Julia Abel Director of Gymnastics Operations | University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics Website
Julia Abel Director of Gymnastics Operations | University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics Website
The Fighting Illini gymnastics team is set to compete in the NCAA Regionals, continuing their streak of 21 consecutive appearances at this stage of the competition. Illinois, with a record of 9-12 for the season, will face UC Davis on April 3 at the Alaska Airlines Arena in Seattle. Success in this match will advance them to compete against Oklahoma, Auburn, and Nebraska.
Key individual performers for Illinois include Arielle Ward, Olivia Coppola, Makayla Green, and Chloe Cho. Ward will compete on the vault, Coppola on beam, Green on the uneven bars, and Cho in the all-around. Coach Nadalie Walsh has been recognized for her contributions to women's sports with the inaugural Game Changer for Women in Sports Leadership Award.
Their opponents, UC Davis Aggies, finished second in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championships, with Amelia Moneymaker and Megan Ray delivering strong performances. Oklahoma, another formidable competitor, had a runner-up finish in the SEC Championships, with notable displays by Elle Mueller, Kiera Wells, and Faith Torrez. Auburn, also in the mix, tied for seventh place in the SEC Championship. Nebraska, familiar competition for Illinois, secured ninth place at the Big Ten Championships.
In the previous year's NCAA Regionals, Illinois advanced to the second round after a narrow victory against Ball State, ultimately placing third in their grouping against Oklahoma and other teams.
The competition schedule includes Round 1 against UC Davis on April 3, followed by a matchup on April 4 involving Oklahoma, Auburn, and Nebraska, should they proceed.
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