fulks Pommel Horse Jacques Farny Still Rings Parallel Bars All-Around Chuck Wanner Pommel Horse Parallel Bars All-Around 1976 Neil Ropski Pommel Horse Steven Kozub Still Rings Ted Tobias High Bar Jon Jansky High Bar Chuck Wanner Vault Parallel Bars High Bar All-Around 1977 Matt Damore All-Around Javier Diaz Parallel Bars Jeff Kowalczyk Floor Exercise Paul Zarris Still Rings Bill Roetzheim Pommel Horse Steve Kosub Still Rings Neil Ropski Pommel Horse Ted Tobias High Bar George Radice Still Rings 1978 Mark Wanner Floor Exercise All-Around George Martenia Floor Exercise Parallel Bars High Bar Mike Mitchell Pommel Horse George Radice Still Rings Paul Zarris Still Rings Dan Smith Still Rings All-Around Matt Damore Parallel Bars High Bar All-Around John Cherry Parallel Bars Richard Cromwell All-Around
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1979
Dan Smith High Bar Still Rings Vault Parallel Bars All-Around Richard Cromwell Vault All-Around Mark Wanner High Bar Floor Exercise Parallel Bars All-Around George Radice Still Rings Jim Geske Pommel Horse Mike Mitchell Pommel Horse Bill Cernicky Vault Mark Gunnells High Bar John Cherry Parallel Bars Allen Bekkedal Still Rings
NCAA Division II Coach of the Year 1978 “CJ” Johnson 1979 “CJ” Johnson
Neil Faustino was a 2004 Division I All-American and holds four school records on the rings, vault, parallel bar as well as the all-around, under the old scoring system.
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2009 UIC MEN’S GYMNASTICS ROSTER
Name
Year
Event
Hometown
Andrew Arnold Kevin Baune Bill Behnke Mike Behun Jeffrey Bill Alex Bymaster George Clauser Andrew Crowley Scott Durso Aaron Eyster Konrad Grzeszkowiak Eric Heine Dan Hutton Alex Kadar Gabriel Kadar Ned Kamimura Nikolai Korepanov Joshua Krauss Keith Lage Chris Mattes Anthony May David Mohr Nick Persino Matthew Phillips Brandon Rhame Bobby Solomon Andrew Stover Zarek Taylor Neal Thompson Jeff White
RS Fr. Sr. Sr. Fr. Sr. Fr. So. So. Sr. Fr. Sr. RS Fr. Fr. Jr. RS Fr. So. Jr. So. Fr. Fr. Sr. So. Sr. So. Sr. Sr. Jr. Sr. So. Sr.
ME AA SR SR AA AA ME ME SR ME ME ME AA AA ME AA AA ME PH/SR PH AA ME AA AA AA AA AA AA AA AA
Palatine, Ill. Temecula, Calif. Mount Prospect, Ill. Mount Prospect, Ill. Wheeling, Ill. Walnut, Calif. Lake Zurich, Ill. Spring, Texas Itasca, Ill. Rochelle, Ill. Mount Prospect, Ill. Madison, Miss. Monkena, Ill. Chicago, Ill. Chicago, Ill. Diamond Bar, Calif. Tallahassee, Fla. San Bruno, Calif. Naperville, Ill. Arlington Heights, Ill. Cypress, Texas Palatine, Ill. Des Plaines, Ill. West Dundee, Ill. Norman, Okla. Long Grove, Ill. Fullerton, Calif. Elk Grove, Calif. Woodside, Calif. Lilburn, Ga.
