University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers to Host Iowa, UIC On Senior Night
3/11/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Gymnastics
By Jennie Clark
Athletic Communications Assistant
Six Golden Gopher senior gymnasts will head into their final home meet at the Sports Pavilion Saturday. Minnesota will be hosting Illinois-Chicago and Iowa.
Head coach Mike Burns is proud of the contribution this group of seniors has made to the program.
"What a great bunch, an awesome bunch to have in the gym every day for the past four years," Burns said. "We're all going to miss them, they're a huge part of our program in terms of scoring potential and they're just a bunch of good kids. When you recruit guys, you have to get guys just like that. We've been blessed with the kids we have in our program."
All six of the seniors have played a large part in the success of the program over the past couple of years. The following is a look at what many of the seniors had to say about their time with the Gophers, as they reflect on their careers:
"It's really surreal," Andre Berry said. "It seems like just yesterday I was competing in there for the NCAA championships and now it's the last time I'll ever be competing in the Sports Pavilion. We have some really supportive fans here and I really appreciate everything they have done for me this year, so I guess this weekend is really more for them then for me."
"I'm excited about Senior Night," Colin McGuire said. "I think we're going to do really well, we're going to get the 350 score we want and we're just going to show off."
"I love competing at the Pav," Thomas O'Brian said." It's a great atmosphere, we always have a lot of fun and we have a great crowd so I'm definitely looking forward to it."
"I think we're going to kill it" Cole Storer said. "It's sad though because I love competing here and I love what the University of Minnesota has given me and I don't really want it to end, but I know it has to so I think it will be good."
"After the meet and landing my last pass on floor I think it will be a really special moment," Adam Reichow said. "I have a lot of family coming and we have some great fans and I think I'm really going to miss that."
Along with it being Senior Night, Saturday's meet is also the first weekend back home after four weeks on the road. The Gophers are looking forward to being back at the Sports Pavilion.
"I'm happy that we're back home and in the comfort of our own facility." Coach Burns said
"It's time for us to send a message to the country that we're not a seventh-place team, but a top-three type of team," Coach Burns said. "And I think we are."
Saturday's Senior Night meet is slated for 7 p.m. at the Sports Pavilion.
-UM-
Players Mentioned
