March 22, 2002

Chicago, Ill. - Both sides of the University of Illinois at Chicago gymnastics program will jump into the biggest meet of their respective seasons on Saturday with the women here at UIC for the Midwest Independent Championships, while the men compete in Philadelphia in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Championships.

Peter and Mary Jansson's squad will compete against four other formidable opponents as the Flames look to clinch a spot in the NCAA South Central Regional in two weeks.

Southeast Missouri State, Illinois State, Centenary and Winona State along with UIC round out the field for the 2002 Midwest Independent Championships.

The Otahkians of SEMO are the defending champions, while the Flames were third a year ago.

Women's action begins at 6:00 PM at the UIC Physical Education Building.

For the men, "CJ" Johnson's team will compete at Temple in the ECAC Championships, coming off its finest performance of the year on Tuesday, where the Flames tallied a season-best of 206.2 at James Madison.

The ECAC field includes the host Owls, UMass, William & Mary, Army, Navy, Springfield, Southern Connecticut, James Madison, Vermont and M.I.T.

UMass is the three-time defending champions of the meet, while Temple had won the competition nine years in a row from 1990-98.

Men's competition starts Saturday at 3:00 PM with team and all-around competition and concludes on Sunday with event finals at Temple's famed McGonigle Hall.