Head Coach: “CJ” Johnson Assistant Coach: Charley Nelson
High School
Palatine Chaparral Prospect Prospect Buffalo Grove Walnut Lake Zurich Klein Lake Park Rochelle Township Prospect Veritas School Lincoln-Way Central Kennedy Whitney Young Diamond Ranch Lincoln High Tech Bayshore Naperville Central Prospect Cy-Fair Fremd Elk Grove Jacobs Norman North Stevenson Troy Sheldon Carlmont Parkview
UIC FLAMES MEN’S GYMNASTICS 2009 MEDIA GUIDE QUICK FACTS • MEDIA INFORMATION • TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK FACTS UNIVERSITY Name: University of Illinois at Chicago Location: Chicago, Ill. Founded: 1896 Enrollment: 24, 541 Nickname: Flames Colors: Navy Blue and Fire Engine Red Affiliation: NCAA Division I Conference: Eastern College Athletic (ECAC) President: B. Joseph White Chancellor: Paula Allen-Meares Athletic Director: James W. Schmidt NCAA Faculty Representatives:
Sylvia Furner & David Koehler Athletic Department Phone:
(312) 996-2772 UIC Athletics Home Page:
www.uicflames.com COACHING STAFF Head Coach: “CJ” Johnson (35th year) Alma Mater (Year): UIC (1972) Career Record: 274-244 Assistant Coach: Charley Nelson Alma Mater (Year): UIC (1999) Office Phone: (312) 996-5614
Team Information 2008 Overall Record: 16-11 ECAC Conference Finish: Third Final National Ranking: 12th Letterwinners Returning: 16th Newcomers: 6 Sports Information Gymnastics Contact: Zoe Kind Email: [email protected] Office Phone: (312) 413-9340 Office Fax: (312) 996-8349 Mailing Address: Flames Athletic Center 839 W. Roosevelt Rd. Chicago, IL 60608-1516
2009 SCHEDULE January 17 WINDY CITY INVITE 24 at Iowa 31 TEMPLE
PEB Iowa City, Iowa PEB
7:00 p.m. 2:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m.
February 5 at Winter Cup 7 at Michigan 21 at Ohio State 28 MINNESOTA
Las Vegas, Nev. Ann Arbor, Mich. Columbus, Ohio PEB
1:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m.
March 7 20 22 28
at Illinois Champaign, Ill. AIR FORCE & NEBRASKA PEB AIR FORCE PEB at Stanford Palo Alto, Calif.
2:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 2:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m.
April 4 at ECAC Championships West Point, N.Y. 5:00 p.m. 5 at ECAC Championships West Point, N.Y. 5:00 p.m. 16-18 at NCAA Championships Minneapolis, Minn. TBA
Media Information In-Season Interview Policy: All requests for student-athlete or coach interviews must be made through Zoe Kind, Sports Information Assistant at (312) 413-9340. Media Services Results of all events, as well as top scores and school records, will be updated throughout the season and can be found by logging on to the official website of the UIC Athletic Department at uicflames.com.
Team Roster and Photo...............................................Inside Front Cover Quick Facts.............................................................................................1 2009 Schedule........................................................................................1 Media Information.................................................................................1 Coaching Staff........................................................................................2 Team Bios............................................................................................3-6 2008 Results...........................................................................................6 School Records.......................................................................................8
Credits The 2009 UIC Flames Men’s Gymnastics Media Guide was designed, written, compiled and edited by Zoe Kind, Sports Information Assistant, with the assistance of Sports Information Director John Jaramillo and Associate Athletic Director for Communications and Marketing Mike Cassidy. Photography provided by Steve Woltmann and John Economides. Printing by MultiAd Sports of Peoria, Ill.
1
HEAD COACH
Locally, Johnson shares his gymnastics expertise outside of UIC by acting as a clinician for the Illinois High School Gymnastics Coaches Association. On 10 different occasions, Johnson has served the association at its Winter Clinic as well as at the Fall Retreat in Lake Geneva, Wis. Not only does Johnson make himself available as a coach, he has also judged the IHSA State Gymnastics Series over the past decade and has helped organize some of the biggest prep meets in the state.
“CJ” JOHNSON 35th Season • UIC (1972) Entering his 35th season at the helm of the UIC men’s gymnastics team, “CJ” Johnson continues to add to his legacy as one of the all-time great contributors to the sport.
“CJ” is an active member of the College Gymnastics Association and served as that organization's president from 1994-96.
During Johnson’s tenure of over three decades, UIC has cultivated a tradition of excellence. His program has accumulated numerous championships and awards, including a pair of Division II National Championships, an impressive run of four consecutive team appearances in the NCAA Division I Regionals from 1994-97, and, most recently, the school’s first-ever Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) championship in 2004. He has developed 26 All-Americans and helped over 70 individuals earn all-around certificates.
