CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illini women's gymnastics team will continue their conference slate, traveling to Lincoln, Neb. for a marquee Big Ten showdown against No. 18 Nebraska on Saturday, Jan. 26 inside the Bob Devaney Sports Center. The meet will begin at 7 pm CT and will be stream live on HuskersNside. At last season's Big Five Meet, the Illini knocked off the Huskers who went on to compete in the last Super Six at the NCAA Championships.
Scouting the Opposition | No. 18 Nebraska (2-1)
The Nebraska Huskers are led by interim head coach Heather Brink, who is entering her first season in the position...Brink has spent the past seven seasons on the Nebraska women's gymnastics staff under previous head coach Dan Kendig… As an assistant and associate head coach, Brink helped the program win back-to-back Big Ten titles (2012-13) and assisted the program to five consecutive trips to the NCAA Championships (2014-18), including two Super Sixes (2014, 2018)... Nebraska's sixth place finish at the 2018 NCAA Championships, concluded its best season finish since 2014. The Huskers also made their 12th appearance at Super Six in the final year of Super Six competition… Nebraska ended last season with a record of 28-10, (6-3, Big Ten) and scored their highest team score in five years with a 197.525 at the NCAA Raleigh Regional… Nebraska's young and talented roster is led by All-Americans Sierra Crouse, Megan Schweihofer, and Taylor Houchin. Returners Sierra Hassel, Catelyn Orel, Kynsee Roby, and Megan Verceles Carr also add depth to the lineups. The Huskers also welcome five fantastic freshmen – Adnerys De Jesus, Sarah Hargrove, Abby Johnston, Kaylee Quinn, and Megan Thompson.
Last Time Out
Illinois women's gymnastics opened their Big Ten slate with a close win against Maryland on Jan. 19 to earn their first victory of the season, 195.075-194.950. This marked the first meet this season that the Illini posted 49+ on two or more events – season-highs on 49.050 (bars) and 49.125 (floor). The Illini went six-for-six in the bars lineup, leading to the first time the Illini hit the 49 mark on the event this season.
An event away from a sweep, the Orange and Blue captured four out of the five individual titles – junior Rae Balthazor on vault, redshirt senior Mary Jane Otto on bars, sophomore Kylie Noonan on floor, and junior Karen Howell in the all-around. Howell captured her first career all-around title with a career-high 39.125. Balthazor earned her first vault title of her career, tying a season-best 9.800. Otto's 9.875 on bars marked her second bars title of the season, marking the first time since 2017 that she won back-to-back titles. For a career first, sophomore Noonan's 9.875 on floor earned her back-to-back floor titles this season. Freshman Shaylah Scott continues to make her mark, earning a career-high 9.825 on floor.
Big Ten Predictions
The Big Ten Conference were well-represented in the WCGA Preseason Coaches' poll as eight of its 10 programs appeared in the top-36. Illinois ranked third in the preseason Big Ten women's gymnastics coaches' poll. The Orange and Blue moved four spots from the previous year, where they began the season in seventh-place. Reigning Big Ten champion, Michigan, topped the league list announced in mid-December.
Gymnasts to Watch
Illinois juniors Rae Balthazor and Karen Howell were named to the Big Ten Gymnasts to Watch list. Balthazor finished second-team All-American in 2018 on floor when she earned a score of 9.900 to finish eighth in the NCAA Semifinal session. She also received first team All-Big Ten and Academic All-Big Ten honors. Howell won six individual event titles and earned three career-highs on bars (9.925), beam (9.900), and floor (9.900) in 2018. Also earned Academic All-Big Ten honors.
Homecoming for Husker great, Jessie DeZiel
Illinois women's gymnastics assistant coach Jessie DeZiel returns to Lincoln, Neb. after an illustrious career as a Husker from 2012-15. While at Nebraska, the nine-time All-American hit 206 of her 207 routines and earned 61 career titles. Her individual success helped the Huskers win the 2013 Big Ten Championships and qualify to back-to-back NCAA Championships, including a Super Six appearance in 2014. DeZiel garnered many awards throughout her collegiate career including the Big Ten Medal of Honor, Big Ten Freshman of the Year, and a finalist for the AAI Gymnastics Award, which recognizes the most outstanding college senior.
The Nutrition Exercise and Health Science graduate began her coaching career with Nebraska, serving as a student assistant coach for the 2015-16 season. Assisting with the beam squad, she helped the Huskers earn an eighth-place finish at the 2016 NCAA Championships.
Returners
The Illini return 21 routines and eight letterwinners from 2018. Four seniors lead the team — Mary Jane Otto (formerly Horth), Rachael Donovan, Julia Hutcherson, and Haylee Roe, while juniors Rae Balthazor and Karen Howell return for their third season with the program. With a year under their belt, sophomores Nicole Biondi, Kasey Meeks, and Kylie Noonan add depth to the lineups.
Newcomers
With her first incoming class for the orange and blue, head coach Nadalie Walsh and the Illini welcomed four freshmen, Mallory Mizuki (Shelby Township, Mich.), Shaylah Scott (Plano, Texas), Torie Stotz (Western Springs, Ill.), and Erin Weisel (Carlsbad, Calif.). All four are expected to immediately elevate the program after successful club careers in the Junior Olympic program. The offseason also proved generous for the Illini as Walsh added early freshman enrollee Grace Hester and Maryland transfer Morgan Bixler from Big Ten opponent, Maryland. Bixler will add depth to the Illini vault and bars lineups, while Hester is looking to contribute on bars.
Otto Granted Another Year of Eligibility
The Illini received exciting news in May when All-American and two-time First Team All-Big Ten honoree, Mary Jane Otto (formerly Horth), was awarded another year of eligibility by the NCAA. Otto, a three-time NACGC Regular-Season All-American (First team -1, Second team - 2), was sidelined for her junior (2016) and redshirt senior year (2018) due to season ending injuries. A sixth year of gymnastics eligibility means Otto will be able to compete in the 2019 season while continuing her studies at Illinois. The 2017 Big Ten bars champion is looking to make an immediate impact in her final year wearing the Orange and Blue.
A Head Above the Rest
At 5'9", Illini freshman Shaylah Scott may be tall, but joins the Illinois women's gymnastics program with a wealth of national experience. A two-time Junior Olympic Level 10 National and Nastia Liukin Cup qualifier, Scott impressed at the 2016 Junior Olympic Level 10 Nationals, winning the all-around and vault titles and becoming a member of the Junior Olympic National Team. At the 2016 Region 3 Level 10 Championship, Scott swept all four events and the all-around to qualify to nationals. Gaining podium experience at the Nastia Liukin Cup, the Plano, Texas native competed in the junior division, finishing second on floor and in the all-around and third on vault and beam in 2015. With long lines and a strong build, Scott is one to watch for this season.
Next rotation
The Illini return home for back-to-back Big Ten meets in Huff Hall, starting with our Salute to Service meet on Saturday, Feb. 2 to honor all current and former military members in attendance. Facing No. 25 Penn State, the meet is slated for a 4 p.m. CT start, streaming live on BTN Plus and FloGymnastics. After the meet, the Orange and Blue will be hosting their first free youth clinic of the season. For more information and to register, click here.
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