CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois women's gymnastics team returns to State Farm Center to host the Big Ten Women's Gymnastics Championships, a two-day event from March 20-21. The Fighting Illini will compete in Session I on Friday at 6 p.m. CT alongside Nebraska, Rutgers, and Washington.
LAST TIME OUT
Illinois closed the regular season with a third-place finish at a quad meet on Sunday afternoon that featured No. 13 Minnesota, No. 20 Iowa, and Northern Illinois.
The Illini began the afternoon on bars, scoring a 48.625 as a team. Lyden Saltness secured the team's highest score on the event with a 9.900, her sixth time scoring at least a 9.9 on the apparatus this season, which saw her finish in fourth place. Chloe Cho claimed a 9.800 as she tied for ninth place.
On beam, Callie Kauffman tied her career-high with a 9.775 in the leadoff position, while Alea Byrne tied her best score of the season with a 9.850, which marked the team's best score on the event and placed tied for sixth. As a team, Illinois tallied a 49.000 as the meet reached the halfway point.
The Orange and Blue registered a 48.750 on floor, with Eden King tying her career-high with a 9.900 on the event, which helped her take a share of third place. Ava Banks posted the team's second-best score with a 9.775 as the Illini moved to their final rotation of the day.
On vault, the Illini finished the afternoon with a 48.775. Summer Clancy led the way with a 9.800, settling for 10th place, while Byrne and Olivia Coppola both registered identical 9.775 marks to round out the top-three scores for the Orange and Blue.
CHAMPIONSHIPS SCHEDULE
Session 1:Â Illinois - Nebraska - Rutgers - Washington
Friday, March 20, at 6Â p.m. CT
Session 2:Â Iowa - Maryland - Ohio State - Penn State
Saturday, March 21, at 12 p.m. CT
Session 3: Michigan - Michigan State - Minnesota - UCLA
Saturday, March 21, at 5Â p.m. CT
Cho Earns All-B1G First Team Honors for Second Straight Season
Sophomores Chloe Cho and Eden King were recognized with All-Big Ten honors by the conference on Wednesday. Cho secured a spot on the All-Big Ten First Team for the second consecutive season, while King was named the Illini's Big Ten Sportsmanship Award honoree.
An all-arounder for the Orange and Blue, Cho continued her collegiate dominance in 2026. The California native won 19 total event titles – including seven on bars, six on beam, five on floor, and one on vault – while also taking six all-around victories. Her 25 total titles are the third-most in a single season in program history as the Illini shift into postseason competition.
Recording 16 routines of at least a 9.9 across three different events, Cho has been ranked among the top-10 gymnasts nationally on bars and all-around throughout the regular season. Her 39.575 all-around score at the Illini's Big 4 meet at Minnesota marked her career-high and is now tied for the sixth-best score in program history. Cho also surpassed 1,000 points in her career earlier this campaign.
This now marks the fifth straight season in which the Illini have had an All-Big Ten First Team honoree after Mia Takekawa achieved that distinction from 2022-24.
King was tabbed with Big Ten Sportsmanship Award honors for the first time in her career.
Illini Set to Host 2026 Big Ten Women's Gymnastics Championships
Fighting Illini women's gymnastics will host the 2026 Big Ten Women's Gymnastics Championships from March 20-21.
Illinois will compete in the first session, which is set for Friday, March 20, at 6 p.m. CT.
"To have the opportunity to host the Big Ten Championships at the University of Illinois is a great honor. We are looking forward to bringing more visibility to our university and the Big Ten as a whole," said first-year head coach Josh Nilson said. "We will host a first-class event for both the fans and visiting teams. Make plans to be in Champaign, Illinois this March."
The Fighting Illini will host the Big Ten Championships for the third time in program history. The Orange and Blue hosted the conference competition for the first time in 2003 and most recently served as the host in 2009.
Illinois has finished sixth at the Big Ten Championships in each of the last two seasons, while Chloe Cho was awarded Big Ten Freshman of the Year at the event in 2025.
In 2021, Illinois secured a tie for third place. Current assistant coach Abby Mueller was a student-athlete for the Illini during that time, helping the Illini earn a score of 196.625.
