Saturday's Gymnastics Results
Northern Illinois
IOWA CITY, Iowa -- The Northern Illinois University women's gymnastics team suffered a 194.500-192.825 setback at the University of Iowa in the 2016 season opener at Carver-Hawkeye Arena Saturday afternoon.
"I thought we did really well. I thought we did a good job of staying together," said NIU head coach Sam Morreale. "I thought there was a lot of good energy and we did a lot of good gymnastics. A lot of kids placed in the events. Some stumbles and falls, but overall, as a staff, we're very pleased with how we did.
"It's good to get the first one out of the way and see what it feels like to be in a meet. We talked about all the pressure stuff we do in practice, but nothing really prepares you for what happens when you get out in front of people, and judges. We're definitely going to dwell on the positives and keep building off those."
NIU took a 48.675-48.450 lead after the first rotation, which it began on the uneven parallel bars. Lauren Africano (Bourbonnais, Ill./Bradley-Bourbonnais) led the way as the Huskie senior posted a career-best 9.850. She tied with two Hawkeye gymnasts for first place.
"Lauren's been rock solid all preseason," he said. "To watch her get out there and do what she's been doing since last year is a testament to her and shows how well she's going to do this year."
Courtney Dowdell (Lynwood, Ill./Thornton Fractional South) was the next highest-placing Huskie on the event, turning in a 9.750 to finish seventh, while Natalie Amadio (Lake Zurich, Ill./Lake Zurich) and Ashley Potts(Oakwood Hills, Ill./Prairie Ridge) each scored a 9.725.
Iowa took a 97.500-96.700 lead following the second rotation. The Hawkeyes scored a 49.050 on bars, while the Huskies posted a 48.025 on vault. Dowdell and sophomore Andie Van Voorhis (Columbus, Ohio/Hilliard) led the way for NIU each scoring a 9.675. Megan Gilliam (Fishers, Ind./Fishers) posted a 9.600.
NIU cut into the Iowa lead in the third rotation by posting a 48.375 on floor, while the Hawkeyes scored a 48.150 on beam. In her return to the floor exercise after a year off, Megan Greenfield (Crystal Lake, Ill./Crystal Lake South) scored a team-high 9.800. Greenfield finished the event, third overall. NIU headed into the final rotation trailing, 145.650-145.075.
"It was great getting Greeny out there," Morreale said of Greenfield's floor routine. "She vaulted really well too. I know it might not have shown in the scores. For a three-event kid, she had a really good day for us."
Unfortunately, the Huskies were unable to close the gap with their performance on beam. NIU scored a 47.750 with Greenfield pacing NIU. The Huskie junior scored a 9.825, tying her career best, and finished in third place. Sophomore Andie Van Voorhis (Columbus, Ohio/Hilliard) was right behind Greenfield, posting a 9.700. The Hawkeyes tallied a 48.850 on floor to clinch the meet victory.
Freshmen Ally Ferber and Paige Nicholas turned in solid performances in their first competitions. Ferber took fifth on floor with a 9.750, while Nicholas took seventh with a 9.675 on beam. Both were the second best scores for the Huskies for their respective events.
The Huskies return home Saturday, Jan. 16 when NIU welcomes in-state rival UIC to the Convocation Center. The meet begins at 4 p.m. and can be seen live on ESPN3 or the WatchESPN App.
Western Michigan
KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Western Michigan’s gymnastics team had its best opener in program history, beating Illinois-Chicago, 194.025-190.700. The win was the largest margin of victory in a duel meet for the Broncos since the season opener in 2012 against Centenary College.
“I thought vault was awesome for us,” head coach Penny Jernigan said. “It was the best vault we’ve ever done to open the season. The kids were really good. On bars we had some hiccups and I think it’s just dusting off the cobwebs. They bounced back beautifully on beam. They know now they are ready and I think we’ll really see them attack bars and do just as well in the other events.”
In the aforementioned vault the Broncos totaled 48.600 as a team. Last season it took Western Michigan six meets into the season to better the score of 48.600. Leading the way in the day’s opening event were Jessi Buis, Anna Corbett and Kelsey Hood all who scored a 9.750, giving them a three-way tie for top score among the 12 competitors on both sides.
Corbett’s 9.750 was a sign of things to come on the day, as she totaled 9.700 or better on all four events, finishing with an all-around total of 39.050. Her all-around total was the highest of the five competitors on both teams who qualified for all-around.
“Anna was just phenomenal,” Jernigan said. “To go over a 39 in the first meet of the season, coming off being the MAC champion was stellar.”
Western Michigan’s best event was its final of the day on the floor where the Broncos scored a 48.975. Top honors in the event belonged to Rachael Underwood who scored a 9.825, one of three WMU athletes in the event to go 9.80 or higher in the event along with Hood and Corbett who each totaled a 9.80.
Kira Hoy scored a 9.775 in the event, just the second time competing in the floor in her career. She competed once as a freshman last year on the floor, scoring a 9.550.
Underwood’s results came in her collegiate debut for the freshman. Along with her performance in the floor, she also scored a 9.650 in the vault and 9.725 on the beam.
“Rachael looked like a veteran competing out there,” Jernigan said. “I couldn’t be more proud of all of them. They really are a cohesive group and had each other’s backs the whole time.
Overall the Broncos had individuals win three of four events. Aside from the aforementioned three-way tie in the vault, and Underwood’s title in the floor, Jessi Peszek won the balance beam title with a score of 9.800.
Western Michigan will return to action on Sunday, Jan. 17, at 1 p.m., as it competes in a three-way meet with Bowling Green and Eastern Michigan.
