CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illini hit the road again to face Big Ten opponent Iowa at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa. The Princess and Superhero Night is slated for a 6 p.m. CT start on Saturday, February 16 and will stream live on BTN2Go.com. A tape delay version will air on BTN on Sunday, February 17 at 9 a.m. CT. The last time Illinois won in Iowa City was 2015, defeating the Hawkeyes, 196.975-196.375, in a close contest.

Scouting the Opposition | Iowa (2-5)

Larissa Libby enters her 15th year as the Iowa Hawkeyes head coach and 19th year overall with the Hawkeyes… In 2018, Libby led Iowa to its 18th NCAA Regional appearance with a No. 33 national ranking and a 13-win season… Outside the gym, a record 11 gymnasts received Academic All-Big Ten honors in 2018… The Hawkeyes recorded the best championship score in program history at the 2017 Big Ten Championship with a 196.725; good enough for a third-place finish... In 2013, Iowa finished its homestand undefeated and recorded their highest average home attendance with 1,414 fans… Libby has garnered accolades for her success with the Hawkeyes, including two-time North Central Region Coach of the Year (2009, 2016) and two-time Big Ten Coach of the Year (2008, 2017)… Returners include All-Big Ten honorees Clair Kaji and Nicole Chow, along with All-Big Ten Championship Team Member Charlotte Sullivan. Returners Misty-Jade Carlson, Maria Ortiz, and Gina Leal also add depth to the lineups. The Hawkeyes also welcome a big incoming class with seven freshmen.

Last Time Out

In front of a season-high 1,779 fans, the Illini women's gymnastics team swept the meet in a close victory over the Michigan State Spartans, 195.100-194.575. Illinois continues to dominate the series with its 10th consecutive win. Sophomore Kylie Noonan clinched the victory for the Illini with a career-high 9.925 on floor. Illinois also earned season-high totals on vault (49.100) and floor (49.175).

The Orange and Blue dominated the individual standings, capturing all four events and the all-around title – Redshirt senior Mary Jane Otto captured the beam and all-around title. Sophomore Kylie Noonan won bars and floor with career-highs, while sophomore Kasey Meeks and junior Karen Howell each recorded a career-high 9.900 to tie for the vault title. Otto returned to the all-around for the first time this season, recording her first all-around title since 2016.

Illini Taking Titles

Since beginning Big Ten play, six Illini gymnasts have combined to win 13 individual titles in the four conference meets of the season. Overall, Illinois has captured 17 individual titles. Redshirt senior Mary Jane Otto leads the way with five titles amongst bars, beam, and all-around. The Akron, Ohio native returned to the all-around against Michigan State last week, capturing her first all-around title since 2016 with a 39.325, along with the beam title (season-high 9.875). Sophomore Kylie Noonan is close behind with four titles with three on floor and one on bars. Noonan's bars title was extra special as it was the first time she competed in the Illini lineup on that event, earning a career-high 9.875. Junior Karen Howell also recorded three individual titles, including career-firsts on vault and in the all-around. Rounding out the pack is sophomore Kasey Meeks and junior Rae Balthazor with two individual titles each, while freshman Shaylah Scott earned her first individual title of career on beam with a 9.825.

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.

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 travel to Toledo, Ohio for the Big Five Meet hosted by Elevate the Stage on Saturday, Feb. 23 at 6 p.m. CT. This will give the Orange and Blue a chance to compete on podium before the postseason. Illinois will compete against No. 8 Michigan, No. 16 Minnesota, No. 22 Ohio State, and Rutgers to determine the seeding for next month's Big Ten Championships hosted by Penn State. The meet will stream live on FloGymnastics.

Last season, the Illini had tremendous success at the Big Five Meet held in East Lansing, Mich. Illinois won the meet with a season-high 196.850, defeating Maryland, Ohio, Nebraska, and Michigan State. The team score also placed the Orange and Blue in the record books for the seventh-highest team score in program history. Rae Balthazor led the way with titles on bars, beam, and all-around.

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