Johnson’s gymnastics foundation began in the 1960s as a competitor at the club, high school and college levels. A two-year captain for UIC under Bill Roetzheim, Johnson excelled on horizontal bar and vault. After graduating from UIC in 1972, he began his coaching career at Proviso West High School, where he produced three high school All-Americans before heading back to the UIC campus as a coach. Johnson and his wife, Jean, have two daughters, Katie and Renee, and reside in LaGrange, Ill.
Undoubtedly one of the top gymnastics coaches in the country, Johnson has received a slew of awards throughout his career for his outstanding contributions. Among his most recent honors are the ECAC Coach of the Year and the NCAA East Region Coach of the Year awards that he earned in 2004.
UIC NCAA APPERANCES UNDER JOHNSON 1975 - Div. II Championships 1976 - Div. II Championships 1977 - Div. II Championships 1978 - Div. II National Champions 1979 - Div. II National Champions 1980 - Div. I Championships
In the spring of 2000, Johnson received the prestigious NCAA Honor Coach Award for excellence and giving over 25 years to gymnastics as a contributor, coach and athlete. Johnson also earned one of gymnastics’ most prestigious awards for his accomplishments and dedication to gymnastics at the 1990 National Congress in New Orleans, where the United States Gymnastics Federation rewarded him with its Distinguished Service Award, which is second only to the USAG’s Coach of the Year Award. For his leadership and success in the gym, Johnson's 1978 and 1979 Division II National Championship teams brought him two consecutive NCAA Coach of the Year Awards. Since UIC JOHNSON’S gained Division I status, he has also been named the RECORD Mideast Region Coach of the Year on four different occasions, first in 1980 when his team was 10th in the nation, then again in 1988, 1994 and 1995. Season Record 1974-75 14-3 On May 10th, 2002, Johnson’s support of prep 1975-76 14-1 gymnastics earned him induction into the Illinois High 1976-77 8-5 School Gymnastics Coaches Association Hall of Fame. 1977-78 13-3 1978-79 5-3 Johnson is not only a legend in the United States; 1979-80 5-2 he has made his name very well-known overseas. 1980-81 5-5 In 1978, he was selected by the NCAA to coach the 1981-82 9-5 USA All-Star Team that competed in Mexico City. He 1982-83 8-5 traveled to Budapest, Hungary, a year later to coach 1983-84 12-5 the USA Men’s Gymnastics Team at the Hungarian 1984-85 4-11 Invitational. Johnson also served as head coach of the 1985-86 4-7 East Region Team at the 1987 U.S. Olympic Festival. 1986-87 3-14 1987-88 9-8 Ten years after the festival he was selected to work 1988-89 8-6 with the coaching staff of the Irish National Team as a 1989-90 13-2 clinician and lecturer, which resulted in his appoint1990-91 11-7 ment as head coach of that squad in 1988. In this 1991-92 7-4 role, he guided former Flame Barry McDonald to the 1992-93 14-4 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta and fellow UIC 1993-94 7-2 alum Gareth Robinson to the 1995 World Games in 1994-95 8-7 Sabae, Japan. 1995-96 7-3 1996-97 7-4 His international experience doesn’t stop there. 1997-98 0-9 Johnson’s other globetrotting coaching adventures 1998-99 7-6 include his appointment as an international clinician 1999-00 3-9 to Costa Rica by the United States Olympic Commit2000-01 3-16 tee and the United States Gymnastics Federation. 2001-02 2-16 He also served as the National Gymnastics Coach of 2002-03 5-13 Barbados at the British Commonwealth Games in 2003-04 9-9 Victoria, British Columbia, where UIC gymnast Sean 2004-05 12-13 Grosvenor competed. Most recently Johnson helped 2005-06 8-15 prepare current all-around standout Neil Faustino for 2006-07 13-11 his second trip to the Southeast Asian Games as part 2007-08 16-11 of the Philippine National Team in 2005. totals 274-244
