BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – The 2023 Midwest Independent Conference champion Illinois State gymnastics team picked up right where it left off from last season in the 2024 season opener, as the Redbirds posted three event scores over 49 to cruise to a 195.950-192.975 victory at Bowling Green on Sunday at the Stroh Center.
The 195.950 final is the fourth-highest score in program history and is higher than any regular-season score from 2023, only bested by the program record score of 196.375 set at the 2023 MIC Championship meet. That mark is also the highest season-opening score in program history.
Scoring Breakdown:
• Vault: ISU 49.025, BGSU 48.600
• Bars: ISU 48.725, BGSU 48.575
• Beam: ISU 49.175, BGSU 48.475
• Floor: ISU 49.025, BGSU 47.325
Thoughts from Coach Bob Conkling:
"Our team put in the hard work throughout the entire offseason, and it paid off in a big way today. We are so proud of them and how they handled themselves throughout the entire meet. We cannot wait for our home meet on Friday and perform in front of our fans in what should be a competitive quad meet at CEFCU Arena."
Team Notes:
• The Redbirds posted a solid score of 48.725 to get things started on vault, while the Falcons went 48.600 on vault in the first rotation.
• ISU maintained its lead with a stellar team score of 49.025, with three scores of 9.800 or above, as BGSU scored a 48.575 on its bars rotation.
• The floor was kind to the Redbirds as well, as the team posted a 49.025 for the second time of the meet to increase its lead after three rotations to 146.775 to 145.650.
• The fourth and final rotation cemented things for the Redbirds, as the went big on beam with a 49.175 (tied for seventh best score in school history) to run away with the victory over the Falcons.
Gymnast Notes:
• Jaye Mack and Angelica Labat tied for the win on the vault with matching scores of 9.875, while Alana Laster tied for third with a 9.800.
• Julia Heiner and Labat tied for second on bars with scores of 9.800, with teammate Madison Kipp right behind in fourth with a 9.775 and newcomer Reese Grolla in fifth with a 9.750.
• On floor, it was two-time defending MIC champion Mack back at it winning the event with her first 9.900 score of the season, followed by Kaitlyn Donovan and Nirel Bart-Williams in a tie for third with scores of 9.825.
• Bart-Williams took home the win on beam with a career-high score of 9.900, as Mya Robinson and Leah Davis tied for second with matching scores of 9.850 and freshman Ally Lau came in fourth with a score of 9.825.
• In the all-around, Bart-Williams was the top finisher for the Redbirds as she scored a 39.025 to place second overall followed by Robinson in third with a 38.750 in her first career all-around competition.
Up Next:
The Redbirds return home next Friday, January 12, to host their first home meet of the season when they welcome in Central Michigan, Greenville and MIC foe TWU to CEFCU Arena. The meet is set to begin at 6 p.m. and is free to the public.
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