CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -The Fighting Illini women's gymnastics team heads home for week two to face off No. 17 Penn State on Friday, January 10 at 7:00 p.m. CT. The matchup will be the first Big Ten meet Illinois competes in this season.
About the Opponent
Penn State is coming off their first win of the season vs. Yale: a 196.225 - 193.850 victory on Jan. 11. As a team they are ranked 17th in the nation, tied with fellow Big Ten school Michigan State, and hold the 13th place in the uneven bars.
Last Time Out
In the Border Battle, Illinois placed second with a score 194.950. Two gymnasts performances at Border Battle Meet in Iowa City, Iowa this past Saturday. Chlo Cho earned the third spot in the NCAA All-Around rankings. Her final score was a 39.525, winning the event. The bars (9.950) and beam (9.900) titles were also claimed by Cho at the Illini's opening quad meet. After only competing beam in the 2025s season, junior Lyden Saltness puts up a 9.925 on the uneven bars, bringing her to number six in the NCAA rankings for week two.
Eyes on the Illini
- Freshman Summer Clancy and sophomore Chloe Cho were named to the Big Ten's Gymnasts to Watch list during the preseason.
- Clancy, a Columbia, Ill., native, comes out of her high school career with a 2025 Missouri all-around state champion title. In 2023 and 2025, she was a nationals qualifier.
- Cho had a decorated first year with the Illini, earning Big Ten Freshman of the Week four times, sixteen event titles, and won 2025's B1G Ten Freshman of the Year award. She was also a member of All-Big Ten First Team and the Big Ten All-American Team.
Head Coach Josh Nilson
Record At Illinois: 2-1, 1st year
Complete Illinois Meet Notes (PDF)
