March 15, 2006
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -
State if Illinois Classic in PDF Format
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The No. 24 Fighting Illini women's gymnastics team (7-4) travels to Normal, Ill. for the State of Illinois Classic on Saturday, March 18 beginning at 7 p.m. Illinois is coming off a victory over No. 26 Michigan State (194.275-193.775) that improved its Regional Qualifying Score to 194.060. The state's other three Division I gym programs will compete in this weekend's Classic, No. 37 Illinois-Chicago, No. 45 Northern Illinois and No. 56 Illinois State.
Last Year At The Classic
The 2005 State of Illinois Classic saw the Illini finish second with a score of 194.000. UIC won the competition by posting a team score of 195.250. Northern Illinois and Illinois State finished with scores of 192.750 and 191.250 to place third and fourth, respectively.
Tracking the Huskies
The Orange and Blue traveled to Northern Illinois on Jan. 29 to compete in a triangular event that included Central Michigan. The Illini ran away with the meet with a score of 192.825. The Huskies finished third with a score of 190.450. Since then, the Huskies have gone 1-9 with their lone win coming over Bowling Green with a score of 190.850. The Huskies top score of the season came in a loss to Michigan State by a score of 196.250-194.800. Northern Illinois is currently ranked 45th with an RQS of 192.065
Redbird Watching
The Redbirds and Illini met in Champaign a week after Illinois traveled to Dekalb to face NIU. Illinois defeated ISU by a score of 194.175-187.875. Since their meeting, the Redbirds have gone 1-4 with their season-best score of 191.650 coming in a loss to UIC. ISU is currently ranked 56th with an RQS of 188.985.
Following the Flames
Illinois defeated UIC three weeks ago in Chicago by a score of 195.300-190.775. The score is the best mark the Illini have put up so far this season. The Flames (7-8) are coming off a loss to No.14 Auburn by a score of 193.125-192.625. UIC's best score of the season came on Feb. 11 versus Southeast Missouri when they put up a score of 194.200. The Flames are currently ranked No. 37 with an RQS of 192.745.
Staying Steady
Illinois' score of 194.275 last week against Michigan State improved their RQS from 193.685 to 194.060. Buckeyes. The Orange and Blue remain at the No. 24 position in March 13 Gyminfo rankings. RQS, which stands for regional qualifying score, takes a team's top six scores, at least three of which must be road scores, throws out the high and averages the remaining five.
Dinged Up Danye
After posting two event titles in last week's meet against Michigan State, junior Danye Botterman will be sidelined this week with an ankle injury she suffered in practice. The junior won her two titles last weekend on vault (9.750) and floor (9.825). Along with her pair of titles, Botterman placed second on bars with a score of 9.800.
Injury Report
After an impressive start to her sophomore season that included seven individual event titles, Michelle McGrady was sidelined for the remainder of the season two weeks ago with a stress fracture in her left leg. Fellow sophomore Krystal Melcarek is battling a similar injury, however will compete on bars this week in Normal, Ill. After this weekend's meet, Melcarek will be reevaluated to determine whether or not she can return to her normal routine for the conference championships.
Flooring the Competition
Illinois ran away with the floor competition last weekend against Michigan State as they posted a 48.925, their best floor score of the season. The Illini swept the top five spots with junior Danye Botterman winning the event title (9.825), senior Katie Wild and freshman Julie Crall tying for second with 9.800s and junior Cara Pomeroy and freshman Marijka Botterman each recording 9.750s.
Another One For Pomeroy
Ottawa, Ontario native, junior Cara Pomeroy recorded her 10th individual title of the season last week vs. Michigan State (sixth on bars) with a score of 9.875. Pomeroy, who is the only gymnast in Illinois history to record a perfect 10 (bars in 2004), currently ranks 13th on bars and on beam in the South Central Region. She has won 31 career event titles, 21 on bars.
Magnificent Marijka
After recording the first all-around title of her career on March 4 at Ohio State (38.700), freshman Marijka Botterman topped her mark by recording a 38.850 to win the all-around title last week against Michigan State. Along with her first-place all-around title, Botterman recorded two new personal-best scores on bars (9.775) and floor (9.750).
Coach Starkell on the State of Illinois Classic
"When the Illinois State Championship is on the line each school is trying to out do everyone else. It's kind of like our "Bragging Rights" game. We are trying not to overlook anybody and we pay close attention to what we are doing because it is more of a championship format with four teams going at one time. It helps us get mentally prepared for the championship season."
Up Next
After this weekend's competition in Normal, Ill., Illinois will travel to East Lansing, Michigan for the Big Ten Championships beginning Saturday, March 25 at 6 p.m. ET/5 p.m. CT.
