CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -Â The Fighting Illini are set to travel to College Park, Md., to compete in the Big Four meet against Maryland, No. 15 Michigan, and No. 13 Minnesota.Â
About the Opponent
Maryland enters the meet with a 3-3 conference record, coming off a 195.750-194.725 victory over Iowa. The Terrapins dominated three of the four events, winning vault, beam, and floor. They opened the night on vault with a team score of 49.075, led by Natalie Martin, who tied her career high with a 9.925. Rhea LeBlanc also impressed, matching her career high with a 9.850. On floor, two Terps posted season-best scores—LeBlanc with a 9.900 and Madeline Komoroski with a 9.875—helping Maryland outscore Iowa 49.150 to 48.450. The Terps wrapped up the meet on beam with a team score of 48.775, as Komoroski tied her career high of 9.900 and Martin followed with a 9.800.
Michigan, ranked No. 15, holds a 4-2 conference record and is coming off a hard-fought loss to No. 2 UCLA. Despite the setback, the Wolverines set several new season highs. They posted a season-best 49.300 on vault, highlighted by Jenna Mulligan's career-high 9.950, which earned her a share of the event title. Their floor team also put up a season-best 49.400, led by Carly Bauman's 9.925 and Jahzara Ranger's 9.900. Bauman continued her strong performance by winning her second straight uneven bars title with a 9.975 and a stuck landing. She also tied for the beam title with a 9.900. Freshman Peyton Davis posted career highs on vault (9.825) and floor (9.850), while Sophie Parenti recorded a career-best 9.850 on floor and a 9.825 on bars. Freshmen Sophia Diaz and Ranger also notched career-best 9.900s on bars and floor, respectively.
Minnesota, ranked No. 13, holds a 5-1 conference record and heads into the meet after a 197.075-196.500 victory over No. 21 Nebraska. The Gophers shined on bars, posting a season-best 49.425, their highest score on the event since the 2024 NCAA Regional Finals. Mya Hooten led the way with a season-best 9.950, tying her career high set last season. She also shared the floor title with Nebraska's Sophia McClelland, scoring a 9.925. Hooten's 9.950 marked her second bars title of the season, while Ava Stewart followed closely behind with a career-high 9.925. The Gophers had another strong showing on floor, with Emily Koch scoring a 9.900 for the third time in 2025, Lauren Pearl earning a 9.875, and Marissa Jencks contributing a 9.825.
Last Time Out
The Fighting Illini enter the Big Four meet with momentum after a successful Senior Night on Feb. 22, where they defeated Washington and Illinois State. On vault, Olivia Coppola and Chloe Cho led off with matching 9.775s before Arielle Ward secured the team's top score of 9.800. On bars, Amelia Knight delivered a standout performance, earning a season-high 9.900 to claim a share of the event title. Cho contributed a 9.850, while Makayla Green and Ward each added 9.800s. Beam saw Ruthuja Nataraj post a season-high 9.875 to win the event title, followed by Coppola with a 9.850. Cho claimed the all-around title with a total score of 39.200.
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: 159-191-1 (.454), 21st season
At Illinois: 95-65-1 (.593), Eighth season
Big Ten: 72-61-1 (.541), Eighth season
Complete Meet Notes (PDF)
