Chambana Sun

Illinois gymnasts Brandon Dang and Ian Sandoval have been recognized by the College Gymnastics Association (CGA), as announced by the organization on April 17. The awards were presented during the CGA's end-of-year banquet preceding the NCAA Championships.

Brandon Dang, a sophomore specializing in the pommel horse, was honored as the Specialist of the Year. This is only the second time in the program's history that an Illini has received this distinction, the first being assistant coach Connor McCool in 2023. Dang was selected for the USA Gymnastics Senior National Team after his victory at the Winter Cup in February and achieved first and sixth place in two international competitions in Baku, Azerbaijan, and Antalya, Turkey. He remained undefeated in the regular season with a 7-0 record. Dang's exceptional performance earned him a place in both Illinois' single-season and all-time titles Top-10 lists. He maintained a top-three national ranking for 11 consecutive weeks, culminating in the Big Ten Specialist of the Year title. Additionally, Dang received All-American status for the regular season in the pommel horse and a First-Team All-Big Ten honor.

Ian Sandoval, a freshman competing as an all-around athlete, was named Rookie of the Year, marking him as the second Illini ever to receive the award. Sandoval, a native of Frisco, Texas, was the only freshman nationally ranked in all six events and the all-around category this season. He secured five titles—one each in floor, vault, parallel bars, and two in the all-around—earning him First-Team All-Big Ten honors and a spot on the inaugural Big Ten All-Freshman Team. Sandoval was recognized twice as the Big Ten Freshman of the Week and four times by the CGA as Rookie of the Week. He was also named a regular season All-American in the all-around and received the title of Big Ten Freshman of the Year.

Both athletes were unanimous selections for their awards, highlighting their dominance in the 2025 season. Head coach Daniel Ribeiro commented, "These incredible honors represent the hard work and dedication put in by Brandon and Ian throughout this entire year. We could not be more proud of these two guys for bringing home two of the three annual awards."

The Illinois team is set to begin Day 1 of the NCAA Championships on April 18 in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with Session II scheduled to start at 6 p.m. CT.