The Illini will travel to Toledo, Ohio, for Friday's (Feb. 18) Big Five Meet hosted by Elevate the Stage. The meet is set to begin at 6 p.m. and will be streamed live by FloGymnastics.
Illinois will compete against No. 1 Michigan, No. 17 Iowa, Maryland and No. 22 Ohio State.
Last Time Outw
Illinois scored a season-best 196.450 but fell to No. 15 Michigan State last Sunday.
The Illini scored a 49.275 on bars with every routine hitting a 9.80 or higher. Mia Takekawa and Kaitlyn Ewald both scored a team-high 9.875 on the event. The Illini vault score, a 49.150 was highlighted by two career-highs. Sophomore Abby Mueller lead-off the event with hers, a 9.875 and Arayah Simons anchored the event with a 9.90. Lexi Powe continued her string of solid vaults with a 9.825. During the third rotation Illinois scored a 49.175. Again, Mueller led off for the team and scored a 9.825. Mueller leads off on three events for Illinois. Amelia Knight scored a team high 9.875 in the anchor spot.
For the final rotation Illinois was on beam where junior McKenzie Eddy made her Illinois debut after facing a number of injuries during her time in the Orange and Blue. She would post a 9.80 on the event.
2022 Outlook
Illinois returns two All-Big Ten honorees in Mia Takekawa and Mia Townes this season. Senior Rachel Borden also elected to use her extra year of eligibility to return for 2022.
After setting a a new program record 197.575 at the end of last season, the Illini are ready to build off that in the new year. Illinois will start the season on the road at Central Michigan then Kent State. The Big Ten section of the schedule begins 6:oo pm on Jan. 21 at Nebraska. The Illini will then travel to State College on the 29th for a double duel meet with Penn State.
Illinois' first home meet will be against Minnesota on Sunday, Feb. 6 at 2 pm CT. Last season the Illini broke several program records on senior night against the Gophers. Illinois' single TV appearance comes the following week at Michigan State on Sunday, Feb. 13. The Big Ten Network will carry live coverage on the meet beginning at 3:00 pm CT.
Newcomers
Seven freshman join Walsh's squad for the 2021 season. Olivia Bowsman, Kadyn Fitzgibbon, Katharine Klugman, Ruthuja Nataraj, MIa Scott and Kiera Wai all look to make an impact in the Illinois lineup after successful junior careers. Freshman MaKayla Green will miss the season with an injury.
In The Rankings
Illinois starts the season No. 23 in the WGCA Preseason Coaches' poll. The Illini are the fifth-highest ranked Big Ten team and one of nine Big Ten teams ranked in the top-36 programs.
Gymnasts to Watch
Junior Mia Townes and sophomore Amelia Knight were voted by Big Ten coaches. So far in 2022 Knight has posted seven scores 9.80 or high out of nine routines, providing valuable routines on bars, beam and for for the Illini.
Illinois was chosen to finish fifth in the Big Ten in the Coaches Poll. The Illini have not finished worst than third since Walsh took over as head coach.
Former Illini Joins Walsh's Staff
Illinois women's gymnastics head coach, Nadalie Walsh announced that former Illini gymnast, Rachael Donovan is joining her staff as a volunteer assistant coach for the 2022 season.
"I could not be more pleased to have Rachael Donovan back It is the greatest compliment having her want to return to invest her time, energy and passion back into the program," said Walsh. " I see Rachael having a bright future as an NCAA coach. I am excited to pour into her, see her grow and develop and watch her positively impact the lives of our Fighting Illini student athletes. Rachael will be a great asset to our programs behind the scenes as she will also be assisting with program operations. She is organized, ambitious and detail oriented. She a great addition to my staff as she knows the program and fully believes in the vision and direction we are headed."
Since graduating in 2019, Donovan has coached at Hills gymnastics and Parkettes National Gymnastics Training Center working with level 10s/ elites. She will complete her masters in sports management in December from West Virginia University.
"I am honored and beyond excited to be back coaching alongside the staff at the University of Illinois, said Donovan. "Thank you to Head Coach Nadalie Walsh and Illinois Athletics for this amazing opportunity! I intend to use my knowledge from being a former Illinois athlete as well as my coaching knowledge to assist the team and watch them thrive this year!"
2021 in Review
The Illini finished the 2021 season making their third NCAA Regional appearance in the last four years after finishing ties for third at Big Ten Championships.
Illinois set two new program records in their home final against Minnesota. They reached a 197.575 team score beating the previous school record of 197.350 set in 2015. They used a program best 49.525 on beam as well as top-10 program scores on vault, bars and floor. On vault, they scored a season best 49.200, tied for seventh-best in program. They followed scoring a 49.425 on bars, tied for fifth-best. They hit the same score on floor, also tied for fifth-best all-time.
Mia Townes competed a Yurchenko 1.5 vault for Illinois last season. it'll be the first 10.0 vault for since the full was devalued.
