Josh Nilson Associate Head Coach | University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics Website
Josh Nilson Associate Head Coach | University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics Website
The No. 23 ranked Fighting Illini women's gymnastics team secured a victory over Bowling Green with a score of 196.125 to 194.500 at Huff Hall on Sunday afternoon, marking Women's Empowerment Day.
With this win, the Illini improve their season record to 12-9, while Bowling Green's record falls to 4-11. This meet was notable for Illinois as they swept the event wins for the first time this season. Arielle Ward led the way by winning vault with a score of 9.900, floor with a score of 9.875, and all-around with a score of 39.275 in her first competition across all four events.
In other event highlights, Olivia Coppola achieved a career high on vault with a score of 9.850, securing second place in that rotation alongside Mia Takekawa's score of 9.800. On bars, both Mia Takekawa and Amelia Knight earned scores of 9.775 behind Lyden Saltness' leading performance at 9.900.
The beam event saw Mia Townes and Kaitlyn Ewald each scoring 9.825, followed closely by Ward and Knight who scored identical marks of 9.750 each.
On floor exercise, Townes and Alea Byrne posted scores of 9.825 each while Kadyn Fitzgibbon added a solid performance with her score of 9.775.
Looking ahead, Illinois is set to face No. 9 Alabama and No.13 Missouri in an upcoming meet away from home.
"It's going to be great heading down to Alabama and getting some sunshine," head coach Nadalie Walsh said about the upcoming challenge against highly-ranked opponents in front of what promises to be an enthusiastic crowd at Alabama's venue: "It's where these girls belong."
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