Feb. 1, 2008
Final Stats
SHREVEPORT, La. -
The Illinois State gymnastics team (3-1) performed its best routine on the balance beam Friday night. The performance helped the Redbirds defeat the Ladies of Centenary College (2-2) with a final score of 192.775-191.825. The win wraps up a three-meet road stretch for the Redbirds.
The Redbirds have been struggling to keep consistency throughout all four events, but Friday night proved to be a change of pace for the team. The gymnasts performed their best balance beam routines to clinch the win. The team finished with a score of 48.750 on the balance beam, its best team score on the event this season. Junior co-captain Meaghan Koshman won the event with an individual score of 9.875, a new record best for the gymnast.
Head coach Bob Conkling feels that his team executed their routines very well. They kept their consistency and did an excellent job on the balance beam.
"We started out on the (uneven) bars and it wasn't one of our best performances this season," said Conkling. "I am proud of how the team came back from that struggle. They did well on the vault and the floor. They ended on the (balance) beam, an event that hadn't been great this season. They did a great job on the beam and finished the meet strong."
The `Birds scored a 48.025 on the vault routine, another event where the team out scored Centenary. Centenary's Meredith Smith won the event with a 9.825. Koshman came in a close second with a score of 9.800.
Tying their best score on the floor this season, the team won the event with a score of 48.425. Koshman won the event with a career best of 9.825, while freshman Hannah Deutsch placed second with a score of 9.800.
The only event the Redbirds did not win was the uneven bars. Centenary scored a 48.150, while Illinois State scored a 47.575.
Freshman Erica Schick won the all-around with a score of 38.675. It is her first collegiate all-around win and her second time participating in the event. Koshman finished second in the all-around with a tally of 38.600. Marisa Schneider from Centenary came in third with a score of 37.750.
Coach Conkling feels that Schick has stepped up in a big way. Her performances are getting the recognition they deserve.
"Erica was steady all the way through tonight's meet," said Conkling. "She deserved to win the all-around tonight. She performed her routines very well and I am very proud of her."
The Redbirds will return home on Fri., Feb. 8, to take on the Rhode Island Rams. The competition is set to begin at 7 p.m. in Horton Field House
