Feb. 17, 2001

Champaign, Ill. - The men's gymnastics team has been battling injuries all season long and it caught up to them on Friday night against the University of Illinois.

The Fighting Illini earned a 212.15-195.3 victory over UIC behind an impressive all-around performance from Leo Oka. Oka garnered a total of 51.35 including taking top honors on the pommel horse (9.05) and the vault (9.30). UIC drops to 2-2 overall with the loss.

UIC junior captain Matthew Soucie (Newmarket, Ontario/Cardinal Carter) competed in the all-around competition for the first time this season and scored a 47.6. Soucie was the Flames' top gymnast in the floor exercise (8.25) and the pommel horse (8.65).

Senior captain Dave Johnson (Chicago, Ill./St. Rita) earned top overall honors on the still rings with a score of 9.15 and was the Flames' high man on the parallel bars with a 8.2.

UIC also received solid efforts from sophomore Mason Vernon (Skokie, Ill./Niles North) and freshman Ambrose Jackson (Yorkville, Ill./Yorkville). Vernon earned top honors for the Flames on the vault (9.0) while Jackson was UIC's top performer on the high bar with a 8.7.

The Flames' will be back in action on Saturday, February 24th as they will host Michigan State at the Physical Education Building at 7 PM.