Schedule 

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois women's gymnastics program announced the 2018 competition schedule on Tuesday afternoon. UI will host five home events, highlighted by the 2018 Big Ten Championships at the State Farm Center on March 24.

 "The transition of taking over the University of Illinois's women's gymnastics program has been incredible," said head coach Nadalie Walsh.  "The team has been passionately receptive to being held to the highest expectations and is loving this journey of excellence at the same time.  I am really looking forward to our 2018 competition schedule, where I get to proudly watch the team collect the fruits of their labor. I believe our schedule has a good balance between Big Ten institutions as well as some challenging non- conference opponents.  I know the team is excited about heading to Georgia for the ELEVATE Invitational, which will be hosted on the podium.  Competing the podium is exactly what I wanted for this program. We will be one step closer and more prepared for contending for a spot at the NCAA National Championships." 

"Each of our home meets will be designated to reach out to the community in a new and exciting way.  We are going to be honoring veterans, cancer survivors, partnering with the Greek and International organizations on campus, as well as, recognizing the many alumnae who have already invested many years of success to this program. I hope that the community will be as eager to come out and support these incredible athletes as we are to make them proud of their Fighting Illini gymnastics program."

Saturday, January 13 | at Rutgers | Piscataway, New Jersey

• Illinois has won three-straight regular season meets against Rutgers. The Orange and Blue topped Rutgers 195.900-191.125 at the Illinois Quad Meet in 2017.

Friday, January 19 | Michigan | Huff Hall

• UI will take on the Wolverines for the first time since the 2017 Big Ten Championships, where the Illini took second place.

Saturday, January 27 | at Penn State | State College, Pennsylvania

• The Illini have won three-straight regular season meets against Penn State. The Lady Lions also have a first-year Big Ten coach in Sarah Shire Brown.

Friday, February 2 | Iowa | Huff Hall

• UI hosted the Hawkeyes in the 2017 NCAA Champaign Regional.

Friday, February 9 | at Minnesota | Minneapolis, Minnesota

• Illinois eclipsed the 196.000 mark for the first time in 2017 in their 196.025-193.250 win over the Golden Gophers.

Saturday, February 17 | at Michigan State | East Lansing, Michigan

• The Orange and Blue have defeated or tied Michigan State in each of the past eight regular season contests.
• UI hit the program's third-highest team beam score (49.375) against Michigan State last season.

Sunday, February 25 | Missouri | Huff Hall

• UI opened the 2017 season against the Missouri Tigers with a team score of 194.200.
• The meet marks the first time the Tigers have travelled to Champaign since the 2010 season.

Friday, March 2 | ELEVATE Invitational (Georgia, Nebraska, Stanford) | Augusta, Georgia

• The event will be featured on podium.
• Illinois has not competed against Georgia during the regular season since 1997.
• UI will take on Stanford in a regular season contest for the first time since 2013.

Sunday, March 4 | Lindenwood and Bowling Green State | Huff Hall

• Illinois concludes the regular season home slate against Lindenwood and Bowling Green State.
• The Illini's second-highest team score in program history (197.100) came against Lindenwood in 2014.

Sunday, March 11 | at State of Illinois Classic | Chicago, Illinois

• Illinois has won 10-straight State of Illinois Classic titles.

Saturday, March 17 | at B1G Five Meet | East Lansing, Michigan

• UI hosted one of the B1G Five Meets in 2017, where the Orange and Blue hit a 196.450, good for second place in the contest.

Saturday, March 24 | Big Ten Championships | State Farm Center

• Illinois hosts the Big Ten Championships for the sixth time in program history (1988, 1991, 1995, 2003, 2009). 2018 will be the first time the event is held in the State Farm Center.
• The Illini placed second at the 2017 Big Ten Championship with a season-best 196.875 team tally, where Lizzy LeDuc and Mary Jane Horth brought home the Big Ten beam and bars titles, respectively.

Saturday, April 7 | at NCAA Regional | Campus Sites

• UI will look to qualify for its 15^th-straight NCAA Regional.
• 2018 campus site locations: Alabama, NC State, Minnesota, Ohio State, Penn State, Utah

April 21-22 | at NCAA Championships | St. Louis, Missouri

• St. Louis hosts the 2018 NCAA Championships for the second-straight year. UI aims to qualify for the NCAA Championships for the first time since 2014.

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