Yan Inhaber-Courchesne Student Manager | University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics Website
Yan Inhaber-Courchesne Student Manager | University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics Website
The College Gymnastics Association (CGA) has announced its Week 3 awards, recognizing the performances of Brandon Dang and Ian Sandoval. The announcement was made on Wednesday, January 29, 2025.
Brandon Dang received the Specialist of the Week award, marking his fourth CGA honor. Previously, he won Rookie of the Week three times in 2024. In a recent competition against then-No. 2 Oklahoma on January 25, Dang scored a 14.500 on pommel horse, leading the Illini to victory in that event with a total score of 56.200, surpassing Oklahoma by 1.450 points. Currently, Dang is ranked second nationally in pommel horse.
Ian Sandoval was named Rookie of the Week for his first CGA weekly award title. During the same competition against Oklahoma, Sandoval achieved four career-high scores and finished second in the all-around competition behind teammate Sam Phillips. His performance included a career-best score of 13.700 on pommel horse and a new vault high of 14.350, earning him his first event title in collegiate gymnastics. Sandoval's high bar score increased to 12.700, while his all-around score improved to 79.600. He is now ranked eighth nationally on vault and fourth in the all-around.
The Illini are set to compete again this Friday, January 31 at Huff Hall against No. 4 Nebraska, with the event starting at 6 p.m.
Week 3 CGA Awards also recognized Taylor Burkhart from Stanford as Gymnast of the Week.
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