March 19, 2000

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- University of Illinois women's gymnastics team took sixth place at the Big Ten Championships in State College, Pa., Saturday night, finishing with a 193.750. Michigan, the defending conference champions, won the meet with a score of 197.850.

Placing sixth with a score of 39.20 was junior Phaedra Dixon, also tying her career-best on beam with a 9.775. Sophomore Michele Mesik tied her season-best on floor with a 9.725 and junior Carissa Erikson also set a season best with a 9.85 on floor.

The Illini set a team season-high on the uneven bars with a 49.050, coming five hundredths short of a school record. Three gymnasts set career-bests on bars: Gena Gruss (9.825), Jana Gallagher (9.80) and Karen Hawley (9.85).

"We had a great meet, but fell apart a little on beam," head coach Bob Starkell said. "You can't ask for much better than from a team."

The team will learn of their destiny for the NCAA Region V competition early next week which is scheduled to take place in Tucson, Ariz., on April 1.

Big Ten Championships