March 20, 2004
CHAMPAIGN, IL –
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The sixth-ranked Iowa men’s gymnastics team placed fourth at the Big Ten Championships, advancing four gymnasts into the event finals tonight. The Hawkeyes, who came into the Championships ranked fourth out of the six Big Ten teams competing, scored 216.8 points to finish ahead of Michigan and Minnesota, but were defeated by Illinois, Penn State and Ohio State.
Junior Linas Gaveika (Vilnius, Lithuania) was the Hawkeyes’ top all-around performer, finishing in seventh place with a record-tying 53.975 points. Sophomore Michael Reavis (Tallahassee, FL) followed closely behind in eighth with a season-best 53.875 points. Gaveika and Reavis both qualified for the event finals in two events. Gaveika finished in second on horizontal bar with a score of 9.65 and in a tie for sixth on pommel horse with a score of 9.525. Reavis finished sixth on vault (9.375) and in a tie for third on horizontal bar (9.575).
Senior Eric Block (Buffalo Grove, IL) earned a place in the Big Ten finals on both pommel horse and parallel bars. He finished in a tie for third place on both events, scoring a season-best 9.55 on pommel horse and a 9.1 on bars.
Sophomore Michael McNamara (Orem, UT) had a record-breaking performance on floor exercise, placing fourth with a University of Iowa record score of 9.575. He finished in fourth place, advancing to the event finals. McNamara also finished 12th in the all-around competition.
The event finals of the Big Ten Championships will begin at 7 p.m. tonight at Huff Hall.