CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The Fighting Illini women's gymnastics team will look to build on their season opening victory at Nebraska when they travel to Rutgers to take on the home team and Maryland at their only tri meet of the season. The meet will take place Saturday Jan. 23 at 12pm CT and will be available to stream on BTN+.

Illini Beat Nebraska in Season Opener

The Illini started their season with a victory over Nebraska. Illinois finished with a team score of 195.475, two points better than Nebraska who finished with a 193.400.

Illinois won three event titles led by junior Shaylah Scott who won floor with a score of 9.875. Sophomore Lexi Powe, in her vault debut scored a 9.825 to win the event and in her collegiate debut, freshman Kaitlyn Ewald scored a 9.900 on uneven bars to win the event title.

Mia Townes made her debut on beam leading off the line-up. She scored a 9.825, the highest beam score for Illinois.

Three gymnasts made their collegiate debuts at Nebraska. Kaitlyn Ewald, Amelia Knight and Abby Mueller each competed on multiple events. 

In The Rankings

Illinois is ranked No. 17 in the country after the first week of competition. They started the season at No. 22 in the WGCA Preseason Coaches' poll. The Illini are the fourth-highest ranked Big Ten team and one of nine Big Ten teams ranked in the top-36 programs.

Kaitlyn Ewald is ranked 11th in the country on bars after scoring a 9.900 in her first routine as an Illini and earning the event title at Nebraska. Junior Shaylah Scott is T-25th in the nation on floor follwoing her 8.925 score on the event against Nebraska.

2021 Outlook

The Illini will compete in a nine-meet Big Ten-only schedule in the 2021. However, meets one, eight and nine will count as non-conference. Two Big Five meets will take place on the weekend of Feb. 26.

Illinois faces five teams ranked in the top 36 of WCGA Coaches Preseason Poll. The start the season on the road facing No. 20 Nebraska. They will host No. 4 Michigan, No. 11 Minnesota, and No. 34 Michigan State. The Illini will compete against No. 25 Iowa twice.

The Illini return 26 routines and 12 letter winners from 2020. Seniors Nicole Biondi, Rachel Borden, Kasey Meeks, Kylie Noonan, Tessa Phillips, and Jaylen Spence provide leadership.  Mia Takekawa, Shaylah Scott and Arayah simons all return to the 2021 squad after earning All-Big Ten honors last season. 

Sophomore Mia Takekawa looks build on an impressive freshman season. Takekawa scored the first 10.0 on beam in Illinois history, named Big Ten Freshman and Gymnast of the week twice and earned a scholarship from head coach Nadalie Walsh. 

Newcomers 

Five freshmen join Walsh's squad for the 2021 season. Kaitlyn Ewald, Amelia Knight, Allie Morgan, Abbey Mueller and Ashley Resch all look to make an impact in the Illinois lineup after successful junior careers.

2020 in Review  

Illinois 2020 season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Illini finished the shortened season 10-6 overall and 4-5 in Big Ten competition. Four Illini earned All-Big Ten Honors. Mia Takekawa was named First Team All-Big Ten while Karen Howell, Shaylah Scott and Arayah Simons earned Second Team All-Big Ten. 

Illinois scored in the top ten all-time at three meets. Against MSU they finished beam with a score of 49.400, tied for second best in school history. At the Big Five meet in Toledo Illini finished with vault score of 49.200, tied for the seventh best in Illinois history. In their final meet of the season they scored a 49.350 on beam, tied for the second best in program history.

Freshman Mia Takekawa made Illinois gymnastics history, scoring the first 10.0 in program history in a tri-meet on Jan 6.  She was named Big Ten Gymnast and Freshman of the Week (1/7 and 1/15). Takekawa also tied the second highest beam score, scoring a 9.9975 on the event at Kentucky during the last meet of the season.

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