March 24, 2001
ANN ARBOR, Mich.--The Illini continued to struggle on the beam as they took seventh place at the Big Ten Women's Gymnastics Championships. Strong scores on the floor exercise could not lift the Illini above Michigan State. Illinois' final total was a 193.375. Michigan won the team competition with a total of 197.150 followed by Penn State (196.425), Minnesota (195.750), Ohio State (195.425), Iowa (195.400), Michigan State (193.975) and Illinois.
"Overall for how the season has gone with all of the obstacles and injuries the outcome was better than I expected," head coach Bob Starkell said. "I wish we could have performed better. You always want to do that during championship season."
Sophomore Jana Gallagher tied her career high with a 9.850 on the floor exercise. She also put together strong performances on the vault (9.625), bars (9.700) and beam (9.825) to finish sixth in the all-around with a total score of 39.000. Her beam score tied for seventh place in the individual competition, and her floor score tied her for 15th overall. She was the top Illinois finisher in both events.
"Jana had a fabulous day," Starkell said. "It was by far her best meet. I don't think I've seen her do a better floor routine or vault. She was outstanding."
Senior Carissa Ericson led the Illini on the vault. She tied for 18th place with a 9.800. Senior Phaedra Dixon tied for 14th on the parallel bars with a 9.825.
ILLINOIS RESULTS
VAULT
T18 Carissa Ericson 9.800
T30 Michelle Buranich 9.700
T33 Jana Gallagher 9.625
T35 Karen Hawley 9.600
T37 Mina Moradi 9.500
T41 Gina Wiechmann 9.125
BARS
T14 Phaedra Dixon 9.825
T23 Michelle Buranich 9.775
T28 Jana Gallagher 9.700
T28 Gina Wiechmann 9.700
T33 Lisa Pellegrinetti 9.675
42 Karen Hawley 8.625
BEAM
T7 Jana Gallagher 9.825
T22 Lisa Pellegrinetti 9.700
T22 Gina Wiechmann 9.700
T32 Karen Hawley 9.325
41 Carissa Ericson 9.025
42 Phaedra Dixon 8.975
FLOOR
T15 Jana Gallagher 9.850
T18 Lisa Pellegrinetti 9.825
T28 Carissa Ericson 9.750
T28 Gina Wiechmann 9.750
T31 Karen Hawley 9.725
T31 Michele Mesik 9.725
ALL-AROUND
V UB BB FX Total
6 Gallagher 9.625 9.700 9.825 9.850 39.000
10 Wiechmann 9.125 9.700 9.700 9.750 38.275
14 Hawley 9.600 8.625 9.325 9.725 37.275
