Men's Gymnastics To Host Illinois and Illinois Chicago
1/24/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Gymnastics
Jan. 24, 2001
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LAST MEET - The Spartans took sixth at the Windy City Invitational with a score of 201.350 on Jan. 13. Junior Jonathan Plante won the pommel horse with a 9.350, tying for the best score on any event in the entire meet. Plante was also fourth in the all-around competition, scoring 50.550. Sophomore Brad Golden tied for third on the floor exercise with a 8.900 and was seventh on the pommel horse (8.700), while sophomore Jamie Shepard was seventh in the all-around with a 50.250. Junior Marc Chiappetta turned in a fifth-place showing on the rings with a score of 8.850.
COACH's Corner - Rick Atkinson (Iowa State '85) is in his 13th season as head coach of the Michigan State gymnastics team. Under his tutelage the Spartans have advanced to regional competition seven times in the 1990s, including last year's NCAA Qualifier when the team took sixth.
IN THE RANKINGS - This week the Spartans are ranked 10th in the nation according to Gym Info with a high score of 201.350. The team is also ranked in the top 20 in each event: 14th on floor (34.200), fifth on pommel horse (34.250), 12th on rings (33.250), 14th on vault (34.800), 16th on parallel bars (31.650) and 11th on horizontal bar (33.200). Individually, Jonathan Plante is second in the nation on pommel horse (9.350) and eighth in the all-around (50.550), while Brad Golden is 16th on floor exercise (8.900) and Marc Chiappetta is tied for 15th on rings (8.850).
MSU DEBUTS- Freshmen Andrew Davis and Taft Dorman, along with senior Nate Dotson, made their Spartan debuts at the Windy City Invitational on Jan. 13. Davis competed in the individual all-around, scoring 47.250, while also counting a score for State on the parallel bars. Dorman competed on the rings and floor exercise, while Dotson saw action on the rings.