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
Brandon Dang and Matthew Vu Nguyen have been recognized with Big Ten weekly honors, as announced by the conference on March 4. Dang received the Specialist of the Week award, while Nguyen was named Freshman of the Week.
Brandon Dang, a sophomore who recently joined the USA Gymnastics Senior National Team, secured his sixth pommel horse title of the season with a score of 14.700. This victory brings his career total to 14 titles. The San Jose native is currently ranked second nationally on pommel horse and first in the Big Ten. This marks his fourth Specialist of the Week title this season (Jan. 21, Feb. 11, Feb. 25, March 4) and sixth overall in his career. Dang is set to participate in his first USA Gymnastics international assignment in Baku, Azerbaijan from March 6-9.
Matthew Vu Nguyen played a crucial role for Illinois against Army and Greenville on March 1. In his collegiate debut on vault, he scored a 13.700 and achieved a new career-high of 14.050 on parallel bars, earning first place. The Houston native also contributed to maintaining Illinois' lead during the final rotation on high bar. This recognition marks Nguyen's first conference honor.
The Illini will compete again at Huff Hall on March 8 against No. 6 Penn State for Senior Day, with competition starting at 1 p.m CT.
Big Ten Weekly Awards - March 4, 2025:
Gymnast of the Week - Josh Karnes from Penn State
Specialist of the Week - Brandon Dang from Illinois
Freshman of the Week - Matthew Vu Nguyen from Illinois
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