Chambana Sun

Illinois women's gymnastics team is preparing to compete in the Big Ten Championships at Jenison Field House in East Lansing, Michigan. The event is scheduled for Saturday at 11 a.m. CT, and Illinois will face off against teams from Iowa, Penn State, Nebraska, and Rutgers.

Iowa enters the competition following a third-place finish with a score of 196.525 at the Kidney Care Women's Gymnastics Championship in Nashville on March 16. In that meet, Karina Muñoz excelled by securing second place on vault (9.900), bars (9.925), beam (9.925), and in the all-around category (39.575).

Nebraska recently competed against No. 12 Arkansas and was narrowly defeated with scores of 198.100 to 197.375 in their first dual meet since February 17 when they had previously beaten No. 24 Penn State at home. Emma Spence emerged as the sole event winner for Nebraska during this matchup by claiming the all-around title with a score of 39.650.

Penn State and Rutgers both participated in a quad meet alongside George Washington and No. 25 Towson prior to this championship event. Penn State won the meet with a score of 196.875 while Rutgers followed closely behind with a score of 196.825, surpassing host George Washington's score of 196.600 and Towson's score of 196.575.

Rutgers' Emily Leese achieved victory on vault scoring a 9.925 while Avery Balser took first place on bars scoring a remarkable 9.950 for her team as well as contributing significantly towards their overall success during this recent quad meet performance where Penn State’s Amani Herring claimed top honors on beam (9.925) along with floor exercise (9:950). Her teammate Ava Piedrahita secured an impressive win capturing all-around champion status posting high marks reaching up till totaling around figure hovering near mark positioned at about total numerical value estimated approximately equating close number equaling thirty-nine point three seventy-five."