DEKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University gymnastics team won its home opener as it defeated conference foes Eastern and Western Michigan in the NIU Tri-Meet at the Convocation Center Friday night.
NIU (4-2, 2-1) posted a 194.675, while Eastern Michigan was second with a 194.300. Western Michgan took third place with a 192.000.
The Huskies' (4-2, 2-1) beam team carried the day for NIU, scoring a meet-best, 48.900, while the floor exercise and vault squads held their own and helped contribute to the Huskie win. NIU finished second on vault with a 48.525 and a 48.700 on floor. The Huskies posted a 48.550 on bars to round out the scoring.
"It was really fun to watch them," NIU head coach Sam Morreale said of the Huskie beam team. "I was telling them all year, during the season, in preseason I have a lot of confidence in that group and what they're able to do. It was just really fun to see not one kid under a 9.650."
NIU took the top five spots on the balance beam with all six competitors finishing with a 9.700 of higher. Mia Lord (McCordsville, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern) won the event with a 9.875, while Catherine Biddle (Grand Rapids, Mich./Forest Hills Central) took second with a 9.800. Zoie Schroeder rounded out the Huskie placers with a 9.775. Cinny Lamberti (Grayslake, Ill./Grayslake) took fourth with a 9.750, while Morgan Hooper (Lincoln, Neb./St. Pius X) and Allison Richardson (Marysville, Ohio/Marysville) each posted a 9.700 to tie for fifth.
Anna Martucci took second on the floor with a 9.850, finishing just behind Jada Rondeau of Eastern Michigan who scored a 9.875.
"For her, it's tough to say average, because she's such an above average kid," Morreale said of Martucci. She didn't have a bad routine, she was just a little bit off. Overall, I was super happy with how she did. We needed her to hit to win the meet. Before she started, we were down and we needed her to hit and she came through."
NIU returns to action Sunday, Jan. 27 when the Huskies take on Bowling Green in NIU's Beauty and the Beast event held in conjunction with the NIU wrestling team. The event begins at 1 p.m. CT.
Gabby Welch and Lamberti led the way for NIU on vault as the pair finished behind Rondeau. Lamberti was second with a 9.775, while Welch scored a 9.750 to take third place. Amanda Bartemio (Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata) and Hooper tied for fourth on the uneven parallel bars. The pair each scored a 9.750
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