CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illini were lights out with season-highs on beam (49.400) and floor (49.200), but the deficit was too much to overcome as Illinois was edged by UIC, 196.150-196.075 at the State of Illinois Classic held Saturday afternoon inside Huff Hall. Rounding out the field was Northern Illinois (195.750) and Illinois State (195.075), who finished third and fourth, respectively.
"For us to have our best team score with still counting mistakes, just gives me a lot of hope and excitement to go to California and do even better," said head coach Nadalie Walsh.
Starting the meet on vault, the Illini earned a respectable 48.775 led by sophomore Kasey Meeks, who tied for second with a 9.825. Junior Lindsay Dwyer and redshirt senior Mary Jane Otto got the Illini off to a strong start with a pair of 9.800s. The score matched a career-high for Dwyer. Junior Brittany Jones made her collegiate vault debut with a 9.650.
Despite deductions and errors on bars, Illinois recorded a 48.700. Returning to the lineup, junior Morgan Bixler was able to get the Illini back on track with a solid 9.775. Otto recorded a solid 9.850, while senior Rachael Donovan performed her last routine inside Huff Hall with a 9.800.
With Illinois trailing the field, the beam team hit six-for-six to help the Orange and Blue battle back. The Illini's total of 49.400 tied for the second-highest beam score in program history. The last time Illinois matched this score was February 28, 2016 at Lindenwood.
"I am so proud of the beam team," noted Walsh. "You can tell they are solidified with their confidence on beam."
On the team for less than a month, sophomore Rachel Borden was calm under pressure with a career-high 9.875. Earning her first top-three finish, Borden placed third overall. Sophomore Kylie Noonan continued the momentum with a stuck dismount for a 9.850. Otto and freshman Shaylah Scott both captured the beam title with career-highs of 9.925. The score ties them for the seventh best individual beam score in program history. It also marks the eighth title for Otto and third for Scott on the event. With only one exhibition routine under her belt, Jones anchored the beam lineup with a solid 9.725.
"I am so grateful for Brittany (Jones)," said Walsh. "She had a great mentality shift this year. I knew she was going to go out and hit vault but getting the opportunity to go up on beam makes your heart feel warm for somebody that has trained years for this moment."
Illinois moved up to third going into the final rotation with a 146.875. With elegance and clean tumbling, Scott opened up the floor lineup with a career-high 9.900. Otto closed out her career homestand with a 9.800. Noonan and junior Karen Howell both posted a pair of 9.900s to close out the entertaining floor lineup. The score was a career-high for Howell. The season-high 49.200 team total boosted the Orange and Blue to second-place.
Otto capped off this afternoon's home finale with her third all-around title of her career with a 39.375. The Akron, Ohio native has earned 8 individual titles this season and 26 overall.
"Patience is a virtue and she (Mary Jane Otto) has persevered throughout her entire career, "noted Walsh. "I could not be happier for how today turned out for her. She is confident and will lead the team going into postseason."
Following the meet, the Orange and Blue hosted their last free youth clinic of the season.
The Illini close out the regular season in the NorCal area for two quad meets, where they will face two Pac-12 teams. First, the squad will travel to Davis, Calif. next Friday to compete against No. 19 Washington, host UC-Davis, and Yale. This will be the first time in program history that Illinois has faced the UC-Davis Aggies.
With a quick turnaround, the team will travel south to the Bay Area, facing host and No. 14 California, San Jose State, and Sacramento State on Sunday, March 17 in Berkeley, Calif. In 2014, the Illini defeated the Bears at the Minneapolis Regional to advance to the NCAA Championships. It has also been 26 years since Illinois and California have competed against each other during the regular season.
Illinois Notes
- Illinois hit the 196+ mark for the first time this season with a season-high 196.075. The Illini also hit season-highs on beam (49.400) and floor (49.200).
- The Illini tied the second-highest beam score in program history with a season-high 49.400. The last time Illinois matched this score was in 2016 at Lindenwood.
- Redshirt senior and sixth year gymnast, Mary Jane Otto, capped off her career homestand with her eighth beam title (career-high 9.925) and third all-around title (39.375).
- Junior Brittany Jones made her collegiate vault debut with a 9.650, while anchoring the beam line up with a 9.725.
- Junior Lindsay Dwyer tied a career-high 9.800 on vault.
- Sophomore Kasey Meeks tied for second on vault with a powerful Yurchenko-full for a 9.825. This marks her sixth top-three finish on the event this season.
- Freshman Shaylah Scott also posted a career-high on beam with a 9.925.
- Otto and Scott's 9.925s on beam ties them for seventh best in program history.
- Sophomore Rachel Borden was calm under pressure, placing third with a career-high 9.875.
- Scott, junior Karen Howell, and sophomore Kylie Noonan all recorded 9.900s on floor, tying for second-overall. The scores marked career-highs for Scott and Howell.
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