CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Postseason play begins this weekend when the Fighting Illini women's gymnastics team travels to Happy Valley for the Big Ten Championships, set for Saturday at Penn State's Rec Hall. After placing third in the evening session of the Big Five Meet in February, the Fighting Illini earned a spot in the evening session (4 p.m. CT) alongside reigning Big Ten Champions No. 7 Michigan, No. 11 Minnesota, No. 17 Nebraska, No. 25 Penn State, and Iowa. No. 23 Ohio State, No. 27 Maryland, Michigan State, and Rutgers will compete in the afternoon session at 11 a.m. CT, with both sessions airing live on BTN.

Big Ten Championships – Session II: Scouting the Opposition

• No. 7 Michigan (14-5-1, 9-0 Big Ten): The Michigan Wolverines are led by head coach Bev Plocki, who is entering her 30th season at the helm... Plocki holds an overall record of 749-252-3 (.748) and 289-45 (.865) conference record... Michigan has made 10 NCAA Super Six appearances (1994-97, 1999-2001, 2003, 2005, 2011) and 16 consecutive NCAA Championships Appearances (1992-2008)... Under Plocki, the Wolverines have earned 23 Big Ten Conference titles, which is tied for the most conference titles by any coach in Big Ten history for any sport... Plocki's illustrious career at the helm has earned her many coaching honors, including: 11-time Big Ten Coach of the Year, three-time NCAA Central Regional Coach of the Year, and five-time NCAA Northeast Regional Coach of the Year... Last season, Michigan picked up wins over NCAA Championship qualifiers Alabama and Utah, while earning the program's 24th conference title (23 under Plocki)... The experienced roster is led by All-Americans Olivia Karas, Emma McLean, and Lexi Funk... All-Big Ten honoree Lauren Farley has also added depth, while freshmen Natalie Wojick and Abby Brenner have already made an immediate impact for the Maize and Blue.
• No. 11 Minnesota (18-4, 8-1 Big Ten): Minnesota is led by former Gopher gymnast (2000-2003) and head coach Jenny Hansen, who is entering her fifth season in the position...Under her guidance, the Gophers advanced to the 2016 NCAA Championships as a team for the first time since 2013...Their eighth-place finish was the highest ever in program history... Hansen was also named the 2016 Big Ten Coach of the Year, as the team finished with a 9-0 conference record... Last season the Gophers finished No. 22 overall and No. 10 on bars, while going undefeated at home and setting home attendance records for both regular season and postseason competition... The talented roster is led by All-Big Ten honorees Lexy Ramler, Ivy Lu, Ona Loper, Paige Williams, and Tiarre Sales. The dynamic duo of Lu and Ramler have totaled 10 Big Ten Weekly honors amongst each other this season.
• No. 17 Nebraska (12-5, 6-3 Big Ten): The Nebraska Huskers are led by head coach Heather Brink, who entered the season as the interim before being named head coach in February… Brink has spent the past seven seasons on the Nebraska women's gymnastics staff under previous head coach Dan Kendig... As an assistant and associate head coach, Brink helped the program win back-to-back Big Ten titles (2012- 13) and assisted the program to five consecutive trips to the NCAA Championships (2014-18), including two Super Sixes (2014, 2018)... Nebraska's sixth place finish at the 2018 NCAA Championships, concluded its best season finish since 2014. The Huskers also made their 12th appearance at Super Six in the final year of Super Six competition... Nebraska ended last season with a record of 28-10, (6-3, Big Ten) and scored their highest team score in five years with a 197.525 at the NCAA Raleigh Regional... Nebraska's young and talented roster is led by All-Americans Sierra Crouse, Megan Schweihofer, and Taylor Houchin. All-Big Ten honoress Sierra Hassel and Adnerys De Jesus, along with Catelyn Orel, Kynsee Roby, and Megan Verceles Carr also add depth to the lineups. The Huskers also welcome five fantastic freshmen.
• No. 25 Penn State (10-9, 3-6 Big Ten): Entering her second year as Penn State's women's gymnastics coach, Sarah Brown was named the eighth head coach of the program on May 4, 2017... In her first season with the Nittany Lions, Brown led Penn State to an 11-8 record, including three wins over ranked opponents... Hosting the University Park Regional, Penn State fell short of an NCAA Championship berth last season, placing fifth with a 194.900... Nittany Lions standout Lauren Bridgens tied for third at the University Park Regional to secure an individual NCAA all-around berth... The Nittany Lions finished the 2018 season ranked No. 32 nationally... Penn State's experienced roster is led by All-American Lauren Bridgens and All-Big Ten honoree Sabrina Garcia. Kristen Politz, Mason Hosek, and Tess McCracken also add depth to the squad. The Nittany Lions welcome transfer Jessie Bastardi and freshmen trio Melissa Astarita, Dymiana Cox, and Donna Howell.
• Iowa (9-9, 5-4 Big Ten): Larissa Libby enters her 15th year as the Iowa Hawkeyes head coach and 19th year overall with the Hawkeyes... In 2018, Libby led Iowa to its 18th NCAA Regional appearance with a No. 33 national ranking and a 13-win season... Outside the gym, a record 11 gymnasts received Academic All-Big Ten honors in 2018... The Hawkeyes recorded the best championship score in program history at the 2017 Big Ten Championship with a 196.725; good enough for a third-place finish... In 2013, Iowa finished its homestand undefeated and recorded their highest average home attendance with 1,414 fans... Libby has garnered accolades for her success with the Hawkeyes, including two-time North Central Region Coach of the Year (2009, 2016) and two-time Big Ten Coach of the Year (2008, 2017)... Returners include All-Big Ten honorees Clair Kaji, Nicole Chow, and Lauren Guerin, along with All-Big Ten Championship Team Member Charlotte Sullivan. Returners Misty-Jade Carlson, Maria Ortiz, and Gina Leal also add depth to the lineups. The Hawkeyes also welcome a big incoming class with seven freshmen.

