Results | O'Connor Post-Meet Interview | Landrus Post-Meet Interview

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The No. 22 Fighting Illini women's gymnastics claimed the State of Illinois Classic victory for the ninth consecutive year, totaling a 195.425 Saturday afternoon inside Huff Hall. Illinois secured wins over Northern Illinois (194.225), UIC (192.625) and Illinois State (191.500). Five Illini gymnasts were named to the 2016 All-State Team.

"I just think it's so great to have four state schools that have gymnastics. So it really means a lot to bring them all together on one weekend every year," head coach Kim Landrus said. "We absolutely had bright spots today, but you have to compete on four events. We had to count a major mistake on bars, but the other three events I was impressed with."

Including the all-around, the Illini took home titles on all events except for uneven bars. Erin Buchanan and Giana O'Connor shared the vault title with a score of 9.775. Sunny Kato took the title on balance beam with a score of 9.925, scoring at least a 9.925 on bars in the fourth consecutive meet. Giana O'Connor claimed the floor crown with a score of 9.900.  

Buchanan, O'Connor and Kato joined Lizzy LeDuc and Haylee Roe as the five Illini named to the 2016 All-State Team. LeDuc placed second on beam with a 9.850 and Roe placed third on the event with a 9.825.

Starting the meet on vault, Illinois produced a 48.725. Buchanan and O'Connor led with a 9.775 that placed first. LeDuc produced a 9.750 that placed fourth, while Sarah Lyons (9.725) and Heather Foley (9.700) and Roe (9.700) also counted scores. 

In the second rotation, Illinois totaled a 48.225 on bars. Kato led with a 9.850 that placed second. Sarah Lyons and O'Connor followed with a 9.825 that placed fifth. Buchanan (9.775) and Jordyn Givens (8.950) also contributed to the bars total. 

On beam in the third rotation, the Orange and Blue produced a 49.150. Kato led with her third consecutive 9.925 to earn the event title. LeDuc totaled a 9.850 that placed second and Roe totaled a career-high 9.825 to take third place. O'Connor and Bridget Hodan added a 9.775 to round out the team total. 

Finishing the meet on floor, Illinois totaled a 49.325. O'Connor garnered her seventh floor title of the season with a 9.900. LeDuc and Buchanan followed with a 9.875. Brielle Nguyen turned in a career-high 9.850 that placed fourth and Roe produced a 9.825.

Up next, the Illini head to Columbus, Ohio, for the Big Five Meet scheduled for March 12 at 3 p.m. CT.