Dec. 2, 2004

Chicago, Ill.- Fans will get a sneak peek at this season's UIC men's and women's gymnastics teams this Saturday when the Flames host their annual Mixed Pairs competition in the UIC Physical Education Building at 2 p.m.

Both UIC teams will enter the 2005 season as defending conference champions, fresh off standout campaigns that marked the first time in a decade that the school's men's and women's gymnastics teams have won their respective league titles.

The UIC men's gymnastics team is fresh off one of the greatest seasons in the Flames' 25-year Division I history. Led by All-American Neil Faustino and Eastern College Athletic Conference all-around champion Eric Novick, the Flames smashed seven team scoring records for the school's first-ever ECAC Championship.

UIC's banner year in men's gymnastics was capped off with the team's first trip to the NCAA Championships in seven years.

On the women's side for UIC, the Flames continued to show that they are in a class by themselves in the Midwest Independent Conference. With MIC all-around champ Alyson Cacciatore and fellow all-conference honorees Veronique Meunier and Jennifer O'Neil paving the way, UIC captured their third consecutive league crown and a third straight trip to the NCAA South Central Regional.

The action will take place in the PEB's Practice Gym on the far west side of the building, right next to the large gym.

Admission to Mixed Pairs is free.