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Freshman Kelsey Joannides won the 2009 Big Ten Vault crown with a 9.925.
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March 21, 2009
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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The 16th-ranked Illinois women's gymnastics team posted a school-record score of 196.750 at the 2009 Big Ten Championships at Huff Hall Saturday afternoon, but it wasn't enough to deny No. 15 Michigan its third consecutive title (197.075). The Fighting Illini set team records and had meet-high scores on floor (49.500) and vault (49.375), while freshman Kelsey Joannides won the individual vault crown and junior Sarah Schmidt shared the Big Ten floor championship.
With Joannides and Schmidt both claiming event titles, it marks the first time since 1990 and just the fourth time in school history that Illinois gymnasts brought home more than one event crown. Illinois took home four individual conference titles back in 1990 when they won their last team championship, and former Olympian Nancy Thies won all five titles in 1976 and four in 1977. It marks the third straight year that an Illini athlete has won at least one individual title (Cara Pomeroy on bars in 2007 and Julie Crall on beam in 2008) after an eight-year drought prior to that.
The team competition was tight throughout, as the Illini spent the majority of the meet in the middle of the pack, but made a charge in their final two events, floor and vault, to overcome Penn State and Minnesota and put pressure on the Wolverines, who led throughout. The runner-up finish for Illinois is its second in a row. Penn State took third with a 196.525, followed by Minnesota (196.000), Ohio State (195.900), Michigan State (195.650) and Iowa (195.450).
"We're obviously a little disappointed because we didn't get the title, but we have to be pleased with the way we performed today," said head coach Bob Starkell after the meet. "We started off good but not great on bars and then didn't catch up like I thought we would on beam, but then we performed phenomenally on floor and vault. Unfortunately, it just wasn't enough to get past Michigan, who looked great today"
Illinois began the championships on the uneven bars, where they tallied a 48.950. Schmidt led the way for Illinois with a 9.825, followed by senior Marijka Botterman and junior Nicole Cowart's scores of 9.800. Illinois was at a significant disadvantage following the two rotations, as Penn State (49.275) and Michigan (49.225) began strong on vault.
 Junior Sarah Schmidt shared the 2009 Big Ten Floor title with a school record tying 9.950. |
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After another bye, Illinois made up for a slow start by exploding for a school record 49.500 on floor in rotation five, moving past the old mark of 49.450 set back in 2001. Schmidt's school record-tying 9.950 earned her a three-way tie for the event crown with Penn State's Personett and Michigan's Kylee Botterman. She now shares the UI floor record with Kara Kapernekas (2003 and 2004), Amanda Kaufman (2003) and Phaedra Dixon (2000). Buckley tied her career-best of 9.925 to take fourth, while Botterman finished in a tie for fifth with a career-high 9.900. Joannides (9.875) and Cowart (9.850) were also impressive in their routines to round out the Illini scoring. Illinois took over second place from the Nittany Lions who scored a 48.800 on beam in their third event, but still trailed the Wolverines by .250 heading into the final events for each team.
In the seventh and final rotation, Illinois wowed the home crowd of 1,417 by shattering another school record with a 49.375 on vault. It was not enough to overtake Michigan, who scored a 49.450 on floor, but was enough to hold off Penn State for second place. Illinois has now tied or broken the UI vault record four times this season, crushing the most recent record of 49.225 set against Ohio State. Joannides highlighted her first championship experience by winning the vault crown with a career-high 9.925, tying her for the second-best score in school history behind only Botterman's 9.950 set earlier this year. Cowart set a new career-best with a 9.900 to tie for second. Fernandez also set a new personal-best of 9.875 to tie for sixth. Buckley (9.850) took ninth and Botterman scored a 9.825 to round out the Illini's record total.
"I am very happy and proud to see Kelsey and Sarah win themselves titles," Starkell said. "They have both worked so hard this season and it definitely showed this afternoon. While we didn't win the team title, winning two individual titles is another step forward for this program."
Joannides also earned a spot on the podium in the all-around with a career-best of 39.375 to take fifth and tie the third best score in school history. Cowart also scored a new career-high in the all-around with a 39.275 to take eighth, while Buckley finished tenth with a 39.250. Minnesota's Carmelina Carabajal (39.500) edged out Penn State's Brandi Personett and Michigan's Kylee Botterman (39.475) for the Big Ten all-around crown.
 Head coach Bob Starkell was named Co-Coach of the Year. |
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"It's an honor to be recognized, along with Steve, by the other coaches in the conference for this award." said Starkell of taking home Coach of the Year honors. "With such a strong and balanced group of teams this season, there are many well-deserving coaches."
The Illini now await the official announcement of their placement for the NCAA Regional Championships, which will be on Monday, March 23, after the completion of all conference championships. Illinois is in a good position to earn one of the coveted top-18 seeded positions for the first time in school history.
"We had a great day today and we look to carry this momentum into regionals, where we hope to earn this program's first trip to nationals," Starkell said.
