Last place in the Big Ten championships last year.
Last place in the Big Ten championships this year.
These may seem like a couple of sorry outcomes without improvement by the Michigan men's gymnastics team, but in reality, they are not. The Wolverines have improved. In fact, they cut their margin of loss by more than 50 percent this year, losing to Big Ten champion Ohio State by only eight points this weekend in Minneapolis.
Michigan recorded an all-around score of 222.225, its highest of the season, while the victorious Buckeyes tallied a 230.825.
"I'm very happy with the outcome," Michigan coach Kurt Golder said. "I'm sure we're the most improved team here by a long shot."
Michigan's star gymnast, freshman Jose "LaLo" Haro, placed fifth in the all-around with a score of 57.325. He led the Wolverines in four events with scores of 9.65, 9.60, 9.70 and 9.55 in the still rings, vault, parallel bars and pommel horse.
Haro's vault score was good enough for a three-way tie for second place in that event, only .075 out of first.
LaLo advanced to yesterday's Big Ten finals in the floor exercise, rings and parallel bar. All three apparatuses were dominated, however, by Penn State Olympian Blaine Wilson. LaLo could muster only third-place finishes on the floor and the bar.
Haro's performance Saturday was merely a reflection of how much he has meant to the young Wolverines all season.
"He's the backbone of our team," Golder said. "He and Tim (DeGraw) set the standard for everyone else to move up to."
Although Haro didn't win an event in Minneapolis, Golder is confident his prized recruit may turn some eyes yet in the postseason.
"He's really good," the first-year coach said. "But he isn't known in this country. He hasn't built up a reputation, and that's important in gymnastics."
Bringing in Haro could prove to be a huge step in rebuilding Michigan's men's gymnastics program. Luckily for the Wolverines, Golder knew about the south-of-the-border phenom from his days as an assistant at Iowa.
"When you're rebuilding, getting your first good all-around performer is the key, because he attracts others," Golder said. "If you can't get your first one, you could run in place for a long time."
Haro wasn't the only one whose weekend was extended to Sunday. At the finals, junior Tim DeGraw tied for fourth on the floor exercise with a 9.5 after recording a 9.75 the day before. DeGraw advanced to the finals despite nursing an injury which may have held him back.
"He hasn't completely recovered," Golder said. "With that in mind, it wouldn't surprise me if he won the NCAA championship on the floor."
Senior Edwin Ledgard rounded out Michigan's team leaders with a career high 9.40 on the high bar.