CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Fighting Illini women's gymnastics team will compete in the NCAA Regionals Session 1 on March 30 at 2 p.m. in Norman, Okla.
ABOUT THE MEET
This is the sixth time the Illini have gone to the NCAA Regionals under head coach Nadalie Walsh and 19th straight year overall.
The Illini are set to go head-to-head with Big Ten opponent Iowa, as well as Alabama and Kentucky.
Also at the Norman Regional will be host Oklahoma, Ohio State, Arkansas, Ball State and NC State.
There will be three past and present representatives of the Illinois coaching staff at the regional: current women's gymnastics head coach Nadalie Walsh, former women's gymnastics coach Kim Landrus, and former men's gymnastics head coach Justin Spring.
LAST TIME OUT
Illinois women's gymnastics finished in the top half of the Big Ten Championships 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.
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 an 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.
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 9.925, taking second place in the event.
HISTORY
Illinois has only advanced to the national championships four times in program history -- 2009, 2011, 2013 and 2014. The Illini have yet to advance under Walsh.
The Orange and Blue are also looking to advance to the second day for the first time since 2014, which happens when a team finishes in the first two spots on the first day.
