The Illini women’s gymnastics team proved their resiliency in its 196.400-195.600 win over the Penn State Nittany Lions Saturday evening.

The meet began on a close note, as Illinois scored a 49.025 on vault while Penn State scored a 49.000 on bars. Illini freshman Jordyn Givens scored a new career-high with the stuck Yurchenko that earned a solid 9.600. Lexi Carroll began the competition for the Nittany Lions with a fall, but the remainder of the lineup were unfazed and all scored at least a 9.700.

Illinois lost their lead after the second rotation as a result of Penn State’s fantastic vault lineup, which scored a 49.550. Penn State senior Krystal Welsh and freshman Briannah Tsang led the way for the the Nittany Lions with scores of 9.950 for their near-perfect vaults. Welsh has a unique vault with a half-on entry while Tsang vaults a Yurchenko full.



Penn State huddles up after the meet.

Although Illinois lost their lead after the second rotation, Illini sophomore Mary Jane Horth highlighted the Illini’s bar lineup with a career-high 9.925. Horth’s routine is an upgrade from last year’s, including a Gienger, Maloney half, and full out dismount.



Mary Jane Horth hits a handstand while warming up on bars.

The third rotation was a game changer. Coming in, the score was 98.175-98.55, Penn State. The Nittany Lions failed to build off the meet-high event total of 49.550 and scored a 48.425 due to falls and landing out of bounds.

Meanwhile, the Illini were fighting through wobbles and balance checks on beam. The Illini fought their way through and scored above a 49.000 on beam for the first time this season. Illinois headed into the final rotation with the lead, 147.300-146.975.


During the four-minute warmup, Mary Jane Horth practices her jumps on beam.

Penn State’s troubles followed them into the final rotation. Lead-off Lexi Carroll fell during her beam routine and scored a 9.175. Though the fall didn’t affect the remainder of the lineup immediately, Tsang fell on her routine, fourth in the lineup, meaning the Lions would have to count a fall.

On the other hand, Illinois’s floor lineup had their best meet of the season, scoring a season-high 49.100. The Illini counted no score below a 9.800, four scores of 9.800 and one 9.900 from junior Giana O’Connor.

The Fighting Illini bounced back from a loss at Michigan last weekend for a home win. The meet was the first time this season the Illini scored a 49.000 or higher on all events and gave them their season-high of 196.400.  

Full results are shown below.

 

Team Standing  (Top)

Place	Team	Score
1	University of Illinois	196.400
2	Penn State	195.600

 

University of Illinois  (Top)
Head Coach:  Kim Landrus

Gymnast	Vault	Bars	Beam	Floor	AllArr
Erin Buchanan	9.850	9.725	9.800	9.700	39.075
Kelsi Eberly				9.800
Heather Foley	9.750		9.725	9.800
Jordyn Givens	9.600
Mary Jane Horth	9.825	9.925	9.875	9.800	39.425
Sunny Kato		9.825	9.900
Sarah Lyons	9.700	9.825
Jordan Naleway		9.800	9.800	9.800
Giana O'Connor	9.900	9.775	9.750	9.900	39.325
Team Totals	49.025	49.150	49.125	49.100	196.400

 

Penn State  (Top)
Head Coach:  Jeff Thompson

Gymnast	Vault	Bars	Beam	Floor	AllArr
Lexi Carroll		9.050	9.175	9.800
Lauren Li	9.900	9.800	9.900	9.500	39.100
Nicole Medvitz			9.675
Sidney Sanabria-Robles	9.875	9.900	9.950	9.775	39.500
Emma Sibson	9.850			8.550
Oni Timothy	9.875
Briannah Tsang	9.950	9.800	9.200	9.650	38.600
Krystal Welsh	9.950	9.700	9.900	9.700	39.250
Alex Witt		9.800
Team Totals	49.550	49.000	48.625	48.425	195.600

 

Vault Results  (Top)

Place	Gymnast	Team	Score
1	Krystal Welsh	Penn State	9.950
1	Briannah Tsang	Penn State	9.950
3	Giana O'Connor	University of Illinois	9.900
3	Lauren Li	Penn State	9.900
5	Oni Timothy	Penn State	9.875
5	Sidney Sanabria-Robles	Penn State	9.875
7	Erin Buchanan	University of Illinois	9.850
7	Emma Sibson	Penn State	9.850
9	Mary Jane Horth	University of Illinois	9.825
10	Heather Foley	University of Illinois	9.750
11	Sarah Lyons	University of Illinois	9.700
12	Jordyn Givens	University of Illinois	9.600

 

Uneven Parallel Bars Results  (Top)

Place	Gymnast	Team	Score
1	Mary Jane Horth	University of Illinois	9.925
2	Sidney Sanabria-Robles	Penn State	9.900
3	Sarah Lyons	University of Illinois	9.825
3	Sunny Kato	University of Illinois	9.825
5	Jordan Naleway	University of Illinois	9.800
5	Lauren Li	Penn State	9.800
5	Alex Witt	Penn State	9.800
5	Briannah Tsang	Penn State	9.800
9	Giana O'Connor	University of Illinois	9.775
10	Erin Buchanan	University of Illinois	9.725
11	Krystal Welsh	Penn State	9.700
12	Lexi Carroll	Penn State	9.050

 

Balance Beam Results  (Top)

Place	Gymnast	Team	Score
1	Sidney Sanabria-Robles	Penn State	9.950
2	Sunny Kato	University of Illinois	9.900
2	Lauren Li	Penn State	9.900
2	Krystal Welsh	Penn State	9.900
5	Mary Jane Horth	University of Illinois	9.875
6	Erin Buchanan	University of Illinois	9.800
6	Jordan Naleway	University of Illinois	9.800
8	Giana O'Connor	University of Illinois	9.750
9	Heather Foley	University of Illinois	9.725
10	Nicole Medvitz	Penn State	9.675
11	Briannah Tsang	Penn State	9.200
12	Lexi Carroll	Penn State	9.175

 

Floor Exercise Results  (Top)

Place	Gymnast	Team	Score
1	Giana O'Connor	University of Illinois	9.900
2	Jordan Naleway	University of Illinois	9.800
2	Heather Foley	University of Illinois	9.800
2	Mary Jane Horth	University of Illinois	9.800
2	Kelsi Eberly	University of Illinois	9.800
2	Lexi Carroll	Penn State	9.800
7	Sidney Sanabria-Robles	Penn State	9.775
8	Erin Buchanan	University of Illinois	9.700
8	Krystal Welsh	Penn State	9.700
10	Briannah Tsang	Penn State	9.650
11	Lauren Li	Penn State	9.500
12	Emma Sibson	Penn State	8.550

 

All Around Results  (Top)

Place	Gymnast	Team	Score
1	Sidney Sanabria-Robles	Penn State	39.500
2	Mary Jane Horth	University of Illinois	39.425
3	Giana O'Connor	University of Illinois	39.325
4	Krystal Welsh	Penn State	39.250
5	Lauren Li	Penn State	39.100
6	Erin Buchanan	University of Illinois	39.075
7	Briannah Tsang	Penn State	38.600