NORMAL, Ill. – In its final home meet of the season, the Illinois State gymnastics team sent its seniors out in style by posting their second-best team score of the season in the tri-meet with No. 8 Michigan State and Lindenwood on Saturday afternoon at CEFCU Arena on Senior Day.
Scoring Breakdown:
• #8 Michigan State: 197.050
• Illinois State: 195.975
• Lindenwood: 195.825
Thoughts From Head Coach Bob Conkling:
"I'm proud of our team and how we held it together today. We started out so strong on vault, and then were shaky on bars and didn't do our job over there like we can do. Then we did well on beam and floor to finish out. They held it together the entire competition and came out with their second-highest team score of the year. With it being senior night and having the No. 8 team in the country here in the building, I think they did great."
Team Notes:
• The Redbirds went big on vault to start the meet, scoring a 49.225 to post their second-best score on the event this season and trailed the Spartans by a slim margin after the first rotation.
• The second rotation was not as kind to the Redbirds, as they scored a 48.475 on bars to fall behind both Michigan State and Lindenwood halfway through the meet.
• ISU bounced back in rotation No. 3, scoring 49.100 on beam to climb back higher in the team standings heading into the final even of the day.
• The Redbirds closed things out on floor, getting five scores of over 9.825 to score 49.175 and climb into second place in the standings behind the Spartans.
Gymnast Notes:
• In her final home meet, senior Madison Kipp set a career-high on beam with a 9.925 to tie for first place overall, with teammate Mya Robinson just behind in third place with a 9.900.
• Jaye Mack tied her season high on vault with a 9.900 to lead the way for the Redbirds in a tie for third place on the event.
• Sara Wabi was the top scorer for the Redbirds on bars, finishing fourth overall with a score of 9.825.
• Wabi and Leah Davis led the way for ISU on floor with matching scores of 9.850 to tie for fifth place.
• Senior Angelica Labat went 39.100 in the all-around to finish in fourth place overall.
Up Next:
The Redbirds head to St. Charles, Missouri, next Saturday, March 23, to compete at the 2024 MIC Championship hosted by Lindenwood. The meet is scheduled to being at 5 p.m. CT at Robert F. Hyland Arena.
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