B1G History Lesson – Illinois at Big Ten Championships

With powerhouse Michigan dominating the conference, Illinois picked up their one and only Big Ten Championship in 1990. While the Illini won titles in 1976 and 1977, women's championships were not officially recognized by the Big Ten until 1982. The Orange and Blue have earned 10 top-three finishes at Big Tens, including back-to-back finishes in 2017 and 2018. Individually, Illinois has earned 16 individual titles since 1982, including 2017 Big Ten Bars champion, Mary Jane Otto.

Last season, the Illini hosted the Big Ten Championships for the sixth time in program history (1988, 1991, 1995, 2003, 2009, 2018). The meets hosted prior to 2018 were hosted inside Huff Hall. On podium at State Farm Center, Illinois finished in the top-three for the 10th time in school history at a conference championship with a 196.625. The third-place finish placed them behind Big Ten powerhouses, Nebraska (2nd-196.950) and Michigan (1st-197.200). Former Illini Bridget Hodan capped off her career with a Big Ten Individual Event title on beam with a 9.900. Hodan's feat marked the eighth conference beam title in school history and a spot on the Big Ten All-Championships team.

Illinois Peaking Entering Postseason

The Illini have stepped their game up at the right time, producing their best score and road score over the last week of the season. Illinois closed the regular season with a season-high team score on the road with a 196.175 on Sunday afternoon in Berkeley, Calif. inside Haas Pavilion. Illinois finished second defeating San Jose State (194.450) and Sacramento State (192.100), but falling to the 2018 NCAA Championship qualifier, the No. 16 California Golden Bears (197.575). 

The 196.175 team score marks the second 196.000+ for Illinois this season. The Illini also posted 49.000+ on three events for the third-time this season, including a season-high 49.125 on vault. Individually, the Orange and Blue recorded six career-highs with three coming on vault. 

Postseason Signals the Arrival of Awards Season

Redshirt senior Mary Jane Otto, junior Karen Howell and sophomore duo Kasey Meeks and Kylie Noonan were named to the 2019 Big Ten All-Conference teams on March 18. Otto earned First Team All-Big Ten honors for her third First Team All-Big Ten recognition. Howell, Meeks, and Noonan were named to the Second-Team All-Big Ten list, all earning their first All-Big Ten recognition.

The Illini tied Super Six finalist, Nebraska, with the third-highest number of gymnasts to be honored by the conference with only Michigan (six) and Minnesota (five) earning more spots. This marks the sixth-time in program history that the Orange and Blue had at least four gymnasts selected to the all-conference team. With the addition of Howell, Meeks, and Noonan, the Fighting Illini now has 25 gymnasts named to All-Big Ten teams.

