March 7, 2009
Complete Results
NORMAN, Okla. -
Facing a top-10 team and a conference opponent with a modified roster, the Illinois State gymnastics team finished in second place with a score of 191.750. Friday night in Norman, Okla. No. 7 Oklahoma won the tri-meet with a 196.125 and Midwest Independent Conference for Texas Women's University placed third with a 191.300. Oklahoma won every event and had at least a share of every individual top-finish.
The Redbirds opened the competition on the vault, posting a score of 48.325. Meaghan Koshman had ISU's top-finish with a 9.825 to place sixth. Robin Wiessman tied for ninth with a score of 9.675 and Erica Schick tied for 11th with a 9.625. Oklahoma posted the top-five scores on the vault, but the Redbirds ha six of the top-16 finishes to come in second place.
Head coach Bob Conkling couldn't be happier with the way his team pushed through all the injuries and illnesses during Friday's meet.
"I am very happy with the team overall," said Conkling. "Having Melissa Mann out with mono hurts us, but the team stepped up and did a good job replacing her. Hannah Meyer had a career-best vault and Koshman, who was competing sick, was the team's top-scorer on floor and vault. We had a little trouble on floor but we came back strong on the other three events."
ISU had three top-10 scores on the bars to remain in second place with a 48.250. Schick tied for third place with a season-best 9.850. Weissman tied for seventh place with a 9.725 and Mary Hankosky came in ninth with a 9.700, which tied her season-high mark. Oklahoma dominated the bars as well, putting six gymnasts in the top-seven.
On the beam, ISU scored a 47.900, the lowest score of any team in the event. Hannah Deutsch had ISU's best performance, scoring a 9.725 to finish fifth. Lisa Mulcheck tied for sixth with a 9.675 and Andrea Orris came in eighth with a 9.650. Oklahoma had the top-four scores to win the event with a 48.625 and TWU posted the second-place score (48.075).
The Redbirds faltered on the floor exercise, posting the lowest score on the event and their lowest of the night with a 47.275. Deutsch and Koshman were ISU's top-finishers with a 9.675, but finished tied for ninth place. Oklahoma once again had the top-four scores to win the event with a 48.850. TWU had two gymnasts tie for fifth to edge past the Redbirds with a 48.075.
Schick and Weissman tied for fourth place in the all-around with a score of 38.125. Emily Matko placed sixth in her first all-around of the season with a 37.200.
The Redbirds will compete in the Illinois State Meet Saturday, March 14, at 5 p.m. in Chicago.
