RESULTS
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - In their second meet on the road to start the 2016-17 season, the Illinois State gymnastics team traveled to Bowling Green, Ohio, to take on Bowling Green State. The Falcons won the dual meet with a score of 193.925, followed by the Redbirds with a score of 192.550 thanks to strong effort from freshman Gabrielle Cooke.
"I'm very proud of how we started and ended the meet," ISU head coach Bob Conkling said. "Gabrielle Cooke had a strong meet and Anna Marema was strong on both bars and vault today."
In just her second collegiate meet, Cooke won the all-around competition with a score of 38.800, aided by a score of 9.800 on the beam to finish in a tie for third place. Sophomore Meredith LaRoche placed second overall in the all-around behind her teammate with a score of 38.350. The reigning Midwest Independent Conference Gymnast of the Week had another solid performance in the all-around, thanks to a second-place effort on vault with a score of 9.800.
Marema earned a score of 9.725 with her solid performance on the uneven bars to take second place in the event and she also tied for fifth place on the vault with a 9.725. Demi Pas was an event winner on the evening as well, with the high score of 9.850 on the balance beam.
"The team lost some focus and confidence on vault and especially on floor, but beam was our highest scoring event," Conkling said. "Overall, we looked good but we still need to work on being consistent and confident from the start of the meet to the end."
The Redbirds return to campus to host their home opener at Horton Field House next Sunday, Jan. 29, beginning at 6 p.m. The meet will be streamed live on GoRedbirds.com.
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