May 4, 2004

Chicago, Ill.- University of Illinois at Chicago Head Men's Gymnastics Coach "CJ" Johnson announced that the Flames have signed Jeff White to a National Letter of Intent to compete for UIC beginning in the 2005 season.

The Lilburn, Georgia native competed this past year for the Atlanta School of Gymnastics, turning in solid performance after solid performance en route to earning Gymnast of the Year honors after winning the all-around, still rings and parallel bars at the Georgia State Meet this past March.

White, who turned in an eighth place finish at the Region 8 Championships, also qualified for the prestigious USA Gymnastics Junior Olympic National Championships in San Diego.

Among some of White's other accomplishments are his dominating all-around win at the 2004 Rising Stars Men's Invitational, where he posted a 49.600 that beat the second-place finisher by over five points, and his third-place all-around finish at the ASG Peachtree Men's Classic.

Johnson is excited about White's commitment to a team that is fresh off the school's first-ever Eastern College Athletic Conference Championship.

"He is a part of a legacy in the sense that his cousin (David Masciola) went here and did well," said Johnson. "I have expectations for him to be a force on our team."

Johnson made note of White's positive attitude and how the presence of White and fellow UIC signee Jason Enke, who won the all-around and five of six events at the West Suburban Silver meet this past weekend, are expected to ease the loss of graduating seniors Matt Musielak, Jon Joyce and David Livingston.

"From what I've seen so far this young man has a strong college future," said Johnson said of White. "He is a very positive young man."