Feb. 20, 2014
NORMAL, Ill. - The Illinois State gymnastics team hosts the annual Illinois Classic Friday, Feb. 21 at 7:00 p.m. in Horton Field House. The meet will include gymnasts from Illinois, Illinois-Chicago, Northern Illinois and Illinois State.
After a good week of training and improvement, head coach Bob Conkling is excited to participate in a meet that features four competitive universities in the state.
"The Illinois Classic is a meet that we look forward to every year," Conkling said. "All four universities show a very high level of gymnastics and it is always an exciting meet to watch. The team has continued to progress this week and we are looking to continue to improve our consistency again at this meet."
The Redbirds are looking to rebound after taking third place last weekend at a tri-meet with Lindenwood and Missouri. Sophomore Sarah Fisher led the way for the team by taking third place in the all-around competition with a score of 37.075. Junior Sami King recorded a season-best 9.825 on the balance beam to take second place in the event and senior Jenna Bossle posted a season-high of her own on the beam with a score of 9.500.
Illinois is coming off a close 196.675-196.500 loss to Penn State, despite posting a season-high team score. Senior Sarah Fiedler led the way for the Illini by placing fourth in the all-around competition with a career-high 39.200, while sophomore Giana O'Connor took sixth place with a score of 39.125.
UIC is looking to build off a 193.175-193.100 victory over Texas's Woman's last Friday night at the Physical Education Building. Senior Catherine Dion and sophomores Alexandra Vedenin and Kerensa Mitchell finished with the Flames' best scores, with Dion and Vedenin taking first-place on two events.
Last weekend, Northern Illinois recorded a season-high team score of 193.825 on their way to a second place finish in a quad meet involving Texas Woman's, Iowa State and Wisconsin-Whitewater. The Huskies were led by senior Kim Gotlund, who won the all-around competition with a score of 38.750.
Following Friday's meet, the Redbirds will stay at home to host Penn and honor four seniors on Saturday, March 1 at 4:00 p.m. in Horton Field House.
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