Chambana Sun

Sam Kaplan and Gavin Dougherty have officially joined the Fighting Illini Men's Gymnastics team, as announced by head coach Daniel Ribeiro. Both athletes bring impressive credentials to the team.

Sam Kaplan hails from Fairhaven, Massachusetts, and trained at Aim High Academy before attending Springfield College. He has been recognized with numerous accolades, including being named the 2024 ECAC Gymnast of the Year and earning five-time USAG All-American honors. "Sam is a seasoned NCAA all-around competitor from Springfield [College]," said Ribeiro. "He should have an immediate impact on pommel horse, still rings, parallel bars and high bar."

Kaplan expressed his enthusiasm for joining the team: "Team culture is something that I really care about, and no school does it better than Illinois," he stated. "The coaching here is unlike anything I've ever seen, so it was a no-brainer for me to want to come and be a part of the famILLy."

Gavin Dougherty from Clovis, California, currently competes for Clovis Academy of Gymnastics. He is noted for his strength on still rings and plans to specialize in this area for the Illini. Ribeiro commented on Dougherty's potential: "Gavin is a monster on still rings and he will be a specialist for us there. He has incredible strength and will fill a huge hole for us."

Dougherty's academic achievements include being a national qualifier in 2024 and earning Academic All-American honors from 2021 to 2025. As valedictorian of his class, he plans to major in neuroscience. On his decision to join Illinois, Dougherty said: "I loved the team culture along with the amazing coaches. The team felt like family."

Both Kaplan and Dougherty will join Alex Karadzhov as part of the 2025 signing class.