Under the direction and guidance of first-year head coach Kristin Montero, the Illinois State gymnastics team starts its season Sunday afternoon, as they host Ball State for their season opener.
The meet is slated to start at 2 p.m. at Horton Field House on the Illinois State University campus. The meet will be conducted in a standard manner with four events: vault, balance beam, uneven bars, and floor exercise.
Anxious for her first collegiate competition, Montero is anticipating Sundays meet with high expectations.
We are eager to get our season underway, said Montero. The team has been giving 100% both physically and mentally in preparation, and I feel they are up to the challenge. It will certainly be nice to have our first meet under our belt after months of training and practice.
Despite coming off a 5-16 season and losing a senior class stacked with talent, the returning Redbirds and incoming freshman are full of gym experience and enthusiasm for the upcoming season. Led by senior gymnast, and team captain, Lisa Klein, the Birds have 13 returning letterwinners and boast a recruiting class of three top-notch freshman.
Klein was the only returning member of this years squad to have qualified for NCAA regionals last season. Participating as an individual on the beam, she finished 15th with a score of 9.75. Klein also holds the beam record at Illinois State at 9.95. Additionally, her name is in the record books for her high floor exercise score of 9.9. Kleins collegiate experience and record-breaking success will lead the Redbird charge in Sundays meet.
Montero is looking to her seniors to provide leadership and support to the rookie Redbirds.
We are really looking to build off of each competition, and improve as a whole unit as the season progresses, Montero said. The veteran redbirds will set a great example for the more inexperienced competitors.
