University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Fifth at Windy City Invite
1/17/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Gymnastics
The University of Minnesota men's gymnastics team struggled in its season-opener Saturday night. The Golden Gophers finished fifth in the six-team Windy City Invitational on the campus of the University of Illinois-Chicago.
Illinois won the team title, followed by Michigan, Ohio State and Iowa. UIC, the host team, rounded out the competitors.
Minnesota's downfall came on the pommel horse and parallel bars. The Gophers finished sixth on both of those events. Minnesota's team score of 337.650 was its lowest in more than two years. The Gophers were third on the floor exercise for their best team finish in any event Saturday night.
Illinois scored a total of 353.750 to take the victory, easily out-distancing Michigan's 351.350.
Minnesota had a few bright spots, individually. Colin McGuire led the team on the floor exercise, recording a 14.850 score. That tally matched his season-best mark on the floor from the 2009 season.
Other top 10 finishers for the Gophers were:
Aaron Fortunato, 7th, floor exercise, 14.800
Colin McGuire, 10th, vault, 15.400
Aaron Fortunato, 6th, horizontal bar, 14.550
Colin McGuire, 8th, horizontal bar, 14.300
Minnesota will look to rebound next week, when it hosts the first of back-to-back home meets at the Sports Pavilion. The Golden Gophers will welcome Arizona State and Washington to Minneapolis at Noon Saturday (Jan. 23).
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Players Mentioned
