In the final meet before the ECAC Conference Championships, UIC got several individual season-best performances, and posted three team scores that were the highest of the season, in a dual meet at Michigan Saturday afternoon.

"Our two all-arounders had solid days, save for an over-cooked release on high bar," head coach Charley Nelson said, referring to Xan Weaver, who set a season high in the all-around, and Sam Montague, whose overall solid meet ended with a fall in the last event.  "Kaleb [Booth] is setting himself up for a strong postseason run.  I think we actually looked better than the score showed and we're excited to head to Springfield next week for the conference championships."

Only a stumble on floor and one on high bar kept the Flames from setting an overall season high for the fourth straight meet.  Still, the team scored 367.750 points, buoyed by the depth of the rings, parallel bars, and high bar squads, all of whom combined to produce season highs.  The host Wolverines, ranked third in the nation entering action, won the meet with 406.200 points.

Rotation 1 – Floor

• Sam Montague gave a confident floor exercise with consistent tempo.  He paced the Flames with a score of 13.600, placing fifth.
• Kaleb Booth likewise had a focused purpose throughout his routine.  He was close behind Montague with a 13.250.
• Sam Forbes contributes a score of 12.400 from the leadoff position.
• Xan Weaver, competing as an all-arounder, posted a season high 13.300 after sticking several of his tumbling passes.

Rotation 2 – Pommel Horse

• Colin Schwartz had a team high 12.200 and finished sixth.
• Mike Peluso posted a 12.000.
• Montague's 11.600 was his highest score in a counting role.

Rotation 3 – Still Rings

• Montague scored a career high 12.550.  He placed sixth overall.
• Nick Smiley matched Montague's score as the two combined to lead the team on rings.
• Wes Diveney scored 12.400, and Weaver was close behind with a 12.250.
• The team's total of 61.650 was a season high.

Rotation 4 – Vault

• Booth's vault worth 13.950 was the team's best.
• Montague scored 13.450, with Burney also breaking 13 and Schwartz hitting exactly 13.000.
• Weaver set another season best, again in the all-around spot, with a 13.650.

Rotation 5 – Parallel Bars

• Two Flames set season highs on p-bars.  Smiley scored a team high 13.150, placing fourth, and Schwartz had a mark of 12.500.
• Weaver scored 13.050 and took fifth place.  Montague added a 12.550.
• The high marks across the board contributed to a team total of 62.350, setting a new season high.

Rotation 6 – High Bar

• Two Flames had season high scores in the last rotation.  James Marden and Sam Norwood each scored 12.250.  Marden let out a victorious shout when he stuck his landing.
• Weaver finished his day with a score of 12.000.
• Sam Forbes contributed to the team score with his 11.700.
• With a total of 59.300, the Flames established a season high.

All-Around

• Weaver blew past his previous best total, scoring 75.350 in the all-around to take third place.
• Montague totaled 74.850.

Up Next

• The Flames will travel to Springfield, Mass. for the ECAC Championships.
• The conference meet will be a one-day event next Saturday at 1 pm.