1990 - NCAA East Regionals 1991 - NCAA East Regionals 1994 - NCAA East Regionals 1995 - NCAA East Regionals 1996 - NCAA East Regionals 1997 - NCAA East Regionals 2004 - NCAA Qualifying Session I
ASSISTANT COACH CHARLEY NELSON 10th Season • UIC (1999) Charley Nelson, an acclaimed contributor for the University of Illinois at Chicago men’s gymnastics program for over a decade, begins his 10th season as an assistant coach for the Flames. One year after completing his standout gymnastics career at UIC in 1999, head coach “CJ” Johnson brought Nelson back as a student assistant coach. The following season Nelson was hired as a full-time assistant coach. Nelson enjoyed a stellar tenure as a member of the Flames men’s gymnastics team. From 1996-1999 the Oak Park, Ill., native became a force on the still rings for Johnson’s teams. Nelson’s competitive career was capped off with the two most prestigious awards in the UIC men’s gymnastics program. Nelson was named the winner of the Robert Gunnells Memorial Award in 1999, an honor given annually to the senior UIC gymnast who displays exemplary leadership, sportsmanship and goodwill towards the community. Nelson also earned the Edward Jay Saleh Memorial Scholarship, awarded annually to a senior male gymnast who has demonstrated both academic merit and gymnastics excellence. In 2003 Nelson’s outstanding coaching was recognized when he was named the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Assistant Coach of the Year. Nelson played an even bigger role in 2004, helping UIC smash their previous-best performance in ECAC competition to win the 2004 ECAC/EIGL Cup while assisting Eric Novick to the ECAC all-around title and Neil Faustino to All-America status on vault at the NCAA Championships. International experience is also on Nelson’s resume. Twice he served as a coach for the Philippine National Gymnastics Team that participated in the South East Asian Games, guiding the team to an unprecedented haul of individual and team gold medals. Nelson also takes time to coach the UIC Summer Camp every year.
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SCOTT DURSO
KEVIN BAUNE
Still Rings • Senior Itasca, Ill. • Lake Park
All-Around • Senior Temecula, Calif • Chaparral Seawind Gymnastics
Three-time NCAA High Bar Qualifier (2006-2008)
KONRAD GRZESKOWIAK Multiple Events • Senior Mount Prospect, Ill. • Prospect
BILL BEHNKE Still Rings • Senior Mount Prospect, Ill. • Prospect
ANTHONY MAY All-Around • Senior Cypress, Texas • Cy-Fair Cypress Academy of Gymnastics
Two-Time NCAA All-Around Qualifier (2007, 2008) 2008 ECAC Still-Rings Runner-Up
JEFFREY BILL All-Around • Senior Wheeling, Ill. • Buffalo Grove Midwest Academy of Gymnastics
NICK PERSINO All-Around • Senior Des Plaines, Ill. • Elk Grove Buffalo Grove Gymnastics
Three-Time NCAA Vault Qualifer (2006-2008) Two-TimeFloorQualifer (2006,2007) 2008 NCAA High Bar Qualifier
Two-Time NCAA High Bar Qualifier (2006,2008)
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ALEX KADAR
BRANDON RHAME
All-Around • Junior Chicago, Ill. • Kennedy Chicago Park District
