http://www.news-gazette.com/sportsfacts/gymnastics Latest Illini SportsFacts stories for the News-Gazette en-us Copyright 2008, The News-Gazette, Inc. http://www.news-gazette.com/sportsfacts/rss Fri, 16 May 2008 12:36:00 PST CHAMPAIGN – Yoshi Hayasaki, whose name has been synonymous with Illini gymnastics for most of 3 1/2 decades, is heading for his last roundup. He'll go out with both barrels blazing next April and will be succeeded by assistant Jon Valdez. "It's hard to step down, particularly when we have a tremendous group coming in, but you have to do it some time," Hayasaki said Thursday. "I've been thinking a lot about it. As it stands right now, next season will be my last." http://www.news-gazette.com/sportsfacts/gymnastics/2008/04/25/to_go_out_on_top_thats_the_goal_for/ Fri, 25 Apr 2008 14:00:00 CST Yoshi Hayasaki delivered one of the UI's 23 NCAA team championships: http://www.news-gazette.com/sportsfacts/gymnastics/2008/04/25/teams_terrific/ Fri, 25 Apr 2008 14:00:00 CST ATHENS, Ga. – Illinois freshman gymnast Allison Buckley became Illinois' first NCAA All-American by tying for sixth place on the balance beam Thursday at the national championships. Buckley, the Big Ten Freshman of the Year, tallied a 9.825 on the beam to earn the honor. http://www.news-gazette.com/sportsfacts/gymnastics/2008/04/25/buckley_nabs_national_honor/ Fri, 25 Apr 2008 14:00:00 CST URBANA – What are Allison Buckley and Nicole Cowart in for this week at the NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championships? Their coach knows, but he considers it folly to even try to describe the high-octane atmosphere and high-stakes pressure that awaits the Illinois duo at a sold-out Stegeman Coliseum in Athens, Ga. http://www.news-gazette.com/sportsfacts/gymnastics/2008/04/23/buckley_cowart_set_for_national_stage/ Wed, 23 Apr 2008 14:00:00 CST URBANA – The folks back home have Paul Ruggeri's cell phone working overtime these days. Ever since a radio station in Syracuse, N.Y., picked up on the news that the Illinois freshman won an NCAA gymnastics title late Saturday in Palo Alto, Calif., Ruggeri has been fielding a steady stream of long-distance pats on the back. http://www.news-gazette.com/sportsfacts/gymnastics/2008/04/22/ruggeri_basks_in_glow_of_national_title/ Tue, 22 Apr 2008 14:00:00 CST PALO ALTO, Calif. – Paul Ruggeri has a lot to live up to the next three years. On Saturday, the freshman won the high bar national championship and was an All-American in the vault and floor exercise. http://www.news-gazette.com/sportsfacts/gymnastics/2008/04/20/freshman_ruggeri_claims_high_bar_crown/ Sun, 20 Apr 2008 14:00:00 CST PALO ALTO, Calif. – For the sixth consecutive year, No. 5 Illinois advanced to the team finals at the NCAA men's gymnastics meet Thursday. The only other school with as long of a streak is No. 2 Oklahoma, which also moved on. Also advancing: No. 3 Penn State, No. 6 Michigan, No. 1 Stanford and No. 4 California. Illinois posted a season-high score 359.300. http://www.news-gazette.com/sportsfacts/gymnastics/2008/04/18/illinois_makes_first_cut/ Fri, 18 Apr 2008 14:00:00 CST