Chambana Sun

The Illini wrapped up their 2025 season at the NCAA Championships in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with a final score of 316.293. During the competition, three Illini athletes earned All-American status.

The event kicked off with Nathan Whitaker scoring 13.900 in the floor rotation, though the team was required to count a fall. Preston Ngai, competing in the all-around, secured a 13.466 in this category.

On the pommel horse, Preston Ngai continued to impress with a score of 14.100, which placed him fourth and granted him All-American honors. Contributions also came from Connor Micklos with 13.233 and Will Hauke with 13.066.

Ngai also led the team on still rings with a score of 13.733, while Logan Myers followed with a 13.300. In the vault event, Amari Sewell and Garrett Schooley excelled, with Schooley tying for the lead with a 14.533 before ultimately placing third. Sewell's performance, ranking seventh, also earned him All-American recognition.

Parallel bars saw Whitaker begin with a 13.133, followed by Hauke's 13.333, and Dylan Shepard closing with a 13.566, including a stuck landing. The competition concluded on the high bar, where all four members scored in the 13s. Ngai, who began with 13.000, achieved a total score of 81.298 in the all-around, further solidifying his second All-American title for the night.

Head coach Daniel Ribeiro commented, "We knew it would take 24 home runs tonight, and that carries some risks. We knew we had to take chances and the guys went for it," adding praise for Ngai's performance against tough competition. He highlighted the resilience of the team and expressed optimism for next season.

The Illini concluded their season with a record of 9-13 and 5-3 in the regular season. Garrett Schooley notably won a medal in the vault event by finishing third with a score of 14.533.

Awards were given to Preston Ngai for his performance on the pommel horse and in the all-around category, while Garrett Schooley and Amari Sewell were recognized for their vault performances. The season also saw several personal bests achieved during the NCAA Championships.