Results

COLUMBIA, Mo. - Illinois Women's Gymnastics started 2020 with a bang, earning a victory in its first meet of the season, a tri meet at No. 16 Missouri with Southeast Missouri State. The Illini recorded an overall team score of 195.850 to finish ahead of the Tigers, who finished at 195.600, and the Redhawks, who ended up with a team score of 191.275 at the Hearnes Center in Columbia, Mo. Freshman Mia Takekawa earned the all-around title with a score of 39.350 in her collegiate debut.

"I could not be more proud of the team," head coach Nadalie Walsh said. "They aproached this meet with a ton of confidence. We approached it like a business trip that we were going to have a lot of fun with, and we did that. So I'm really, really proud of the girls and how they handled their nerves and performed pretty close to their ability for where they're at right now."

The Orange and Blue led after each rotation, starting with a strong showing on uneven bars. Takekawa and senior Karen Howell earned a split of the event title with identical scores of 9.825, tying with Missouri's Aspen Tucker.

Takekawa earned the beam title with a score of 9.900, tying with Missouri's Helen Hu. Sophomore Shaylah Scott added a 9.850 on beam

Each Illini earned a 9.825 or better on the floor, led by freshman Arayah Simons' 9.900, tied with Missouri's Morgan Porter for the event title. Takekawa and Biondi each contributed a 9.850 on floor.

Illinois closed the meet on vault, led by Howell, Takekawa, and Simons, who each recorded a 9.775.

Notes

• Illinois opened the season by finishing first in a meet featuring more than two teams for the second time in three seasons.
• Takekawa's 9.900 on beam was the third 9.900 or better by an Illini freshman in the last two seasons. Shaylah Scott accomplished that feat twice in 2019.
• Six Illini freshmen made their collegiate debuts Saturday.

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