CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The Fighting Illini women's gymnastics team is headed to Los Angeles to take on the No. 8 UCLA Bruins on Saturday, Jan. 25. The matchup will be the first opponent of the Big Ten expansion group that Illinois faces this season.
About the Opponent
UCLA is coming off their first Big Ten win: a 197.550-194.850 victory at Maryland on Jan. 18. The team swept the event titles, with Olympian Jordan Chiles scoring a perfect 10 on uneven bars. The Bruins' Chiles (Big Ten Gymnast of the Week) and Brooklyn Moors (Big Ten Specialist of the Week) earned the school's first-ever Big Ten Weekly Awards on Jan. 21.
Last Time Out
In the home opener on Jan. 18, Illinois defeated Nebraska by a score of 196.275-195.600 for their first Big Ten victory of the young season. An astounding 12 career-high scores were set, and three Illini won event titles: Chloe Cho (floor and all-around), Makayla Green (uneven bars) and Arielle Ward (vault). For her efforts in leading the Orange and Blue to victory, Cho was named the Big Ten's Freshman of the Week on Jan. 21.
Look Out!
- Freshman Chloe Cho and junior Arielle Ward were named to the Big Ten's Gymnasts to Watch during the preseason.
- Cho was previously a Level 10 state champion and nationals qualifier. The Simi Valley, Calif., native competed in the 2024 U.S. Championships, where she scored personal bests in the all-around competition on back-to-back days.
- In her collegiate debut at the Ball State Quad (Jan. 12), she earned her first event title on vault with a 9.850.
- In the Illini's home opener vs. Nebraska (Jan, 18), Cho won two more titles: on floor and in the all-around.
- Ward is entering her third season with the Illini after competing in all 16 meets last season, primarily on vault and floor. The Frisco, Texas, native won third place on vault (9.900) at the 2024 Big Ten Championships, earning her a spot on the All-Championship Team.Â
- Ward took home the vault title in her season debut on the apparatus vs. Nebraska (Jan. 18) with a 9.850.
Give Her Five
- After four years in Champaign-Urbana, Amelia Knight thought her time with the Illinois women's gymnastics team was over. Instead, Knight received the opportunity to come back for one more year.
- Knight immediately stepped into the lineup as a freshman, making her debut on beam and floor during the Illini's first meet of the 2021 season. The following year, she grew more comfortable, confident, and consistent, appearing in all 13 meets while garnering Academic All-Big Ten honors for the first time.
- As a junior, Knight helped the Illini set the program's beam record with a career-high 9.925 while once again competing in every meet. Also finding success off the mat, she earned Academic All-Big Ten status for the second consecutive season while being named a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar.
- With increased expectations for herself and the team, Knight is ready to make a splash heading into the 2024-25 campaign.
Division I Career Record: 155-185-1 (.456), 21st season
At Illinois: 91-59-1 (.603), Eighth season
Big Ten: 70-58-1 (.547), Eighth season
Complete Illinois Meet Notes (PDF)
