University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
UIC
Gophers Sweep Podium in Home Finale
3/18/2017 12:00:00 AM | Men's Gymnastics
The University of Minnesota topped the University of Illinois at Chicago with a final score of 413.500-372.700 on Saturday afternoon at the Sports Pavilion. Minnesota swept the podium on each event, and the win marked an undefeated season at home for the Golden Gophers.
"What a great opportunity for our seniors to go out with a win in their final home meet," head coach Mike Burns said. "The team stepped up around them, and all performed admirably."
By event, Minnesota scored a 71.750 on floor, a 68.500 on pommel horse, a 68.150 on rings, a 72.000 on vault, a 67.050 on parallel bars, and a 66.050 on high bar. The Gophers recorded two new season-high scores on floor and pommel horse.
Senior Zach Liebler took home gold on floor with a 14.800. Alex Wittenberg placed second with a 14.300, and Joel Gagnon placed third with a 14.250.
On pommel horse, Justin Karstadt came in first place with a 14.500. Vitali Kan took silver with a 14.050. Junior Tristan Duran rounded out the top three on pommel horse with a 13.650.
Yaroslav Pochinka earned gold on rings with a 13.900. Shashank Yallamraju had a great performance to place second with a 13.700. Kan placed third with a 13.600.
Pochinka picked up his second event title on vault with a 14.850. Gagnon took home silver with a 14.550 and Liebler took home bronze with a 14.400.
Ryan Bergman had an exciting performance on parallel bars as he recorded a season-high score of 14.050 for the win. Ben Winkel placed second with a 13.900. Karstadt rounded out the top three finalists on parallel bars with a 13.700.
After suffering from an injury in last weekends meet, Jalon Stephens was able to bounce back and win gold on high bar with a 13.800. Shaun Herzog received second place with a 13.450. Timmy Kutyla finished third with a 13.150.
"It was a fun meet," Burns said. "The team was intense enough, but not overly so. I think it was the right balance, in terms of maintaining a calm demeanor and finding the intensity when you need it."
Seniors Liebler and Soukup were honored at the meet.
"As a coach it is hard to see athletes have their final home meet," Burns said. "We still have a lot to do this year, so it is nice to have this at this point in the season and kind of get the emotional part of it out of the way so we can move forward."
Next Up
The Gophers will travel to Lincoln, Neb. to face the Huskers for the second time this season. The meet is scheduled for Saturday, March 25 at 4:00 p.m. CT.
Players Mentioned
