CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - After back-to-back double-meet weekends, the Orange and Blue will return to Huff Hall for Senior Day celebrations against new conference opponent Washington and nonconference foe Illinois State on Feb. 22 at 1 p.m. CT.
About the Huskies
In their last outing on Friday, Feb. 14, Washington gymnastics fell to Maryland 195.725-194.650 at Alaska Airlines Arena. The Huskies opened the meet on vault, with Kristin Lin tying a season best with a 9.775. Kira Bolden and Lex Mouyenga each posted career-high scores of 9.825, tying for third overall. On bars, Taylor Russon tied for first place with a 9.850, while Mary McDonough finished third with a 9.800. On beam, Emily Innes tied a career high with a 9.900 to take second place. Russon set a career high with a 9.950 to claim the event title. The night concluded on floor, where Olivia Oppegard matched a season high with a 9.775. Caitlin McWilliams tied for second with a 9.825.
About the Redbirds
The Illinois State gymnastics team was back at CEFCU Arena on Feb. 14, and the Redbirds responded with their third-best team score of the year, defeating Greenville by a score of 195.275-189.325. The Redbirds just missed out on their fourth-straight event score of over 49 to start the meet, as they posted a 48.925 on vault and then followed that with a 48.975 on bars, a welcome score after a tough score on that event last weekend at Towson. However, the third rotation on beam did not go as well for the Redbirds, as they had to count a fall and posted a score of 48.275. ISU did bounce back in the final rotation, going big on floor with a team score of 49.100. ISU finished with the top four performers on floor, with the trio of Mya Robinson, Alana Laster and Jaye Mack all tying for the top spot with a score of 9.850.
Last Time Out
After finishing third at the Zou to the Lou Quad on Feb. 14, the Illini fell to the Iowa Hawkeyes on Feb. 16 by a score of 196.200-194.975. The Orange and Blue started the day on bars, with Makayla Green's 9.825 leading the way. She would earn a share of the event title, tying the Hawkeyes' Auriele Tran. On vault, Olivia Coppola led off with a season-high 9.825, before Chloe Cho bested her career high with a 9.900 to lead the Illini and take the event title by a 0.050 margin of victory. As the Illini headed to floor, freshmen Kennedy Brown and Marly Esteves both showed up big in their first appearances on the apparatus, scoring 9.725 and 9.925 respectively. Chloe Cho also scored a 9.925 to lead the Illini with Esteves. To close out the meet, Illinois headed to beam, where Amelia Knight led the way with a 9.875 to share the event title. Cho also won the all-around with a score of 39.375.
The Cho Show
- Chloe Cho is now a four-time winner of the Big Ten Freshman of the Week award (Jan. 18, Jan. 31, Feb. 11, Feb. 18).
- This is the most Freshman of the Week wins in a single season in program history.
- Cho has earned 11 event titles just eight competitions into her collegiate career.
- Won her first event title on vault at the Ball State Quad on Jan. 12 with a 9.850.
- Earned titles on floor and in the all-around on Jan. 18 vs. Nebraska.
- Event winner on balance beam (9.925) at No. 8 UCLA on Jan. 25.
- Won the beam and all-around titles at No. 24 Penn State on Jan. 31.
- Won floor with a career-high 9.950 against No. 9 Missouri on Feb. 9.
- Event winner on beam and bars at the Zou to the Lou Quad on Feb. 14.
- Won the vault and all-around titles at Iowa on Feb. 16.
Changing the Game
- Head coach Nadalie Walsh was named the inaugural Game Changer for Women in Sports Leadership Award, Gameday Spirit announced on Feb. 5, 2025. The award recognizes "an outstanding women leader who has made a lasting impact on women's sports through mentorship, innovation, and advocacy."Â
- The Game Changer Award was established to celebrate National Girls & Women in Sports Day and recognize women across the Midwest who elevate the presence and success of female athletes at all levels.
- Walsh was selected due to her dedication to "redefining coaching with her heart-first approach, ensuring that athletes feel valued, supported, and empowered."
- Finalists for the award included:
- Cassie Arner– Senior Associate Director of Athletics, Fan Engagement, Fighting Illini Athletics
- Sara Burton – Chief Sports Officer, Senior Woman Administrator, Fighting Illini Athletics
- Shauna Green – Head Coach, Women's Basketball, Fighting Illini Athletics
- Courtney Layne Brewer – Sports Reporter, WCIA 3
- Amy Potter – Director, North American Partnerships, BMO Financial Group
Look Out!
- Freshman Chloe Cho and junior Arielle Ward were named to the Big Ten's Gymnasts to Watch during the preseason.
- Cho was previously a Level 10 state champion and nationals qualifier. The Simi Valley, Calif., native competed in the 2024 U.S. Championships, where she scored personal bests in the all-around competition on back-to-back days.
- She is now a four-time winner of the Big Ten Freshman of the Week award (Jan. 18, Jan. 31, Feb. 11, Feb. 18). This is the most Freshman of the Week wins in a single season in program history.
- Cho has won 11 titles in just eight meets this season.
- Ward is entering her third season with the Illini after competing in all 16 meets last season, primarily on vault and floor. The Frisco, Texas, native won third place on vault (9.900) at the 2024 Big Ten Championships, earning her a spot on the All-Championship Team.
- Ward took home the vault title in her season debut on the apparatus vs. Nebraska (Jan. 18) with a 9.850.
- Ward set career highs on vault in back-to-back meets (Feb. 7 & 9) to earn back-to-back event titles vs. No. 18 Ohio State and No. 9 Missouri.
Give Her Five
- After four years in Champaign-Urbana, Amelia Knight thought her time with the Illinois women's gymnastics team was over. Instead, Knight received the opportunity to come back for one more year.
- Knight immediately stepped into the lineup as a freshman, making her debut on beam and floor during the Illini's first meet of the 2021 season. The following year, she grew more comfortable, confident, and consistent, appearing in all 13 meets while garnering Academic All-Big Ten honors for the first time.
- As a junior, Knight helped the Illini set the program's beam record with a career-high 9.925 while once again competing in every meet. Also finding success off the mat, she earned Academic All-Big Ten status for the second consecutive season while being named a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar.
- With increased expectations for herself and the team, Knight is ready to make a splash heading into the 2024-25 campaign.
Division I Career Record: 157-191-1 (.451), 21st season
At Illinois: 93-65-1 (.588), Eighth season
Big Ten: 71-61-1 (.538), Eighth season