Among the remaining yearly awards up for grabs this week are: Gymnast of the Year, Freshman of the Year, and Coach of the Year. The Illini have nine awards from the above categories to date:

• Freshman of the Year: Ashley Williams (2002), Allison Buckley (2008)
• Gymnast of the Year: Nancy Thies (1976-1977), Heather Singalewitch (1988)
  Coach of the Year: Bev Mackes (1990), Bob Starkell (2005, 2009-10)

Beam Queens 

Ever since Iowa, the Illini have been beaming on the balance beam, posting season-highs and earning at least 49.000+ for the past six meets. In their home finale, Illinois matched the second-highest beam score in program history with a season-high 49.400. An overnight viral sensation, sophomore Rachel Borden has added a spark to the lineup, providing a calm demeanor as the lead-off. After only three meets, Borden has already hit a career-high 9.875, earning her first top-three finish at the State of Illinois Classic. Sixth year gymnast Mary Jane Otto and Shaylah Scott also captured the beam title at the State of Illinois Classic for career-highs of 9.925. The score tied them for the seventh best individual beam score in program history. On the event, Otto has earned eight career titles, while Scott has three.

Against top 10 Denver, sophomore Kylie Noonan also posted a career-high 9.875. Senior Haylee Roe returned to competition in the last week of the regular season, matching a career-high 9.875 on beam at the UC-Davis Quad Meet. Since the beginning of the season, the Orange and Blue have collected 17 top three individual finishes on the event.

All a Borden

From team manager to student-athlete, sophomore Rachel Borden was only on the team one day until she donned the Orange and Blue for an exhibition beam routine at Iowa on Feb. 16. An overnight sensation, Borden's 9.700 routine went viral and has taken the gymternet by storm with unique skills and originality that is unseen in collegiate gymnastics. The Big Five Meet hosted by Elevate the Stage marked the first time Borden made the beam lineup, leading off the Illini in their first podium meet with a 9.625. Borden hit a career-high 9.875 in the Illini's home finale at the State of Illinois Classic on March 9.

The in-state product from Naperville, Ill. spent her club career at the prominent and elite Chicago area-based club, Legacy Elite Gymnastics. Under the guidance of owners and head coaches, Jiani Wu and Yuejiu Li, Borden spent five years as a level 10 gymnast and persisted through the ups and downs of the sport to reach her goal of qualifying to the Junior Olympic National Championships during her senior year in 2017.

The Chemical Engineering major's inspirational story has gotten the attention of national media, such as FloGymnastics, Inside Gymnastics, and the Gymternet podcast. With her cast handstand to reverse planche mount and perfect toe point, Borden puts the "artistic" back in Artistic gymnastics. 

Roe-ing Towards Success

Senior Haylee Roe may be short, but the energetic and vocal leader has been a positive force for the Illini this season. The Mesquite, Texas native hit a season-high 9.825 on floor against Penn State on Feb. 2 with her Vanilla Ice 80s theme floor routine. Battling through injuries this season, Roe made her comeback during the team's NorCal spring break trip. During the UC-Davis Quad Meet, Roe came out strong debuting a new Side Somi to Back Tuck Full dismount combo. In her comeback, she matched a career-high 9.875 to anchor the Illini beam lineup. Always spunky and energetic, Roe added back floor and vault to her repertoire. She wrapped up the regular season with a solid 9.825 on beam and matched a career-high 9.775 on vault. As a senior, Roe is looking forward to making the most of her last Big Ten Championships this weekend.

Road Warriors 

The Illini will caped the regular season with a road trip to the NorCal area for a pair of quad meets - at UC-Davis with No. 18 Washington and Yale (March 15) and at California with Sacramento State and San Jose State (March 17) - before heading to University Park, Pa. for the 2019 Big Ten Championships on March 23. Over the course of the regular season, the Illini will have logged a total of 3,557.5 miles in travel since the start of the season in January. The Orange and Blue will add 619 miles to the postseason journey this weekend.

Next rotation: Postseason Awaits NCAA Regional Assignment

Up next, the Illini will await their postseason regional assignment. The NCAA Women's Gymnastics selection show is slated for Monday, March 25 at 4 p.m. CT and will stream on NCAA.com.

The journey to the NCAA Championships will have a new format for the 2019 season as regional qualifiers will compete at one of the four regional sites with each featuring nine teams, three all-around competitors, and four individual specialists per event. The four regional sites in 2019 include Athens, Ga. (Georgia), Baton Rouge, La. (LSU), Ann Arbor, Mich. (Michigan), and Corvallis, Ore. (Oregon State).

Over three days, seven teams will automatically advance to day two, while teams on the first day will compete in a "play-in" meet. On the second day, eight teams will compete in two sessions of four, and the top two in each of those sessions will advance to the final day. During "Super Regionals," four teams will compete in one session and the top two teams will advance to the NCAA Championships held at the Fort Worth Convention Center in Fort Worth, Texas on April 19-20.

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