Stepping up to the challenge of their first collegiate gymnastics competition, Illinois States Fjordholm twins, Anne and Tove, were the top gymnasts for the Redbirds in two of the four events in ISUs season-opening loss to Ball State.
Anne Fjordholm led the team with her high-score of 9.725 on the uneven bars, the Birds second event of the afternoon. A. Fjordholms score placed her third among all competitors in the event. Tove Fjordholm outperformed all other Illinois State competitors in her floor exercise, carding a 9.650, and claiming fourth place overall on the floor.
Whitney Albright, also a freshman at Illinois State, was also a force for the Redbirds, performing as their only all-arounder. Tying for fifth place with her 9.575 on the floor exercise, Albright scored a 9.200 on the vault, a 9.675 on the bars, and a 9.125 on the beam.
A crowd of 250 were present at Horton Field House to watch Illinois State in their efforts against non-conference foe Ball State. The Redbirds came up short, however, losing to the Cardinals, 191.775-189.075.
Other top competitors for the Redbirds were Pam Hoover and Courtney Johnson on the vault. Both scored a team-high 9.550, securing a second-place tie with Ball-States Jessica Surridge. Senior team captain, Lisa Klein, was Illinois States top finisher on the balance beam, turning in a score of 9.850. Kleins score was just short of Ball States Jenna Tarkington, who scored a 9.900 in a near-flawless performance on the beam. Tarkington went on to take home first place honors in both the beam and the vault (9.600).
Ball State led through all four events, carding a team-score of 47.550 on the vault, a 47,275 on the uneven bars, a 47.900 on the floor, and rounded out their win with a high 49.050 on the balance beam. Illinois State trailed the Cardinals throughout the meet, but turned in a high score of 48.075 on the beam. Their other scores were 46.900 on the vault, 46.500 on the uneven bars, and a 47.600 on the floor exercise.
The Illinois State Redbirds Gymnastics team returns to action Sunday, January 18, when they travel to Mt. Pleasant, Mich. to take on the Chippewas of Central Michigan.
