Full Results
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The Illini claimed four event titles on the way to defeating Nebraska 196.275-195.600 on Saturday (Jan. 18) at Huff Hall.
"I am extremely proud of the team's performance and togetherness at this competition," said head coach Nadalie Walsh. "They truly made an incredible comeback after last weekend and approached their routines with confidence and assertiveness."
The Orange and Blue started off strong on vault with junior Arielle Ward leading the way with a 9.825. Her season debut on the event topped all gymnasts, as she snagged the event title.Â
In the second rotation, Amelia Knight (9.850), Chloe Cho (9.850) and Mareli Muller (9.825) all elevated their season highs on uneven bars, but it was Makayla Green who walked away on top with a 9.900 - a new career high. Green's score improved by a full tenth of a point from last week's event-winning routine.
Illinois trailed the Huskers by 0.025 headed to beam, but the team didn't slow down. After her 2024 season was cut short due to injury, Ruthuja Nataraj made her season debut on the balance beam with a score of 9.700. Cho, Eden King and Olivia Coppola all raised their career highs to 9.825 to tie as the Illini's high scorers.
The Illini kept the momentum going into the final rotation. Tali Joelson tallied a 9.875 to tie her career high, and she was quickly followed by new career highs for King (9.900) and Cho (9.925). Not only did Cho's score give her the floor title, but also sealed her first-place spot in the all-around competition with a total score of 39.400.
"Chloe, Arielle and Makayla had outstanding event-winning performances," Coach Walsh explained. "They all handled the pressure and turned it into an opportunity for success. Tonight's victory was an absolute group effort where each person needed to trust themselves and one another, which was great to see from my young team."
Next, Illinois heads to the West Coast to face new Big Ten addition, UCLA, on Saturday, Jan. 25 at 4 p.m. CT.
Event Winners
Chloe Cho - Floor Exercise (9.925), All-Around (39.400)
Makayla Green - Uneven Bars (9.900)
Arielle Ward - Vault (9.850)
Career Highs
Chloe Cho - Uneven Bars (9.850), Balance Beam (9.825), Floor Exercise (9.925), All-Around (39.400)
Olivia Coppola - Balance Beam (9.825)
Makayla Green - Uneven Bars (9.900)
Tali Joelson - Floor Exercise (9.875)
Eden King - Balance Beam (9.825), Floor Exercise (9.900)
Mareli Muller - Uneven Bars (9.825), Floor Exercise (9.875), All-Around (38.225)
