Feb. 20, 2009
NORMAL, Ill. -
The Illinois State gymnastics team (5-7) will return home Sunday to host UW- La Crosse (6-3) at the annual alumni meet. The non-conference contest is set to begin at 2 p.m. in Horton Field House.
The meet marks the second time the Redbirds will face UW-La Crosse. The last time the two teams met was on Feb. 6, when the Redbirds defeated the Eagles, 189.200-183.325.
Head coach Bob Conkling is looking to go into this meet with confidence after hitting 24-of-24 events at Southeast Missouri State last week. He believes that the girls are capable of hitting every event again this week against UW- La Crosse.
"We are excited to compete against La Crosse this week," said Conkling. "The team really enjoys competing against them plus their coach and student-athletes are great. Since this is the second time we have competed against them we know what to expect. La Crosse is one of the best Division III schools in the country so anything can happen. We are going into this meet hoping to hit every event and come out with another 24-for-24, which is our goal every time we compete."
The Redbirds competed last Friday at SEMO, and even though the they lost they posted a score of 193.775, their highest team total of the season.
Sophomore Hannah Deutsch was the only Redbird to win an event during Friday's competition. Deutsch scored a 9.800 on the balance beam. Senior Meaghan Koshman, junior Jessica Prousa, and freshman Melissa Mann were the only other Redbirds to place in the top-three. Koshman tied for third on the vault with a 9.750, while Prousa and Mann placed third on the uneven bars and balance beam with a 9.750 and a 9.725, respectively.
The gymnasts are expecting a few line-up changes for Sunday's meet due to minor injuries. Prousa still has a few stitches in her foot, but Conkling believes she will be with enough to perform on the uneven bars, and sophomore Robin Weissman is looking to make a possible comeback from her shoulder injury.
Illinois State's Gamma Phi Circus will be performing at the conclusion of the meet while scores are being tabulated.
