ISU Gymnastics Falls to SEMO on Senior Night | The Vidette
- – A costly rotation on the balance beam derailed Illinois State’s Senior Night celebration Saturday, as the Redbirds fell to Southeast Missouri State (SEMO) 194.150-192.475 at CEFCU Arena.
- Despite a strong start on vault and a dominant performance on uneven bars, ISU couldn’t overcome the struggles on beam, ultimately succumbing to SEMO for the third time...
- The meet began promisingly for Illinois State, with all gymnasts achieving scores of 9.700 or higher on vault.
NORMAL, Ill. – A costly rotation on the balance beam derailed Illinois State’s Senior Night celebration Saturday, as the Redbirds fell to Southeast Missouri State (SEMO) 194.150-192.475 at CEFCU Arena.
Despite a strong start on vault and a dominant performance on uneven bars, ISU couldn’t overcome the struggles on beam, ultimately succumbing to SEMO for the third time this season. The Redbirds now hold a 4-11 overall record.
The meet began promisingly for Illinois State, with all gymnasts achieving scores of 9.700 or higher on vault. Sammie Wolff and Savannah Ray led the charge, tying for second place with matching scores of 9.750. Jaly Jones, Leah Davis, and Mia Oh all landed in the top 10, with Oh securing a 9.725 and Jones and Davis both posting 9.700s. This strong showing resulted in a team score of 48.625 after the first rotation.
ISU carried that momentum into the uneven bars, where they truly excelled. Madyson Baucom took first place overall with a score of 9.700. Jada Beswick and Jercy Koliego tied for second place, both earning scores of 9.675. Savannah Ray added a 9.650, and Mia LeBlanc scored a 9.600. The Redbirds’ combined score of 96.925 put them in the lead heading into the balance beam rotation.
Unfortunately, the balance beam proved to be ISU’s undoing. Savannah Ray started strong with a 9.600, and Jaly Jones followed with a 9.700, maintaining some momentum. In what was her final routine at CEFCU Arena, Courtney Woods tallied a 9.650. However, falls from Ally Lau and Mia LeBlanc significantly impacted the team’s score. Despite fighting to finish their routines, Lau posted an 8.875 and LeBlanc managed an 8.650.
Trailing after the beam rotation, ISU attempted to rally on the floor exercise. Seniors Jaly Jones, Leah Davis, and Mia Oh showcased their experience, with Davis and Jones both earning scores of 9.800 and Oh close behind with a 9.775. The Redbirds finished the final rotation with a score of 48.675, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the earlier deficit.
The Redbirds will be back in action on at 6 p.m. Inside Horton Field House, where they will face Northern Illinois in their final home meet of the regular season.
Lucy Tomlinson is a sports reporter for The Vidette. She can be contacted at lrtomli@ilstu.edu.