State of Illinois Meet Results 

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University Gymnastics team took second at the State of Illinois Classic posting a 194.225 in Huff Hall Saturday.

It was the fifth-straight 194.000 or above score for the Huskies (9-9, 2-3), who have six such scores on the season and were averaging 194.086 heading into Saturday’s meet.

NIU opened the meet on their strongest event, and the uneven parallel bars squad didn’t disappoint. Led by Lauren Africano (Bourbonnais, Ill./Bradley-Bourbonnais Community) and Ashley Potts (Oakwood Hills, Ill./Prairie Ridge), the Huskie bars team scored a meet-high 49.100. Both received scores of 9.850 and tied for second place to earn all-state honors.

Jamyra Carter (Ypsilanti, Mich./Huron) and Kylie Clark (Naperville, Ill./Waubonsie Valley) also posted scores of 9.800 or higher. Carter scored 9.825 for her bars routine, while Clark posted a 9.800 for the Huskies.

“I can’t say enough positive things about the bars squad,” said NIU head coach Sam Morreale. “They go into a meet with a workman-like attitude. They definitely do what we stress in practice and they carry it into a meet.

“They look loose. They look confident. They look like they’re having fun and it definitely shows.”

The Huskies then moved to beam where they scored a 48.075. Once again, it was Potts leading the way as the Huskie sophomore posted a team-best 9.750. Despite turning in its lowest event score of the meet, NIU carried a 97.175-96.950 lead into the fourth rotation.

“We try not to get too caught up in the score,” he said. “It’s about what we can do, but I’m not going to lie. It felt good to look over at the scoreboard and see us leading.”

Brittany Wenzel (Hilliard, Ohio/Davidson) and Courtney Dowdell (Lynwood, Ill./Thornton Fractional South) led NIU on floor with both earning a 9.850 to finish fourth overall. Freshman Anna Martucci (Clarkston, Mich./Our Lady of the Lakes) and Megan Gilliam (Fishers, Ind./Fishers) finished their floor routines with a 9.825 and 9.775, respectively.

Unfortunately for NIU, a pair of miscues cost the Huskies and the floor team scored a 48.475. Illinois took a 146.100-145.650 lead in the meet after a 49.150 showing on beam.

NIU was undermanned heading into its final event, the vault. Both Andie Van Voorhis (Columbus, Ohio/Hilliard) and Megan Greenfield (Crystal Lake, Ill./Crystal Lake South) were held out of the vault competition. Despite missing two of its starting vaulters, the Huskies turned in a solid performance scoring a 48.575.

Dowdell earned all-state accolades after scoring a 9.775 to tie for first place. Potts was right behind her with 9.750 to finish fourth. Paige Nicholas (Cleveland, Ohio/Lutheran West) and Gilliam also finished above a 9.700 with Nicholas with each scoring a 9.725.

“She was having a little trouble this week in practice,” Morreale said of Dowdell. “To step up and get that done is a testament to her ability and what she’s able to do. That’s one instance of where kids fought through to hit.”

Illinois won the event with a 195.425, while UIC took third 192.625 and Illinois State 191.500 finished fourth.

NIU returns to action Saturday when the Huskies travel to Bowling Green for their last meet of the season before MAC Championships. The meet starts at 1 p.m. CT.

-NIU-