March 11, 2008
Final Stats
NORMAL, Ill. -
The Illinois State gymnastics team (8-4) performed well on three of the four events, but when the gymnasts performed their balance beam routines, mistakes were a factor in the final score. The Redbirds fell to Illinois-Chicago (2-10) by a score of 192.150-193.625, at Horton Field House.
The Redbirds began the night on the vault. Junior co-captain Meaghan Koshman won the event with a score of 9.850, while freshman Hannah Deutsch placed fifth with a 9.675. ISU had a team vault score of 48.100.
On the uneven bars, the Redbirds continued to gain momentum as junior Mary Hankosky tied for third with a score of 9.725. Illinois State recorded a team score of 48.350.
In its next event, the balance beam, ISU was unable to maintain its consistency. As a team, the Redbirds had their lowest event score of the night with a 47.150. However, two gymnasts were successful on the event. Sophomore Jessica Prousa won the event with a 9.775, while Deutsch took second with a 9.750.
Head coach Bob Conkling feels that once his team regains their confidence they will be successful on the balance beam.
"It is one of the team's best events," said Conkling. "It is a matter of getting the gymnasts confident in their routines. The team needs to work on its confidence level and figure that out."
The `Birds were able to regain their consistency on their final event, the floor routine. Deutsch and Koshman tied for second on the event with a score of 9.775. The team's floor score was its strongest score of the night. The Redbirds scored a 48.550.
ISU had three all-around gymnasts competing in the meet. Koshman finished second in the all-around with a total score of 38.575. Freshmen Robin Weissman and Erica Schick were the other two all-around gymnasts for the Redbirds. Weissman scored a 37.925, while Schick scored a 37.625.
The Redbirds have a short break before their next competition. ISU will compete at the State Meet on Saturday, March 22, 2008. The competition will be hosted by the University of Illinois and held at Champaign, Ill. The first routines are set to begin at 2 p.m.
