March 9, 2005
NORMAL, Ill. -
At the final home meet of the season, the Illinois State gymnastics team posted its season-high team score of the year in a 194.225-190.900 conference loss to the Flames of Illinois-Chicago. Seniors Nicole Bishop, Erin Cunningham, Courtney Johnson and Kelly Noonan were also honored at the meet.
The team's overall score bested the previous total of 190.275, carded on Jan. 21 at Ball State. Contributing to this season-high total was an additional team best on the uneven bars, 47.850.
All four departing seniors played a part in Wednesday's performance. Cunningham competed on the bars, fighting injury and turning in an 8.600. Competing for the first time this season, Bishop participated on the balance beam. She scored an 8.925 in exhibition for the beam team. Johnson, a senior co-captain, contributed on the vault, as well as on the floor. Her vault score of 9.375 placed her sixth among all competitors; while her floor total of 9.625 tied Johnson for seventh place overall. Noonan posted a season-high score on the balance beam, 9.675, to tie for sixth place.
Illinois State head coach Kristin Montero had much to say about the departing group.
"Those girls did a magnificent job of representing our team tonight," said Montero. "I'm really proud of them. Erin was hurt and came back and vaulted so that was great to have her back in the lineup. Courtney had an awesome vault and also a great floor routine. Nicole competed for the first time, which was really exciting and Kelly did the same routine she has been doing. I think with this only being my second year it is harder to say goodbye to the classes that are leaving because they have been learning with me. They were here when I was first getting to know everyone and getting to know how to be a head coach. It's really hard to let them go."
While the senior squad made their marks on their final home competition, it was the sophomore class who led the Illinois State team. Sophomore `Bird Carolina Posada carded a 9.525 on the vault, claiming fifth place. Fellow Redbird Whitney Albright also placed fifth on the uneven bars with a score of 9.675. Finally, the sophomore Fjordholm twins, Anne and Tove, led on beam and floor. Anne Fjordholm scored a 9.700 on the beam, taking fifth, while Tove Fjordholm tied for second on the floor with a 9.750. Each of these scores were the highest for the team in each event.
Montero was proud of her team's performance, citing an attitude change in her gymnasts.
"I think we really need this right now," Montero said. "I think mentally everyone is just in a better place. They have finally realized we are ready to make a change. We have nothing to lose and a lot to prove at this point. The team just relaxed and they did gymnastics because they think its fun, they want to support their teammates and they know that they are good at it...we began to look at it from a different perspective."
The Redbird gymnasts travel to East Lansing, Mich., Saturday, for a triangular meet with Michigan State and Illinois-Chicago. The tri-team meet will begin at 2 p.m. Montero believes the attitude change will impact the team's upcoming performances.
"The next couple meets we can really prove ourselves," said Montero. "No one is really expecting much because we have had a lot of ups and downs this season. I think our performance tonight is really going to help us."