All-Around • Senior Norman, Okla. • Norman North Bart Connor School of Gymnastics
2008 NCAA Floor, Still Rings and Vault Qualifier 2006 NCAA Floor, Vault and Parallel Bars Qualifier
BOBBY SOLOMON All-Around • Senior Long Grove, Ill. • Stevenson Buffalo Grove Gymnastics Academy
NIKOLAI KOREPANOV All-Around • Junior Tallahasse, Fla. • Lincoln Gym Force Gymnastics
Three-Time NCAA Vault Qualifer (2006-2008) 2007ECAC FloorExercise Runner-Up
ZAREK TAYLOR All-Around • Senior Elk Grove, Calif. • Sheldon Technique Gymnastics
Two-Time NCAA Still Rings Qualifier 2007 NCAA Qualifier Parallel Bar 2007 ECAC Rookie of the Year 2007 ECAC Still Rings Champion
ANDREW STOVER All-Around • Junior Fullerton, Calif • Troy Scats Gymnastics
2008 Edward J. Saleh Scholarship Winner
JEFF WHITE All-Around • Senior Liburn, Ga. • Parkview Gymnastics Academy
11th Place 2008 AllAround NCAA Championships Finals 2007 NCAA Floor, Still Rings and High Bar National Qualifier
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DAVID MOHR
GEORGE CLAUSER
Multiple Events • Sophomore Palatine, Ill.• Fremd Spring Hill Gymnastics 2008 NCAA Pommel Horse Qualifier 2008 ECAC Pommel Horse Runner-Up
Multiple Events • Sophomore Lake Zurich, Ill. • Lake Zurich Ultimate Gymnastics
ANDREW CROWLEY Multiple Events • Sophomore Spring, Texas • Klein Houston North Gymnastics
MATTHEW PHILLIPS All-Around • Sophomore West Dundee, Ill. • Jacobs Spring Hill Gymnastics
NED KAMIMURA All-Around • Sophomore Diamond Bar, Calif • Diamond Ranch Scats - Diamond Elite
NEAL THOMPSON All-Around • Sophomore Woodside, Calif. • Carlmont San Mateo Gymnastics 2008 ECAC Rookie of the Year 2008 NCAA All-Around Qualifier 2008 ECAC Parallel Bars Champion
JOSHUA KRAUSS Multiple Events • Sophomore San Bruno Calif •High Tech Bayshore Mateo Gymnastics
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ALEX BYMASTER
NEWCOMERS
Freshman • All-Around Walnut, Calif. • Walnut
ANDREW ARNOLD
AARON EYSTER
RS Freshman • Multiple Events Palatine, Ill. • Palatine
Freshman • Multiple Events Rochelle, Ill. • Rochelle Township
DAN HUTTON
ERIC HEINE RS Freshman • Multiple Events Madison, Miss • Veritas School
Freshman • All-Around Monkena, Ill. • Lincoln-Way Central
GABRIEL KADAR
KEITH LAGE
RS Freshman • Multiple Events Chicago, Ill. • Whitney Young
Freshman • Pommel Horse/Still Rings
MIKE BEHUN
CHRIS MATTES
Freshman • Still Rings Mount Prospect, Ill. • Prospect
Freshman • Pommel Horse Arlington Heights, Ill. • Prospect
2008 UIC MEN’S GYMNASTICS TEAM SCORING Date Meet FLOOR POMMEL RINGS VAULT P. BAR H. BAR Jan. 12 Windy City Invitational 55.050 52.750 56.350 60.450 53.850 53.600 Jan. 26 Iowa 54.600 52.600 57.800 61.050 56.650 52.050 Feb. 9 William & Mary 55.900 54.350 56.700 60.450 55.550 53.500 Feb. 16 at Minnesota 53.650 53.400 55.850 59.750 54.900 53.150 Feb. 22 at Army w/Temple 57.200 54.200 57.500 60.750 54.300 53.150 Feb. 24 Springfield College 57.050 55.600 56.600 59.800 54.950 54.950 w/ William & Mary Mar. 7 at Air Force 57.550 51.450 56.800 60.550 56.200 51.850 Mar. 9 at Air Force 56.950 54.850 57.200 61.050 57.500 52.850 Mar. 15 Illinois 56.650 54.150 58.500 60.800 56.550 56.300 Mar. 22 at MIT Eastern Invitational 57.100 56.950 57.600 57.600 60.750 57.900 Apr. 4 at ECAC Championships 56.700 54.250 58.950 60.650 55.600 54.750
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Total
Result
332.050 334.750 336.450 330.700 337.100 340.300
6th/7 Teams L W L 2nd/2 Teams 1st/3 Teams
334.400 340.400 342.950 347.900 340.900
W W L 1st/3 Teams 3rd/6 Teams
