NIU Takes Second in Gymnastics Opener
Friday's Scoreboard
Alabama-194.750,
Northern Illinois-193.325, Temple-191.925, Southeast Missouri-187.800
Northern Illinois
Results
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Northern Illinois University gymnastics team opened its 2019 season Friday night with a solid performance, finishing second to sixth-ranked Alabama in a Quad Meet in Tuscaloosa.
NIU totaled a score of 193.325 to defeat Temple (191.925) and Southeast Missouri (187.800), while sixth-ranked Alabama finished with a score of 194.750.
"I'm super happy with how we performed [tonight]," said NIU head coach Sam Morreale. "For the first meet, in that kind of atmosphere with a big crowd and a lot of noise, we handled it really well. There were a bunch of bright spots, and obviously little mistakes which we will address. Overall I'm super happy.
"We started off and everybody hit bars so we were happy there; we really vaulted well and I think we can even be better. On floor, Anna [Martucci] did what Anna does, she went 9.8 and just had a great routine. It was great to see Nina [Martucci] on vault, she has really done a great job on that event this preseason."
Five gymnasts made their Huskie debuts, including freshman Morgan Hooper, who tied for second on the balance beam with a 9.725. Junior Cinny Lamberti and sophomore Zoie Schroeder each scored 9.675 on beam to tie for fourth. As a team, NIU scored a 48.100 on balance beam to lead all teams in the meet.
"Beam is going to be challenging for a lot of teams this year with some changes in the judging, so for Morgan [Hooper] to take second was really a highlight," Morreale said. "Freshmen are going to be freshmen, but they are super-talented. It was great to see Catherine Biddle finally getting up there on beam, and Zoie come back after missing last year. Even with the judging, I think beam as we progress through the year is going to be one of our more solid events."
Senior Anna Martucci, an NCAA qualifier on floor exercise in 2018, picked up right where she left off with the Huskies' highest score of the meet as she earned a 9.800 on floor to tie for second on the event. Junior Allison Richardson was close behind with a 9.750 to tie for fifth.
In terms of scoring, NIU's top event of the meet was its final event as the Huskies posted a team total of 48.500 on vault. Lamberti led the way with a 9.775 to tie for fourth, followed by Gabby Welch (9.725) and freshman Tara Kofmehl (9.700).
NIU opened its season on uneven parallel bars and got six "hit" routines to total a 48.450 as a team. Junior Allison Richardson led the way on bars with a 9.775 and Amanda Bartemio added a 9.750 as all five of the Huskie counting scores came in at 9.625 or higher on the event.
"Overall, it was a great opening meet," Morreale said. "It was loud, it was busy and they did the whole fireworks thing for march-in. It's a cool venue, it felt very much like a MAC Championship, and was a great way to start."
In addition to freshmen Hooper – on beam, bars and vault – and Kofmehl (floor exercise and vault), sophomores Schroeder and Catherine Biddle appeared in their first meet with both competing on balance beam. Junior Nina Martucci was in the line-up for the first time in her career on vault and bars.
The Huskies return to action on Sunday, January 13 as they open Mid-American Conference action with a dual meet at Western Michigan. NIU opens its home season on Friday, January 18 at 6 p.m. when the Huskies take on Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan in a triangular meet at the NIU Convocation Center. All NIU home regular season gymnastics meets are free to the public.
