Despite an Illinois State record-breaking performance on the balance beam, a season-high total score and Denise Houdas school record-tying beam mark, the Redbird gymnastics team placed fourth at the State of Illinois Classic in DeKalb, Ill., on Sunday.
First-place honors went to Illinois-Chicago, who posted a 196.800. Illinois edged out host Northern Illinois for second, scoring 195.750 over Northerns 195.650, while Illinois State earned a score of 194.875. It was the second time in six days that the Redbirds, 5-12, posted a season-high score and lost, as the Birds tallied 194.125 on Monday, March 17 against Southeast Missouri State.
Despite the loss, Illinois State posted a school record on the balance beam when it tallied 49.450 behind Denise Houdas 9.95 school record-tying performance. Houda tied the record set by Heather Mohler on March 11, 2001, and Lisa Klein on January 19, 2003, earning her a tie for first place with Northern Illinois Kristina Campos. Jaime Reineck tied for third with a career-best score of 9.925, and Klein added a 9.9. Heather Mohler posted a 9.85, and freshmen Amy Biedenharn and Lauren Strnad chipped in scores of 9.825. The previous team balance beam record of 49.300 was set January 7, 2001 against Western Michigan.
We had a hit meet, head coach Beth Larson said. We didnt have to count a fall all night. Due to unforeseen circumstances, we had to make some adjustments in the lineups, but the girls dealt with the changes extremely well. It was by far the best competition of the year weve had, because all four teams had great meets.
Houda posted an all-around score of 39.275, placing fifth overall, while Mohler tallied 38.850, good for seventh.
Denises score was great for her in terms of her mission to qualify as an individual all-around competitor for NCAA Regionals, and Heather is doing everything in her power to be a strong competitor and help this team succeed, Larson commented.
The Redbirds wrap up the regular season on Saturday, March 29 when they head to Centenary, La., for the Midwest Independent Conference meet.
