Back-to-back: Diab a two-time NCAA still rings champion

Robin Scholz/The News-Gazette Illinois' Alex Diab (34) competes in the still rings at the NCAA Men's Gymnastics Championships at State Farm Center in Champaign on actuary, April 20, 2019., 2019. He won the rings.CHAMPAIGN — The door was open for Alex Diab to defend his still rings national championship Saturday night at State Farm Center. Oklahoma’s Yul Moldauer, who was perhaps Diab’s stiffest competition, made just a minor mistake during his routine.

Still, it was enough. And that was with Diab not making it all the way through his set clean, either.

“The whole routine felt great,” Diab said. “It felt pretty perfect until the dismount. I took two steps, which is really uncharacteristic of…