During Illinois's Senior Day, the Fighting Illini defeated the Lindenwood Lions by scoring a 197.100, the highest team total any Illinois women's gymnastics team has produced. Although the Lions lost the meet, it was still a great meet for them as they broke their team score record with a 194.450.


Illinois huddles up before competing on floor.

The Illini began on vault and earned a 49.250, the second highest vault total of their season. Vault has been their weakest event of the season, but strong performances from all six lineup competitors allowed the Illini to score above a 49 on the event for the fourth time this year. Freshman Erin Buchanan and senior Amber See highlighted the rotation with a 9.9 and 9.925 respectively.

Meanwhile, the Lions had a little bit of a slow start on bars. The first three scores were a 9.650 or below, but the second half of the lineup picked up the pace. Lindenwood ended the first rotation with a Lindenwood gymnastics record-setting 48.550.

In the second rotation, Illinois's scores increased as every uneven bars score was a 9.850 or above. Four of the Illini stuck their dismounts including junior anchor Sunny Kato who ended the counting scores with a near-perfect 9.925. The Illini scored a season high of 49.375.

While the Illini were busy sticking landings, Lindenwood's scores were fluctuating on vault. The Lions did not perform vaults that were as difficult as Illinois's, so they ended the rotation with a 48.500, the program's highest vault score.

Illinois then proceeded to their highest ranked event, the balance beam. Sophomore Giana O'Connor began the rotation for the Illini on a shaky note as she had a big balance check on her back handspring to layout step out flight series but held on strong.

Seniors See and Liz McNabb had solid beam routines for their last ones at Huff Hall and scored 9.800 and 9.850 respectively. Freshman Emily Lennon, an Elite Canada silver medalist on beam, followed the seniors with a shaky routine containing two falls. Despite the falls, senior Sarah Fiedler and junior Kato kept their composure to end the rotation on a high note with a 9.900 and 9.925


Sarah Fiedler does a beat jump on beam as freshman Mary Jane Horth observes her.

On floor, Lindenwood had four routines above a 9.725 and earned a 48.650.

To finish the meet, the Illini went on to floor where every Illini scored above a 9.725. They continued to earn event totals above 49 and received a season high 49.300. See highlighted finished the meet with a 9.925.

Though beam is not the ideal event to end on, it was not a hindrance to the Lions. It was actually their highest scoring event of the night. They earned a 48.750, their second highest score of the season. 


The Lindenwood Lions have a team pep talk before the meet begins.

Although one team lost and one team won, both teams were very successful in terms of scores. Both programs broke their team total records of all time and scored very well on every event in terms of their history. In addition to team success, Fiedler won her first all-around title which was special as it was her senior night.

Team Standing  (Top)

Place	Team	Score
1	University of Illinois	197.100
2	Lindenwood University	194.450

 

University of Illinois  (Top)
Head Coach:  Kim Landrus

Gymnast	Vault	Bars	Beam	Floor	AllArr
Erin Buchanan	9.925			9.875
Kelsi Eberly				9.775
Sarah Fiedler	9.725	9.875	9.900	9.825	39.325
Heather Foley	9.750
Mary Jane Horth		9.875
Sunny Kato		9.900	9.925
Emily Lennon	9.825		8.650
Elizabeth McNabb		9.825	9.850
Jordan Naleway		9.875		9.725
Giana O'Connor	9.850	9.850	9.700	9.900	39.300
Amber See	9.900		9.800	9.925
Team Totals	49.250	49.375	49.175	49.300	197.100

 

Lindenwood University  (Top)
Head Coach:  Jen Kesler

Gymnast	Vault	Bars	Beam	Floor	AllArr
Lauren Cartmell		9.675	9.825	9.625
Alicia Floyd	9.650		9.750
Ajiea Hargrave	9.650			9.050
Courtney Heise		9.825		9.775
Aubree Horn	9.600	9.650
Valeri Ingui	9.550	9.525	9.600
Katie Kuehl		9.600
Hannah Rector			9.800	9.725
Emily Turik	9.725	9.800	9.275	9.750	38.550
Rachel Zabawa	9.875		9.775	9.775
Team Totals	48.500	48.550	48.750	48.650	194.450

 

Vault Results  (Top)

Place	Gymnast	Team	Score
1	Erin Buchanan	University of Illinois	9.925
2	Amber See	University of Illinois	9.900
3	Rachel Zabawa	Lindenwood University	9.875
4	Giana O'Connor	University of Illinois	9.850
5	Emily Lennon	University of Illinois	9.825
6	Heather Foley	University of Illinois	9.750
7	Sarah Fiedler	University of Illinois	9.725
7	Emily Turik	Lindenwood University	9.725
9	Ajiea Hargrave	Lindenwood University	9.650
9	Alicia Floyd	Lindenwood University	9.650
11	Aubree Horn	Lindenwood University	9.600
12	Valeri Ingui	Lindenwood University	9.550

 

Uneven Parallel Bars Results  (Top)

Place	Gymnast	Team	Score
1	Sunny Kato	University of Illinois	9.900
2	Jordan Naleway	University of Illinois	9.875
2	Mary Jane Horth	University of Illinois	9.875
2	Sarah Fiedler	University of Illinois	9.875
5	Giana O'Connor	University of Illinois	9.850
6	Elizabeth McNabb	University of Illinois	9.825
6	Courtney Heise	Lindenwood University	9.825
8	Emily Turik	Lindenwood University	9.800
9	Lauren Cartmell	Lindenwood University	9.675
10	Aubree Horn	Lindenwood University	9.650
11	Katie Kuehl	Lindenwood University	9.600
12	Valeri Ingui	Lindenwood University	9.525

 

Balance Beam Results  (Top)

Place	Gymnast	Team	Score
1	Sunny Kato	University of Illinois	9.925
2	Sarah Fiedler	University of Illinois	9.900
3	Elizabeth McNabb	University of Illinois	9.850
4	Lauren Cartmell	Lindenwood University	9.825
5	Amber See	University of Illinois	9.800
5	Hannah Rector	Lindenwood University	9.800
7	Rachel Zabawa	Lindenwood University	9.775
8	Alicia Floyd	Lindenwood University	9.750
9	Giana O'Connor	University of Illinois	9.700
10	Valeri Ingui	Lindenwood University	9.600
11	Emily Turik	Lindenwood University	9.275
12	Emily Lennon	University of Illinois	8.650

 

Floor Exercise Results  (Top)

Place	Gymnast	Team	Score
1	Amber See	University of Illinois	9.925
2	Giana O'Connor	University of Illinois	9.900
3	Erin Buchanan	University of Illinois	9.875
4	Sarah Fiedler	University of Illinois	9.825
5	Kelsi Eberly	University of Illinois	9.775
5	Courtney Heise	Lindenwood University	9.775
5	Rachel Zabawa	Lindenwood University	9.775
8	Emily Turik	Lindenwood University	9.750
9	Jordan Naleway	University of Illinois	9.725
9	Hannah Rector	Lindenwood University	9.725
11	Lauren Cartmell	Lindenwood University	9.625
12	Ajiea Hargrave	Lindenwood University	9.050

 

All Around Results  (Top)

Place	Gymnast	Team	Score
1	Sarah Fiedler	University of Illinois	39.325
2	Giana O'Connor	University of Illinois	39.300
3	Emily Turik	Lindenwood University	38.550