INDIVIDUAL CAREER AND SEASON-BEST SCORES Kevin Baune Jeffrey Bill Andrew Crowley Alex Kadar Ned Kamimura Nikolai Korepanov Joshua Krauss Anthony May David Mohr Nick Persino Matthew Phillips Bobby Solomon Andrew Stover Zarek Taylor Neal Thompson
FLOOR 14.400 14.750 13.600 14.700 14.600 14.500 14.500
POMMEL 13.750 11.800 13.400 13.200 14.000 14.550 13.900 12.500 13.950 14.650
RINGS
VAULT 15.450
P. BAR 14.300 14.550
H. BAR ALL-AROUND 14.450 14.150
14.600 13.450 15.450
15.100 14.900
14.250 13.550 14.650
14.400 14.000
79.300
15.250
15.800
14.650
14.400
87.150
15.350
14.600
14.450 12.750 14.400
15.400 15.200 15.050 14.850
14.300
14.600
84.850
14.900
13.350
83.650
SCHOOL RECORDS Since 2008 (Federation Internationale de Gymnastique Scoring Sytem with open-ended Code of Points) Individual Floor Exercise – Ben Sinor, 14.850 (3-2208 at MIT Eastern Invitational) Pommel Horse – Neal Thompson, 14.650 (3-22-08, at MIT Eastern Invitational) Still Rings – Nikolai Korepanov, 15.450 (3-15-08, vs. Illinois) Vault – Anthony May, 15.800 (3-22-08, at MIT Eastern Invitational) Parallel Bars – Neal Thompson, 14.900 (3-15-08, vs. Illinois) Horizontal Bar – Nick Persino, 14.600 (3-22-08, at MIT Eastern Invitational) All-Around – Anthony May, 87.150 (3-22-08, at MIT Eastern Invitational) Team Floor Exercise – 57.550 (3-7-08, at Air Force) Pommel Horse – 56.950 (3-22-08, at MIT Eastern Invitational) Still Rings – 58.950 (4-4-08, at ECAC Championships) Vault – 61.050 (3-9-08, at Air Force) Parallel Bars – 60.750 (3-22-08, at MIT Eastern Invitational) Horizontal Bar – 57.900 (3-22-08, at MIT Eastern Invitational) Team Score – 347.900 (3-22-08, at MIT Eastern Invitational)
From 2001-2007 (FIG Code Scoring System) Individual Floor Exercise – Anthony Cirullo, 9.450 (1-19-01, at Ohio State) Pommel Horse – Nick Stavros, 9.650 (3-20-04, at ECAC Championships) Still Rings – Neil Faustino, 9.700 (2-29-04, vs. Temple; 3-7-04, at Air Force w/ California) Vault – Neil Faustino, 9.650 (3-7-04, at Air Force w/ California) Parallel Bars – Neil Faustino, 9.075 (3-20-05, vs. Air Force w/ Arizona State) Horizontal Bar – Tim Morrison, 9.350 (2-24-07, vs. Temple) All-Around – Neil Faustino, 54.200 (2-29-04, vs. Temple) Team Floor Exercise – 36.500 (2-29-04, vs. Temple) Pommel Horse – 36.450 (3-5-04, at Air Force) Still Rings – 36.950 (3-20-04, at ECAC Championships) Vault – 36.850 (3-20-04, at ECAC Championships; 2-10-02, vs. Illinois) Parallel Bars – 34.975 (3-20-05, vs. Air Force w/ Arizona State) Horizontal Bar – 35.450 (3-28-07, at ECAC Championships) Team Score – 213.650 (3-20-04, at ECAC Championship)
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Through 2000 (College Code Scoring System) Individual Floor Exercise – Shannon Welker, 9.900 (on three occasions, most recent 2-22-97, vs. Michigan State) Pommel Horse – Erin Willingham, 9.900 (3-17-99, at William & Mary) Still Rings – Shannon Welker and Mike D’Antino, 9.850 (Welker – 3-2-96, vs. Illinois; D’Antino – 3-17-99, at William & Mary) Vault – Anthony Cirullo and Jody Leibler, 9.850 (Cirullo – 2-26-00, vs. Michigan State; Leibler – 1-18-99, at Windy City Invitational) Parallel Bars – Barry McDonald, 9.950 (3-23-91, at National Independent Championships) Horizontal Bar – Barry McDonald and Shannon Welker, 9.850 (McDonald – 2-20-94, vs. Michigan and Michigan State; Welker – 2-23-97, at National Independent Championships) All-Around – Barry McDonald, 57.400 (2-21-93, at Western Michigan) Team Floor Exercise – 48.000 (3-12-94, at Michigan Invitational) Pommel Horse – 47.350 (3-4-94, vs. Illinois) Still Rings – 48.00 (2-20-94, vs. Michigan State) Vault – 47.600 (2-21-81, vs. Northern and Western Michigan) Parallel Bars – 47.800 (3-13-93, at Michigan Invitational) Horizontal Bar – 47.600 (2-20-94, vs. Michigan State) Team Score – 281.750 (3-4-94, vs. Illinois)
