Sam Stinsa Student Manager | University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics Website
Sam Stinsa Student Manager | University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics Website
Freshman gymnast Ian Sandoval has received dual recognition from the Big Ten Conference, earning both Freshman of the Week and Gymnast of the Week honors. The announcement was made on Tuesday, February 4th.
Sandoval's performance against No. 4 Nebraska on January 31st was instrumental in securing a narrow victory for his team, with a final score of 321.300 to 320.800. After fellow gymnast Sam Phillips was sidelined due to an injury during warm-ups, Sandoval stepped up and delivered outstanding performances across multiple events.
His achievements included a career-high score of 13.600 on floor exercise, which earned him the event title, as well as a top score of 13.500 on parallel bars, resulting in a three-way tie for first place. Additionally, he claimed the all-around title with a score of 79.250, marking his third win that evening.
Beyond his Big Ten accolades, Sandoval also received national attention by being named Inside Gymnastics' NCAA Gymnast of the Week on February 3rd and CGA Rookie of the Week on January 29th.
Looking ahead, Sandoval and his team are set to compete again on Saturday, February 8th against the No. 7 Wolverines in Ann Arbor at 1 p.m. CT.
The Big Ten Weekly Awards for February 4th include Ian Sandoval from Illinois as Gymnast of the Week and Freshman of the Week. Parker Thackston from Ohio State was named Specialist of the Week.
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