March 26, 2005
Results
IOWA CITY, Iowa. - The Fighting Illini women's gymnastics team traveled to Iowa City, Iowa this weekend to compete at the 2005 Big Ten Championships, hosted by the University of Iowa. Seventh-ranked Michigan garnered their 14th conference title with a score of 196.250, followed by No. 11 Penn State (196.125) and No. 22 Minnesota taking third with a score of 195.375. Illinois finished in fifth place with a score of 193.725.
The Illini, ranked No. 33 nationally with a record of 17-5 overall and 2-2 in conference competition, were in great position to improve on last season's sixth place finish. Led by All-Big Ten selections Cara Pomeroy (First-Team), Kara Kapernekas (Second-Team) and Lauren Newcomb (Second-Team), the Orange and Blue did just that while defeating meet host Iowa who beat Illinois earlier this season.
At the start of the competition, Illinois got off to a shaky start on bars, where the team posted a 48.000. Pomeroy lead the squad, scoring a 9.875 to tie for fourth. Freshman Krystal Melcarek and sophomore Danye Botterman also contributed solid routines, both scoring a 9.625.
After receiving a bye during the second rotation, the Illini were back in action on beam, where the lineup started out strong. However, as Illinois' final beam competitor, Kapernekas took a dangerous fall during her tumbling pass. Despite the mishap, the Westchester, Ill. native was able to finish strong while the rest of the Illini beam squad delivered solid performances, paced by Pomeroy's fifth place finish of 9.850, Williams with 9.775 and Wild, who notched a 9.700.
Wild maintained her momentum from beam into the third rotation, where she led the Illini with a score of 9.725 on floor. Botterman and senior Sara Dumich followed with scores of 9.700 each.
With their last rotation taking the Fighting Illini to vault, Illinois delivered a spectacular performance to seal their fifth place team finish. Newcomb and Dann paced Illinois with scores of 9.800, followed by rookie Michelle McGrady with 9.750.
In the all-around, Newcomb led the Illini charge with a score of 38.650. Williams took 12th place with 38.375.
Illinois would not go home empty-handed as head coach Bob Starkell was named the 2005 Big Ten Coach of the Year. In a vote by his fellow Big Ten head coaches, Starkell garnered his first conference coach of the year accolade in his sixth year at the helm of the Illini program.
Starkell Named Big Ten Coach of the Year
Fighting Illini head coach Bob Starkell was named Big Ten Coach of the Year, announced Saturday by the conference office. Each year the conference awards one coach with the accolades as it is determined in a vote by the conference head coaches. The honor is the first for the Illini head coach, who is in his sixth year at the helm of the UI program.
After enjoying a 2004 season where Starkell coached his squad to a national ranking of No. 22 and lead both sophomore Cara Pomeroy and senior Ashley Williams to NCAA Nationals, Starkell continued to produce a high quality team this season that boast three All-Big Ten selections.
Complete meet results can be found at www.fightingillini.com.
Team Results
1. Michigan 196.250
2. Penn State 196.125
3. Minnesota 195.375
4. Michigan State 193.775
5. Illinois 193.725
6. Iowa 193.000
7. Ohio State 192.875
Event Winners
Vault
Katie Lieberman, MICH 9.900
Jenny Deiley, MICH 9.900
Bars
Kristal Uzelac, PSU 9.925
Beam
Kristal Uzelac, PSU 9.950
Floor
Becca Clauson, MICH 9.850
Carolyn Yernberg, MINN 9.850
Kate Stopper, PSU 9.850
All-Around
Elise Ray, MICH 39.500