UIC Men’s Gymnastics Record Book NCAA Division I All-Americans 1984 Paul Fishbein Still Rings 1988 Mike Costa Pommel Horse 1989 Mike Costa Pommel Horse 1994 Barry McDonald Parallel Bars 1996 Shannon Welker Floor Exercise 2004 Neil Faustino Vault
1980 1988 1994 1995 2004
NCAA Division I Regional Coach of the Year Mideast “CJ” Johnson Mideast “CJ” Johnson Mideast “CJ” Johnson Mideast “CJ” Johnson East “CJ” Johnson
ECAC College Athletic Conference Coach of the Year 2004 “CJ” Johnson NCAA Division II Championships Team Finishes 1974 Third Place 1975 Runner-up 1976 Runner-up 1977 Third Place 1978 Champions 1979 Champions
1972 1973 1974 1975 1977 1978 1979
NCAA Division II Individual National Champions Steven Fox Pommel Horse Roger Wojtkiewicz Pommel Horse Greg Anderson Pommel Horse Greg Anderson Pommel Horse Jeff Kowalczyk Floor Exercise Paul Zarris Still Rings Bill Roetzheim Pommel Horse Matt Damore Parallel Bars Dan Smith All-Around George Radice Still Rings Jim Geske Pommel Horse Bill Cernicky Vault
NCAA Division II All-Americans 1970 David Biddinger Still Rings Steven Fox Pommel Horse 1971 Bob Ito Floor Exercise Rick Simmons Floor Exercise Bruce Boult High Bar All-Around 1972 Steve Fox Pommel Horse Roger Wojtkiewicz Pommel Horse Robert Misek Parallel Bars Bruce Boult Vault High Bar All Around
1973
Roger Wojtkiewicz Pommel Horse
Tom Fogal Greg Anderson Robert Misek Bruce Boult
Floor Exercise Still Rings Parallel Bars High Bar All-Around Chuck Wanner Still Rings Parallel Bars All-Around 1974 Greg Anderson Pommel Horse Roger Wojtkiewicz Pommel Horse Chuck Wanner Pommel Horse Parallel Bars High Bar All-Around Paul Kahovek High Bar 1975 Greg Anderson Pommel Horse David Ogisaka Pommel Horse Mike Fulks Pommel Horse Jacques Farny Still Rings Parallel Bars All-Around Chuck Wanner Pommel Horse Parallel Bars All-Around 1976 Neil Ropski Pommel Horse Steven Kozub Still Rings Ted Tobias High Bar Jon Jansky High Bar Chuck Wanner Vault Parallel Bars High Bar All-Around 1977 Matt Damore All-Around Javier Diaz Parallel Bars Jeff Kowalczyk Floor Exercise Paul Zarris Still Rings Bill Roetzheim Pommel Horse Steve Kosub Still Rings Neil Ropski Pommel Horse Ted Tobias High Bar George Radice Still Rings 1978 Mark Wanner Floor Exercise All-Around George Martenia Floor Exercise Parallel Bars High Bar Mike Mitchell Pommel Horse George Radice Still Rings Paul Zarris Still Rings Dan Smith Still Rings All-Around Matt Damore Parallel Bars High Bar All-Around John Cherry Parallel Bars Richard Cromwell All-Around
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1979
Dan Smith High Bar Still Rings Vault Parallel Bars All-Around Richard Cromwell Vault All-Around Mark Wanner High Bar Floor Exercise Parallel Bars All-Around George Radice Still Rings Jim Geske Pommel Horse Mike Mitchell Pommel Horse Bill Cernicky Vault Mark Gunnells High Bar John Cherry Parallel Bars Allen Bekkedal Still Rings
NCAA Division II Coach of the Year 1978 “CJ” Johnson 1979 “CJ” Johnson
Neil Faustino was a 2004 Division I All-American and holds four school records on the rings, vault, parallel bar as well as the all-around, under the old scoring system.
