Results
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – No. 24 Fighting Illini women's gymnastics took down Rutgers 195.650-194.925 Sunday afternoon in Huff Hall at the annual I AM meet.
"My hopes for the I AM meet is to show the community we're not only an amazing gymnastics team but we also have hearts that care about the mental wellness and wellbeing of the community," head coach Nadalie Wash said. "Being able to teach people the power of positive thoughts to displace anxiety is so needed across our culture."
The Illini improves to 5-3 on the year and 1-2 in conference competition. Rutgers falls to 3-6 overall and 0-3 in conference competition.
Illinois had three event winners – Mia Takekawa on bars, Mia Townes on floor and Abby Mueller in the all-around with a score of 39.000.
Arielle Ward had the best vault score for the Illini with a 9.825. Freshman Olivia Coppola had the second-best score on the apparatus, notching a 9.80.
Takekawa took the bars win with a solid 9.90, followed by Ward, Amelia Knight and Destiny Denning's 9.875.
Takekawa also had the best Illinois score on beam with a 9.875 with Kaitlyn Ewald securing a 9.850.
Townes took the title on floor with a 9.90, with Ward taking a 9.850 as well.
"Even though this wasn't our best showing, there's a lot for us to learn from this competition," Walsh said, "I'm excited for the team to get more aggressive, and as they become more aggressive I think they'll be more focused on the routine they're doing and not worry about the scores they get."
The Illini will now head to No. 13 Michigan State to continue conference competition at 6 p.m. CT, being aired on B1G+.
