2011-12 Individual Accomplishments

NCAA National Champions

C.J. Maestas, Gymnastics - Still Rings

After helping lead Illinois to the team national title, freshman C.J. Maestas became Illinois' first-ever NCAA still rings champion. Maestas secured a 15.300 on rings to earn All-America honors and become the first freshman to win a national title for the Orange and Blue since 2008.

"This is the time to show up and do what you're trained to do," Maestas said. "Everyone on rings is amazingly strong this year, so it was hard. I just had to go out and do the best that I could. Rings is my specialty. I've been a strong kid ever since I was young, and it's amazing to go out there and do what I love to do."

Thomas Pieters, Golf

Sophomore Thomas Pieters won the 2012 NCAA Championship, held at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Calif. He claimed medalist honors by three shots with a 54-hole total of 208 (-5). The Nijlen, Belgium, native becomes the second Fighting Illini golfer to claim the individual NCAA title in the last three years, joining 2010 champion Scott Langley. Pieters also garnered the Arnold Palmer Award presented by Callaway for earning medalist honors and picked up PING first-team All-America honors.

"It feels great and finally sank in once everyone got done out on the course," Pieters said. "The whole week was pretty solid. I hit a lot of fairways and greens. My mindset was to make a lot of pars and let other people make mistakes. Coach Small always tells me that if you play a steady round of golf, you won't have a lot of people finishing in front of you. I was disappointed we didn't make it to match play, but all my teammates are really happy for me, so it's pretty exciting."

Andrew Riley, Outdoor Track & Field - 110 Meter Hurdles; 100 Meter Dash

Senior Andrew Riley became the first male track athlete in NCAA history to win national titles in both the 100-meter dash and 110-meter hurdles. He won the 100 meters in a time of 10.28 seconds and the 110m hurdles into a headwind in a time of 13.53. He was then named 2012 USTFCCCA National Track Athlete of Year. Riley won four career NCAA titles as an Illini, tied for the most in program history. He also became the first male athlete in Illini history to win two national titles in the same year under the current NCAA sanctioned events.

"When I started out this year it was something I wanted to achieve," Riley said. "I always set high goals for myself. This year I really wanted to be the first to do the double. A lot of hurdlers don't like to do the track work. I like the track work. It takes different technique to do the double."

Paul Ruggeri, Gymnastics - Vault

After helping lead Illinois to the team national title, senior Paul Ruggeri matched his career high on vault to earn his fourth NCAA crown in his final performance as an Illini. Ruggeri equaled his career-high vault score with a 15.500 to secure his first-ever national vault title. The Manlius, N.Y., native shared the crown with Stanford's Eddie Penev. Ruggeri's win marks his fourth NCAA title overall and first since 2009.

"I was happier than I have ever been in my whole entire life after team finals," Ruggeri said. "But I was a little disappointed because I knew I could have done better in my personal performance. To come back and stick one of two vaults that I've ever stuck, again at an event final, it was really exciting for me. I’m just so lucky. I can't say that enough. I never would have stuck the landing if it weren't for those guys pushing me in the gym every single day.”

Ashley Spencer, Outdoor Track & Field - 400 Meters

On her 19th birthday, freshman Ashley Spencer won the 400m title at the 2012 NCAA Outdoor Championships, becoming the first Illinois women's track and field national champion in school history in the event. Spencer ran out of lane six and timed 50.95 to take the crown, which is a personal-best, a school record and is the fastest collegiate time this year.

"It feels great," Spencer said. "I worked hard. I never expected I'd come out and win a national title. The last 100 meters I knew I'd have to kick. I knew the other girls had really good finishes. I knew I had to push myself the last 100 meters and it paid off. This is the best birthday ever."