14 Illinois vs 25 Minnesota

Illinois Defeats Minnesota in Close Win Despite Beam Mistakes

Illinois Defeats Minnesota in Close Win Despite Beam Mistakes

Feb 7, 2015 by Amanda Wijangco
Illinois Defeats Minnesota in Close Win Despite Beam Mistakes

Beam is often known as the make it or break it event. But that wasn’t the case for the Illini on Saturday despite two falls on the event. The Illini defeat the Golden Gophers in a close meet, 195.775-195.375.

Illinois’ start on vault was solid, as they scored a 48.950. Although its highest score of the rotation was a 9.850, Illinois’ vaults were enough to gain the early lead against Minnesota. On bars, Minnesota had a high score of 9.875 but a low, counting score of 9.450.

The second rotation was the strongest of the entire meet. On the uneven bars, Illinois earned a fantastic 49.375, a new season-high. Sophomore all-arounder Mary Jane Horth highlighted the rotation with a near-perfect routine that scored a 9.975. One judge even gave her a 10.0! Meanwhile, Minnesota’s 49.025 on vault was highlighted by Lindsay Mable’s 9.900.


Mary Jane Horth reaches for the bar during her Maloney half.


After a strong second event, the scores began to drop. The Illini beam lineup failed to hit all of their routines and had to count a fall from junior Giana O’Connor, who fell on her split leap to Gainer layout step-out connection preceding her dismount. Fellow junior Heather Foley was unfazed by O’Connor’s mistake and hit her routine to tie her career high of 9.825. Unfortunately, sophomore Erin Buchanan let nerves get the best of her. Buchanan fell on the first skill of her routine, a Gainer layout step-out.

Luckily for the Illini, the second half of their beam lineup finished strong, anchored by Sunny Kato’s 9.900.


Sunny Kato does a split leap on beam.


On floor, the Golden Gophers were solid, but only two scores exceeded 9.800, and their 48.900 event total wasn’t enough to take the lead over the Illini, even with the low beam score of 48.650

In the fourth rotation, beam continued to get the best of a few gymnasts. Minnesota had to count two 9.650’s but also had a 9.875 from Mable.


Lindsay Mable poses at the end of her floor routine during pre-meet warmups.

Floor scoring continued to be relatively low, as Illinois had no scores above 9.800 in the final rotation. Fortunately for Illinois, its performances pleased the judges enough to give them an even total of 48.800. All six Illini on floor hit their routines, including O’Connor and Buchanan, to bounce back and finish strong for the win.


The Illini floor lineup huddles up with head coach Kim Landrus and assistant coach Chad Wiest before finishing the competition.


Team Standing  (Top)
Place  Team Score 
1  University of Illinois 195.775 
2  Minnesota 195.375 

 

University of Illinois  (Top)
Head Coach:  Kim Landrus
 Gymnast Vault  Bars  Beam  Floor  AllArr 
 Erin Buchanan 9.650 9.800 9.275 9.750 38.475
 Kelsi Eberly       9.675  
 Heather Foley 9.825   9.825 9.800  
 Jordyn Givens 9.525        
 Mary Jane Horth 9.850 9.975 9.850 9.800 39.475
 Sunny Kato   9.900 9.900    
 Sarah Lyons 9.775 9.875      
 Jordan Naleway   9.800 9.800 9.675  
 Giana O'Connor 9.850 9.825 9.100 9.775 38.550
 Team Totals 48.950  49.375  48.650  48.800  195.775

 

Minnesota  (Top)
Head Coach:  Jenny Hansen
 Gymnast Vault  Bars  Beam  Floor  AllArr 
 Jenny Covers 9.875 9.750 9.850 9.700 39.175
 Bailey Gardner 9.725   9.650    
 Ciara Gardner 9.750 9.125 9.825 9.775 38.475
 Rachel Haines     9.375    
 Madie Hanley   9.725 9.650    
 Bailie Holst 9.625 9.750   9.725  
 Lindsay Mable 9.900 9.875 9.925 9.875 39.575
 Kaitlin Rahon       9.700  
 Ciara Tomson 9.775 9.450   9.825  
 Team Totals 49.025  48.550  48.900  48.900  195.375

 

Vault Results  (Top)
Place  Gymnast  Team Score 
1  Lindsay Mable  Minnesota 9.900
2  Jenny Covers  Minnesota 9.875
3  Mary Jane Horth  University of Illinois 9.850
3  Giana O'Connor  University of Illinois 9.850
5  Heather Foley  University of Illinois 9.825
6  Sarah Lyons  University of Illinois 9.775
6  Ciara Tomson  Minnesota 9.775
8  Ciara Gardner  Minnesota 9.750
9  Bailey Gardner  Minnesota 9.725
10  Erin Buchanan  University of Illinois 9.650
11  Bailie Holst  Minnesota 9.625
12  Jordyn Givens  University of Illinois 9.525

 

Uneven Parallel Bars Results  (Top)
Place  Gymnast  Team Score 
1  Mary Jane Horth  University of Illinois 9.975
2  Sunny Kato  University of Illinois 9.900
3  Sarah Lyons  University of Illinois 9.875
3  Lindsay Mable  Minnesota 9.875
5  Giana O'Connor  University of Illinois 9.825
6  Jordan Naleway  University of Illinois 9.800
6  Erin Buchanan  University of Illinois 9.800
8  Bailie Holst  Minnesota 9.750
8  Jenny Covers  Minnesota 9.750
10  Madie Hanley  Minnesota 9.725
11  Ciara Tomson  Minnesota 9.450
12  Ciara Gardner  Minnesota 9.125

 

Balance Beam Results  (Top)
Place  Gymnast  Team Score 
1  Lindsay Mable  Minnesota 9.925
2  Sunny Kato  University of Illinois 9.900
3  Mary Jane Horth  University of Illinois 9.850
3  Jenny Covers  Minnesota 9.850
5  Heather Foley  University of Illinois 9.825
5  Ciara Gardner  Minnesota 9.825
7  Jordan Naleway  University of Illinois 9.800
8  Bailey Gardner  Minnesota 9.650
8  Madie Hanley  Minnesota 9.650
10  Rachel Haines  Minnesota 9.375
11  Erin Buchanan  University of Illinois 9.275
12  Giana O'Connor  University of Illinois 9.100

 

Floor Exercise Results  (Top)
Place  Gymnast  Team Score 
1  Lindsay Mable  Minnesota 9.875
2  Ciara Tomson  Minnesota 9.825
3  Heather Foley  University of Illinois 9.800
3  Mary Jane Horth  University of Illinois 9.800
5  Giana O'Connor  University of Illinois 9.775
5  Ciara Gardner  Minnesota 9.775
7  Erin Buchanan  University of Illinois 9.750
8  Bailie Holst  Minnesota 9.725
9  Kaitlin Rahon  Minnesota 9.700
9  Jenny Covers  Minnesota 9.700
11  Kelsi Eberly  University of Illinois 9.675
11  Jordan Naleway  University of Illinois 9.675

 

All Around Results  (Top)
Place  Gymnast  Team Score 
1  Lindsay Mable  Minnesota 39.575 
2  Mary Jane Horth  University of Illinois 39.475 
3  Jenny Covers  Minnesota 39.175 
4  Giana O'Connor  University of Illinois 38.550 
5  Erin Buchanan  University of Illinois 38.475 
5  Ciara Gardner  Minnesota 38.475