Feb. 25, 2009
NORMAL, Ill. -
The Illinois State gymnastics team (6-8) fell to in-state rival Illinois-Chicago by a score of,193.725-192.400, at Horton Field House. The loss to UIC moves the Redbirds to (0-3) in the Midwest Independent Conference.
Head coach Bob Conkling was pleased with the way the student-athletes stepped-up during Wednesday's meet.
"I can't complain about the way the girls performed tonight," said Conkling. "We have so many girls out right now with illness and injuries, a lot of athletes had to step up. UIC is a very tough team, but not an unbeatable team. The gymnasts have a few days to rest before we travel to Chicago and compete against them again."
The Redbirds started the night out on vault. Senior Meaghan Koshman tied for second in the event with a 9.800, while sophomore Erica Schick placed fifth with a 9.700. Illinois State recorded a total team score of 48.325.
On the uneven bars, the Redbirds were unable to gain momentum. UIC swept the event placing a gymnast in the top-five spots. Schick tied for fifth place with a 9.750. Senior Mary Hankosky wasn't far behind Schick placing in seventh place with a 9.675. ISU had a team bars score of 48.075.
In its next event of the evening, the balance beam, ISU won its first event of the evening. The Redbirds captured the top-three spots for the event with freshman Melissa Mann placing first with a 9.825, Schick placed second with a 9.700, and sophomore Hannah Deutsch tied for third with a 9.600. As a team the Redbirds tallied a 48.225.
Mistakes were a factor in the final event of the night the floor exercise. The Redbirds scored its lowest team score of the night, 47.775. However, Koshman closed out her career, at home, with a tie for first place with a score of 9.800. Deutsch tied for fifth place with a 9.650.
ISU had two all-around gymnasts competing in the meet. Schick placed third in the all-around with a 38.250, while Koshman placed fourth with a 37.925.
The Redbirds will compete against Illinois-Chicago for the second time this week when they travel to Chicago Saturday. The first routines are scheduled to begin at 5 p.m.
