Jan. 20, 2011
Illinois vs. Michigan Meet Preview with Bob Conkling
NORMAL, Ill. -
The Illinois State gymnastics team (3-2) will return home to host Eastern Michigan, Central Michigan and Illinois-Chicago Sunday, Jan. 23 at Horton Field House at 2 p.m.
This will be the First Annual Illinois vs. Michigan meet between the four schools, who will rotate hosting the meet each year. The two Illinois teams will combine their scores against the two Michigan teams to see which state is victorious.
Injuries are plaguing the Redbirds, but head coach Bob Conkling is excited to compete against high caliber teams and see where the replacements score.
"I think the team is ready for a good competition, so hopefully this one they will be able to pull it together and hit the majority of the competition," Conkling said.
The `Birds are coming off two competitions in Seattle, Washington last weekend where they took first place in a dual against Seattle Pacific with a score of 189.600 and third place in a quad against Washington, Boise State and Seattle Pacific scoring 188.025
While competing on the West Coast sophomore Tori Sarantakis led the team on vault scoring in the top three at both meets. Senior Erica Schick took first place with a score of 9.775 on the uneven parallel bars against Seattle Pacific and sophomore Kim Genereux competed well in the all-around competition for the Redbirds scoring a career high 37.800.
Conkling is hoping to improve on last weekend's scores despite battling injuries.
"I'm excited because it's going to be good competition," Conkling said. "It will be interesting to see how the replacements do against good competition."
The meet will be streamed live online at Redbird All-Access, Illinois State Athletics' internet multimedia platform. Live meet coverage from Horton Field House begins promptly at 2 p.m.
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