Redbirds Gymnastic’s Team Takes Third in Illinois Classic

Posted on March 8, 2015

By ISU Sports

DEKALB – The Illinois State juniors Danci Cha and Sarah Fisher led the Redbirds to a season-high score in the floor competition with scores of 9.775, respectively, contributing to a final team score of 193.525, placing third in the Illinois Classic Saturday evening, inside the Convocation Center.

The fighting Illini won the battle with a team score of 196.275, as Northern Illinois took second place with a team score of 194.350, while Illinois State scored a 193.525 to place third, and Illinois-Chicago took fourth with a team score of 192.750.

Head coach Bob Conkling was satisfied with the improvements and personal-bests his team produced.

“Overall it was a good meet,” Conkling said. “I was proud of the women in the balance beam and floor competitions, but we could have been sharper on the uneven bars.”

The meet began with ISU posting a 48.125 score on the uneven bars. Juniors Amanda Mohler and Samantha Ward carried the team each scoring a 9.725 in the event. NIU posted a 48.975 on the vault, taking the lead. Illinois posted a 48.825 on the floor, and Illinois-Chicago tallied a 47.500 on the balance beam during the first rotation.

After the second rotation, Illinois took the lead with a score of 97.900. NIU followed with a team score of 97.825, while ISU took third with a score of 97.050. UIC fell short with a score of 95.825. The Redbirds were impressive as each gymnast scored a 9.700 or above, contributing to a team score of 48.925 on the balance beam.

“The entire team was exciting on the balance beam,” Conkling said.

The Redbirds remained in third place after the third rotation, with their performance on the floor. Cha and Fisher carried the team with scores of 9.775, respectively, along with senior Kristen Lieberman posting a personal-best score of 9.700, contributing to a season-high team score of 48.650.

“This was our best floor score all season,” Conkling said.

ISU suffered a rough vault competition, but remained in third place after the final rotation, with a team score of 47.825 in the event, totaling a final team score of 193.525.

Conkling is proud of the team, as this was their last meet of the season before the MIC Championships.

“This was a really good meet for the team to have leading up to the MIC Championships,” Conkling said. “We are looking solid, but still have some improvement to make before the championships in two weeks.”

Next up, the Redbirds will head to Denton, Texas to compete in the MIC Championships on Saturday, March 21, at 4 p.m., inside Kitty Magee Arena.

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