WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Northern Illinois University gymnastics team earned its second-highest team score of the season with solid performances across all four events to take third place at the George Washington "Sweet Meet" Sunday at the Charles E. Smith Center in Washington, D.C.
NIU totaled a score of 195.450 to finish behind N.C. State (196.025) and host George Washington (195.900) while defeating Temple (195.075) in its first multi-team outing of the season.
"I was super happy with our performance," said NIU head coach
Sam Morreale. "We left a little bit on the floor, but coming off the week off, I felt like once we got through warm-ups and came out for the meet, I was impressed.
"This is our MAC Championship order, so going in the order [we did today] was good. Going last on beam was not a disadvantage for us, and the meet was on podium that was a different element which was really cool. GW did a great job, there was a lot going on and for three events we held our own."
NIU opened the meet on floor exercise where four of the six gymnasts earned scores of 9.825 as the Huskies tallied a floor team score of 49.000 for its second-best total on floor.
Brookelyn Sears' (Centerville, Ohio/Centerville HS) 9.825 marked a career high for the freshman. The vault squad also tied its second-best score of the year with a 48.900 with
Zoie Schroeder (Champlin, Minn./Champlin Park HS),
Tara Kofmehl (Mesa, Ariz./Red Mountain HS) and
Gabby Welch (Greenbrier, Tenn./Aaron Academy) all recording scores of 9.800 to tie for third place.
The Huskies' total of 48.925 on uneven parallel bars was its highest of the season with four gymnasts setting season or career highs, led by freshman
Natalie Hamp, who placed sixth with a 9.850. Senior
Lauren Gomes (Dix Hills, N.Y./Commack HS) topped her career high by .150 with a 9.800.
NIU closed out the meet on balance beam where
Mia Lord (McCordsville, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern HS) led the way with a 9.875 as she tied for second for the highest individual place by a Huskie in the meet. Sophomore
Morgan Hooper (Lincoln, Neb./St. Pius X HS) scored a 9.800 on balance beam to back up Lord's score.
"Brookelyn had arguably her best meet since she's been here, she got sticks which was the one element that had probably been missing," Morreale said. "Morgan's floor was great to lead off. It was good to see us pick up where we left off [before last week's off week]."
With the third-place finish Sunday, NIU's record goes to 4-4 on the season. The Huskies are next in action Friday in Nashville, Tennessee versus Southeast Missouri at the Tennessee Collegiate Classic, and return to the NIU Convocation Center next Sunday, March 1 for their Senior Day Meet at 2 p.m.
-- NIU --
