Facing a tough road test at #3 Nebraska, the UIC Flames set a season high of 372.250.  Nebraska racked up 409.350 points to capture the dual meet win.

"The season high was great, but the excitement was in the technical improvements we were able to make over the last few weeks," head coach Charley Nelson said.  "We had a lot more stuck dismounts and form improvements," he added, noting the three bonuses his team earned.  "If we keep that up, the score will follow."

Rotation 1 – Pommel Horse

• Satchel Hudson was the Flames' top scorer with a 12.450, his career high by nearly a full point.  He finished fourth overall.
• Michael Peluso was close on Hudson's heels at 12.300, ranking seventh in the meet.
• Colin Schwartz and Colby Lawson followed in the UIC team standing.
• UIC's leadoff event was its lowest score of the meet.  "Our youth and being our first time on the road definitely showed" out of the gate, Nelson stated.

Rotation 2 – Floor Exercise

• Asad Jooma turned in a performance worthy of 13.100 points.  
• Freshman Matthew Whittington was the Flames' second highest scorer.  He posted a 12.500.  Nelson was happy with the latest freshman on his young squad to contribute to the team score.  "We had a great debut from Matt Whittington," he said.
• Victor Bello's 12.350 was his second straight significant jump from the previous meet and a career high.  "Victor Bello had a great day after horse," Nelson noted.  "I was particularly happy with the team's resilience after our worst pommel horse outing of the year."

Rotation 3 – Vault

• The vault remained one of the Flames' strongest events.  They scored a meet-high 68.050 on the apparatus.
• Asad Jooma tied his career high with a 14.350, taking fifth place overall.  "Asad's vault was his best of the year," Nelson said.
• Colby Lawson earned a stuck-landing bonus and finished with 13.600, tying with Victor Bello.  It was the season high for both.
• Hudson and Colin Schwartz rounded out the counting scores.  Along with AJ Hardin, every Flame scored over 13 points.

Rotation 4 – Still Rings

• Wes Diveney and Steen Haugsted each cleared 13 points on their routines for the first time this season.
• Hudson, Peluso, and Liam Maddon were all close behind, scoring 12.950, 12.950, and 12.900 respectively.  It was a season high for Hudson, and a career high for Peluso.

Rotation 5 – High Bar

• Hardin and Peluso tied for team high honors.  Each posted a 12.100, scoring over 12 for the first time this year.  "Peluso was his usual steady self," with scores in all three of his events over 12, Nelson said.
• Bello performed on the high bar for the first time this year and scored 11.900.
• Hudson set a career high at 11.500.

Rotation 6 – Parallel Bars

• Haugsted was the sole Flame to break 13.  He set a personal season high mark of 13.250.  "Steen not only hit a new high, but he did it with an upgraded routine," Nelson pointed out.
• Schwartz earned a one-tenth bonus.  His score of 12.600 was second on the team and a season high.
• Lawson, Bello, and Hudson all scored 12 or higher.

All-Around

• Hudson and Bello were the only gymnasts on either side to complete the all-around competition.
• Hudson blew away his previous career high, racking up 74.000 points.
• Bello competed in all six events for the first time this season and totaled 70.750 points.

Up Next

• The Flames will be back in action next weekend.
• Another road meet awaits on Sunday, Feb. 18.
• UIC will compete in the New England Championships, hosted by ECAC rival Springfield College and also including Temple.