Results
CORALVILLE, Iowa – Illinois women's gymnastics finished in the top half of the Big Ten Championships on Saturday evening in Coralville, Iowa at the Xtream Center with senior Mia Takekawa earning the shared the bar title.
The Illini started the championships in the morning, but didn't get their results until all teams had competed.
"The experience at this Big Ten Championships was incredible," head coach Nadalie Walsh said. "The team was lit up from the inside and out – they were just pumped. I felt like they stole the show in terms of energy and unity, I'm super proud of them for being in the top-half in the conference – it was extremely competitive this year. Their score from the first session held up pretty well into the next session."
Illinois started off the championship on floor with Kadyn Fitzgibbon grabbing the top Illini score with a 9.875. Takekawa, Abby Mueller and Mia Townes all earned a 8.50 with Julia Waight and Ruthuja Nataraj securing a 9.75.
On vault, Nataraj scored a 9.825 with Townes following with a 9.80. Waight secured a 9.775 with Arielle Ward and Abby Mueller tallying a 9.75.
After a bye rotation, the Illini kicked off bars with a couple of 9.85s from Rachel Borden and Kaitlyn Ewald. Amelia Knight secured a 9.775 with Olivia O'Donnell grabbing a season-high 9.90. Takekawa scored a 9.95, claiming the shared title apparatus.
"Mia Takekawa never fails to deliver," Walsh said. "I felt like when I watched her during this conference championship meet as a senior, I saw such maturity all over her. She just looked beautiful and happy. She 100% deserves to be the bar champion and runner-up on beam. I couldn't be prouder of her and just the legacy she's leaving,"
The Illini also secured a season-high bars score with a 49.325.
The beam team shined again, with Mueller earning a 9.80 and Townes scoring a 9.825. Knight secured a 9.85 with Nataraj scoring a 9.875. Mizuki scored a 9.90, and Takekawa scored a 9.95, taking second place on the event.
The NCAA Regionals will be next for the Illini, the location will be announced during a selection show on Monday at 11 a.m. CT
