Chambana Sun

Four members connected to the University of Illinois men's gymnastics program participated in the 2025 Xfinity U.S. Championships held in New Orleans. The group included current student-athletes Tate Costa, Brandon Dang, and Preston Ngai, as well as alumnus Alex Diab.

Brandon Dang achieved a second-place finish on pommel horse after recording scores of 15.468 on the first day and 15.625 on the second day, resulting in a combined total of 31.093. This result marked an improvement from his third-place finish at last year's event.

"Ngai closed out his time in New Orleans with a 13.450 on pommel horse and a 13.050 on still rings. Ngai's two-day total of 28.008 on pommel horse was good for fourth place in the event."

Preston Ngai also performed well, securing third place on pommel horse during the first day with a score of 14.558 and finishing fourth overall in that apparatus across both days with a combined score of 28.008.

Alex Diab, who won the still rings title at this competition last year, finished fifth this year after posting identical scores of 13.750 on both days for a two-day total of 27.500.

Tate Costa placed within the top-20 in multiple events during Day 1, including floor exercise (13th), horizontal bar (19th), and pommel horse (20th).

The championships gathered gymnasts from around the country to compete over two days, highlighting performances by collegiate athletes as well as alumni.

"Day 2

Dang followed up his 15.468 on Thursday with an even better 15.625 on Saturday, the highest score of Day 2. His combined score of 31.093 saw the Illini junior finish in second on the apparatus, an improvement of one spot from his third-place finish at the competition in 2024."

"Diab, the 2024 still rings champion, was unable to defend his title, though he earned another top-five finish."

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