The Flames came out on fire Saturday afternoon and set season highs in four of the six events, including a floor score that was the team's highest since January 22, 2017.  Only a late injury substitution slowed the team down, yet they still posted their highest overall score of the season, 362.600.

Host Nebraska won the tri-meet with 404.650 points.  Minnesota came in second, just over a point behind the Cornhuskers.  It was the third time that UIC competed against Minnesota.  The Flames closed the gap with the Golden Gophers to the smallest margin in those three meetings.

"We were hanging right with these Power 5 powerhouses, but we hit a wall on pommel horse," head coach Charley Nelson said.  "We're into the five up/five count portion of the season, and that one hit us hard.  We're moving in the right direction but this team is better than what it has shown. 

"I'm really proud of Xan Weaver and James Strevey, both of whom had to step in because of Montague's injury.  Orion Wells' NCAA debut was an unparalleled success.  I'm excited to see some more of him.  Our floor team has taken the last two weeks of training and really put it out there on the floor."

Nelson concluded with a warning for the Flames' next opponent.  "The College of William & Mary needs to look out when this UIC team goes six-for-six in two weeks.  We're going to give them a run for their money."

Rotation 1 – Rings

• The Flames started hot on rings with two season highs and a strong debut.  Wes Diveney led the team again, scoring 13.200 to surpass his previous season high by six tenths.  He placed seventh in the meet.
• Orion Wells competed for the first time as a Flame and turned in a 12.800.
• Nick Smiley was next with a 12.350.  Billy Hollis scored a season high 12.200 – also nearly six tenths better than his previous high score.
• The team's 61.550 total was the best score of the campaign.

Rotation 2 – Floor

• Sam Montague led a floor squad that shined in all five slots.  He scored a career high 14.000, and his fourth place finish was the highest by any Flame throughout the meet.
• Kaleb Booth's ninth-place 13.700 was also a season high, as was Smiley's 13.150.
• James Marden was the lone Flame not to achieve a season high, but he still put up a 12.750.  AJ Hardin's 12.700 was his best score in three meets.

Rotation 3 – Pommel Horse

• Colin Schwartz paced the Flames on pommels with a score of 12.200, good for sixth place.
• James Strevey and Michael Peluso were neck-and-neck with scores of 10.950 and 10.900, respectively.
• Xan Weaver posted a 10.750.
• "Eric Barnd had an uncharacteristically tough day and we used our injury replacement to pull his score," Nelson recounted.  "His replacement Sam Montague basically tore the tip of his thumb off on his fourth skill so we ended up counting a 5 on the event."

Rotation 4 – High Bar

• Weaver bested his previous high by a full point, scoring 12.350 to lead the squad to a season best 58.800.
• Marden was next for UIC with 12.000.
• Paul Burney followed with an 11.800, and Sam Norwood scored 11.600.

Rotation 5 – Vault

• Booth was a half point better than his old season high.  He scored 14.250 and finished sixth.
• Burney also exceeded his previous best vault, scoring 13.800.
• Schwartz also broke the 13 point barrier with a 13.050.
• The team's total of 66.600 was a season high, and the third straight meet that showed an increase from the week before.

Rotation 6 – Parallel Bars

• Weaver posted the highest score on the meet's final rotation, 12.600.
• Schwartz came in right at 12 points for the team's second highest score.
• Strevey scored 11.800, one tenth higher than Smiley.

All-Around

• Limited to just five competitors on each event due to the change to five-up scoring, the Flames did not have anyone complete the all-around.
• In fact, only one gymnast – Nebraska's Evan Hymanson – competed in all six events.

Up Next

• The Flames will have another week off before returning to competition.
• ECAC rival William & Mary will come to town for a dual meet at Credit Union 1 Arena at 2 pm March 10.
• The meet will be the final home contest of the season.