Feb. 6, 2004
Results
Muncie, Ind. - The Illinois women's gymnastics team took third place Friday in a triangular event with Bowling Green and Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. Bowling Green won the event with a score of 193.475, edging out Ball State with 193.425, and Illinois' score of 192.975. The Illini won the balance beam (48.750), as well as the vault (48.625) --- that vault score tied the fifth best performance in school history.
"It's disappointing, we didn't score what we hoped," said UI Head coach Bob Starkell. "We improved in our weak events, the beam and vault, and struggled on the floor, but we were still leading going into the final rotation. We just had an off night on the bars and hopefully we'll bounce back and use this as motivation for our upcoming meet against a good Iowa State team. It was a close meet, and if we would have had one less fall on the bars, we could have won."
Freshman Cara Pomeroy brought home the only Illini victory, with a score of 9.875 on the uneven bars. Lauren Newcomb placed fifth on the vault with a score of 9.725, and tied for third place on the balance beam with a new career high of 9.800. Freshman Danye Botterman finished second on the vault with a score of 9.8. Katie Wild finished in a tie for third place on the balance beam with a score of 9.8. Co-captain Ashley Williams garnered third place on the vault with a score of 9.775, and a tie for fifth place on the floor exercise with a score of 9.750. Co-captain Kara Kapernekas scored a 9.750 on the bars, which was good for a tie for third place.
"Our freshmen did very well. Danye Botterman had another good vault. Cara Pomeroy had great bars, but slipped on the beam. Ashley Williams and Lauren Newcomb had good meets going until the bars. Those two have been putting in great all-arounds for us."
Up Next: Illinois returns to the friendly confines of Huff Hall next weekend, when they face #5 Iowa State at Huff Hall on Valentine's Day at 7 p.m. The #3 Illini men will also be taking part in the double dual. The men will be taking on #13 Temple.
Illinois at Cardinal Classic * February 6, 2004 * Irving Gym, Muncie, Ind.
Team Results
Bowling Green 193.475
Ball State 193.425
Illinois 192.975
Illinois Results (and event winners)
Vault
1. Melissa Popovich - BGSU 9.875
2. Danye Botterman 9.800
3. Ashley Williams 9.775
5. Lauren Newcomb 9.725
6t. Melissa Singer 9.675
9t. Kim Kirzow 9.650
11t. Jessica Cole 9.625
Bars
1. Cara Pomeroy 9.875
3t. Kara Kapernekas 9.750
13t. Ashley Williams 9.350
16t. Emily Earle 9.050
16t. Lauren Newcomb 9.050
18. Kim Kirzow 8.900
Beam
1. Melissa Popovich - BGSU 9.850
3t. Lauren Newcomb 9.800
3t. Katie Wild 9.800
6t. Kara Kapernekas 9.775
10. Margaret Dann 9.700
11. Ashley Williams 9.675
17. Cara Pomeroy 9.300
Floor
1. Melissa Popovich - BGSU 9.850
5t. Ashley Williams 9.750
7t. Lauren Newcomb 9.725
7t. Katie Wild 9.725
10t. Danye Botterman 9.675
14. Sara Dumich 9.650
18. Kara Kapernekas 8.4
All-Around
1. Melissa Popovich - BGSU 39.275
3. Ashley Williams 38.550
5. Lauren Newcomb 38.300
