CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Four Fighting Illini are set to compete in NCAA Regionals, which is slated for Friday at 6 p.m. CT in Lexington, Ky. Chloe Cho, Summer Clancy, Eden King, and Lyden Saltness will represent the Orange and Blue this weekend.
ILLINI AT NCAA REGIONALS
Chloe Cho (all-around), Summer Clancy (beam), Eden King (floor), and Lyden Saltness (bars) all earned spots in the Lexington, Ky., Regional.
A two-time WCGA Regular Season All-American, Cho put together a historic 2026 regular season, collecting 25 total titles, the third-most in a single campaign in program history. Recording 17 routines of at least a 9.9 on three different events, Cho was ranked among the top-10 gymnasts nationally on bars and all-around during the regular season.
Clancy heads to regionals after already putting together a phenomenal freshman season. Scoring at least a 9.8 in eight of her 11 appearances on beam this season, Clancy has collected two total event titles in 2026, including her first career beam win on Feb. 15. She was also named to the Big Ten All-Championships team on vault.
King progresses to Kentucky on floor after putting together some of her best routines over the last few weeks. She has registered three consecutive 9.900 marks on the event heading into regionals, including a team-high 9.900 on the apparatus at the Big Ten Championships.
Saltness earned her place at regionals on bars. She has posted six scores of at least 9.900 thus far this season, including three routines of 9.925. Ranking as high as No. 6 in the country on the apparatus earlier this year, Saltness has been in the bars lineup for the first time since 2024 after competing exclusively on beam last season.
LAST TIME OUT
The Illini recorded a 195.125 on the first day of the Big Ten Championships at State Farm Center on Friday night.
The Fighting Illini posted the highest individual scores on vault, bars, and beam as the Orange and Blue competed in Session I alongside Nebraska, Rutgers, and Washington.
"This team is completely unified. Through thick and thin, they stuck together. The lessons learned this year will not be forgotten," said head coach Josh Nilson. "There wasn't a point in this competition where they doubted their teammates; they stood shoulder to shoulder and fought the whole way. The groundwork has been laid by these incredible young women. We appreciate all of the support, and we look forward to building on the important lessons of the 2026 season. Keep an eye on this team; the future is bright! I-L-L!"Â
Starting the night on bars, the Illini scored a 48.675 behind a session-high 9.925 from Chloe Cho. Destiny Denning accounted for the team's second-best score with a 9.750, good for 12th place.
On beam, Cho continued her big night with a 9.875, which saw her hold first place on the apparatus after the first session. Summer Clancy collected a 9.825, which saw her tie for third place among Friday's teams.
With the Illini shifting to floor, Illinois secured its best score of the night with a 49.075. Eden King tied her career-high with a 9.900, which moved her into a tie for second place. Cho was not far behind with a 9.875, helping her take fourth place on Friday.
Ending the meet on vault, Clancy capped her Big Ten Championships debut with a 9.900, tying her career-best score on the event while holding first place in the meet. King's 9.750 moved her into a tie for seventh place.
CHAMPIONSHIPS INFO
Rotation Schedule
Rotation 1: Chloe Cho - Bars; Eden King - Floor
Rotation 2: Chloe Cho - Beam
Rotation 3: Chloe Cho - Floor; Lyden Saltness - Bars
Rotation 4: Chloe Cho - Vault; Summer Clancy - Beam
Advancing from regional competition to the national championships will be a total of eight teams and four all-around competitors and 16 event specialists. The top two teams, the top all-around competitors, and the top event specialist on each event (who are not on an advancing team) from each regional will receive an automatic berth to the national championships.
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.
