Jan. 25, 2008
Final Stats
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo -
The Illinois State gymnastics team performed excellent on three of the four events in Friday's gymnastics meet at Southeast Missouri State, but the balance beam caused several struggles for the team. Illinois State fell to SEMO at the Houck Field House in Cape Girardeau, Mo. The Redhawks outscored the `Birds 192.200-194.050. It was the first loss for the Redbirds (2-1).
Head coach Bob Conkling feels that his team performed excellent on the vault, uneven bars and floor routine, but the gymnasts are still experiencing difficulty on the balance beam. They have kept their consistency on the vault, uneven bars and floor routine, but they can not get confidence they need to perform their balance beam routines.
"The team did fantastic on the (uneven) bars, vault and floor tonight," said Conkling. "When we got to the (balance) beam, we fell off the beam. The first few girls on the balance beam fell off during their routines. It is not a lack of ability, but a mental problem that we need to work on."
Junior co-captain Meaghan Koshman tied for first place on the vault event and tied her career best with a score of 9.850. It was her second 9.850 score on the vault this season. The Redbirds scored a 48.325 on the vault, falling short to SEMO's score of 48.725.
Senior co-captain Amanda Candler and freshman Erica Schick both finished with a score of 9.775 on the uneven bars. They were two gymnasts in a four way tie for first place in the event. The Redbirds outscored the Redhawks on the uneven bars with a score of 48.675-48.450. It would be the only event the team would win.
The gymnasts' transition from the uneven bars to the balance beam was not a smooth one. After competing well on the uneven bars, the Redbirds moved to the balance beam where they struggled to perform their routines. As a team, the `Birds scored 46.775 to SEMO's 48.225. Freshman Hannah Deutsch was Illinois State's strongest competitor on the balance beam placing third with a score of 9.775.
The Redbirds regained their confidence on the last event, the floor routine. The team scored a 48.425 on the event. The freshmen duo of Deutsch and Schick stepped up their routines and each finished their routines with a score of 9.800
Koshman did not win the all-around event for the first time this season. She scored a 38.700 on the all-around while Schick scored a 38.450 in the event. Two SEMO gymnasts took first and second place.
Illinois State will travel to Shreveport, La. on Friday Feb. 1 to compete against Centenary. The meet is set to begin at 7 p.m.