April 4-8, 2022

Mia Townes | Jr., Women's Gymnastics | Major: Kinesiology

Illinois junior Mia Townes earned a trip to the 2022 NCAA National Championship as an individual qualifier after turning in a stellar performance on the vault at the NCAA Regional on March 31 in Seattle, Wash. Townes' performance helped the Illini score a 197.375 at the regional, their highest team score of the season and the second highest score in program history.

The Illini carried momentum to beam where they scored a 49.375, tied for sixth-best in program history. They scored three 9.90s on the event from Amelia Knight, Mia Takekawa and Townes. The Orange and Blue finished the second rotation tied for the lead. Heading into the final rotation, any of the four teams had the chance to advance. Townes tied her career-high on vault with a 9.925 on her Yurchenko 1.5, putting her in position to  qualify as an individual for Nationals, April 14-16 in Fort Worth, Texas. 

Townes, a native of Pflugerville, Texas, is majoring in Kinesiology.

º2021-22 Scholar Athlete of the Week Winners