After setting its highest team score of the season on Friday, the Illinois State gymnastics team was confident going into Sunday afternoons meet against conference rival, Southeast Missouri State. This confidence resulted in an outstanding performance by the Birds, as they bested Fridays score, posting a season-high score of 193.975.
Their score, however, wasnt enough to give the Redbirds a win, as the team logged its second loss of the season to SEMO, 194.850-193.975.
The Redbirds carded their highest vault score of the season, as all contributing gymnasts posted season-high scores. Erin Cunningham, in only her second vault performance of the season, turned in a 9.500. Amy Biedenharn carded a season-high 9.700. Three other Redbirds contributed their season-high vault scores as well. Senior Pam Hoover scored a 9.750, freshman all-arounder Whitney Albright carded a 9.675 and Lindsay Klinefelter, also a senior, turned in a 9.450.
Illinois State head coach Kristin Montero was impressed with the teams consistency in scoring.
We hit 24 for 24 in terms of routines today, said Montero. Every girl hit her routine and that built our confidence as a whole. Everything was so big on vault today which resulted in our high score. Every girl pulled together and their performance displayed that. I am really proud of the girls.
Albright, Illinois States lone all-around competitor, had her highest all-around score of the season Sunday, as she scored a 38.600 through four events.
Additionally, the Birds bested all other floor exercise scores of the season. Led by senior captain, Lisa Klien (9.825), Illinois State posted a 48.800 in the event. Biedenharn scored a 9.775 with her routine, for her highest floor of the season. Teammate Anne Fjordholm also carded her best score of the season in the event, a 9.750.
Montero believes that her team has gotten over the mid-season hump, with their best gymnastics yet to come.
I think weve gotten to a point now where it is just easier, Montero said. We have been trying to focus on simply having fun and doing our absolute best. I have been stressing tot he girls that we dont just want to hit the sets, we want to perform to the best of our ability.
Our performance in the two meets this weekend has really boosted our confidence as we go into the final stretch of our season, Montero continued. I feel that we will continue to best our previous scores.
The Redbird gymnasts vault back into action Saturday, March 6, when they travel to Missouri to compete in the Corvette Cup. The meet, which features squads from Centenary, Illinois, Northern Illinois and Missouri, is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. on the campus of the University of Missouri in Colombia.
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