FINAL RESULTS

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The UIC men's gymnastics team started its season with a few highlights, but not enough to best the Fighting Illini. The Flames finished competition Saturday evening falling short with a total score of 374.250 to Illinois' 432.500 at Huff Hall.

"The competition went as expected," said head coach Charley Nelson, "and I expected it to look a bit rough. In just the last three days, injuries forced us to scratch 16 of 30 potential routines, so the lineup and score from tonight will improve as early as next week's Windy City."

UIC began on the pommel horse where junior Christopher Patton recorded a team best with a 14.000. On the floor exercise, junior Jacob Thurber posted a score of 14.000 while shortly after junior Alexander Dumstorf tallied a 14.05 on the vault and a 13.00 on the parallel bars.

Recording a team best on the still rings was junior Trent Jarrett, who scored a 13.90. In his Flames debut, freshman Steen Haugsted served as an anchor and posted a 12.90 on the high bar.

"It'll be a busy week heading into the Windy City so we can be sure to keep moving in the right direction," said Nelson.

The Flames will host the annual Windy City Invitational at the UIC Pavilion on Sunday Jan. 17. Competition is scheduled to get underway at 3:00 p.m. CT.