2018 NCAA Championships       

Fighting Illini sophomore Rae Balthazor will compete in the all-around competition in the 2018 NCAA Championships in St. Louis on Friday night. Balthazor will rotate with the California Golden Bears. The sophomore begins the meet on a bye before moving to floor. Competition in the second session begins at 6 pm from the Chaifetz Arena. Balthazor qualified for the NCAA Championships with a 39.250 all-around score at the Tuscaloosa Regional on April 7.   

Balthazor Notes 

• Balthazor reset each of her career-high marks during the 2018 season. 
  • Vault: 9.875 at NCAA Tuscaloosa Regional | 4/7/18
  • Bars: 9.950 vs. Lindenwood, BGSU | 3/4/18
  • Beam: 9.900 at B1G Five Meet | 3/17/18 
  • Floor: 9.925 at B1G Five Meet | 3/17/18 
  • All-Around: 39.525 at B1G Five Meet | 3/17/18 
• The Boulder, Colorado, native finished the 2018 regular season with 11 individual event titles (All-Around: 3, Bars: 5, Beam: 2, Floor: 1) 
• Balthazor first competed in the all-around competition on January 19 against Michigan and won the all-around and floor titles. 
• Rae's 39.525 mark in the all-around competition on March 17 sits at No. 9 in the Illinois record books. 
• Balthazor also sits at No. 5 and No. 10 in the Illinois record books with a 9.950 and 9.925 marks on bars this season. 

Illini History at the NCAA Championships   

Balthazor is the 15th Illini to qualify individually for nationals since the NCAA began sponsoring the event in 1982. Prior to 1982, when nationals were sponsored by the AIAW, Illinois had five individuals compete at the national meet. As a team, the Illini have qualified for the NCAA Championships in 2014, 2013, 2011 and 2009. Rae is the first Illini to qualify individually for the all-around competition since Giana O'Connor and Mary Jane Horth did so in 2015. 

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