Leading after three rotations in day one of the 21st Annual Cat Classic, the nationally-ranked Illinois State gymnastics team, depleted due to the flu, succumbed to fatigue and finished in fourth place after a weak performance on the vault, the last event of the evening.
Illinois State, which led with an overall score of 143.6 after the third rotation, fell behind in its final event, the vault, posting a 47.275 for its lowest score in any rotation on the day. Finishing with an overall score of 192.175, the teams lowest this season, ISU fell behind first-place Brigham Young (No. 14) which posted a 193.575. Missouri had a final score of 192.350 for second-place honors while Bowling Green (No. 22) finished third with a 192.250.
ISUs first event, the bars, kept the Redbirds close to the top, finishing second with a 48.300 behind a strong performance by senior Michelle Huston who scored a 9.750. In the second rotation, ISU performed at its best on its best event, the beam, finishing with the highest score of 9.200 after a solid performance from sophomore Heather Mohler (9.775).
Rotation three was the floor event for Illinois State and after Mohlers high marks on the beam, she suffered an 8.900 on the floor as the Redbirds placed fourth and fell behind heading into the fourth rotation. Two falls on the vault proved hazardous for ISU, as its score suffered and the team finished with an 47.275 to fall behind its competition.
Despite a fourth-place finish in the team competition, ISU head coach Jill Hollembeak was pleased with her teams effort.
Were so depleted by this flu bug, we have several key contributors who were unable to travel due to illness and several girls who were competing but not at full strength, Hollembeak said. We started out strong on the first two events but then fatigue set in with many of our girls.
Day two of the meet features individual competition, something Hollembeak and her depleted squad welcome.
Tomorrow our girls can go out and compete for themselves and for Illinois State, showing the rest of the field that, even at half-strength, the Birds are a team to be reckoned with, Hollembeak said.v
