DeKALB, Ill. – Coming off its two highest scores of 2020, the Northern Illinois University gymnastics team hopes to keep the momentum going with a pair of dual meets this weekend. On Friday, the Huskies take on Southeast Missouri in the Tennessee Collegiate Classic in Nashville, Tenn. before returning to the NIU Convocation Center for a Senior Day match-up versus Ball State on Sunday.
Friday night's meet will be held at the Wilson County Expo Center in Lebanon, Tenn. outside of Nashville and is hosted by Meet Authority Productions. The event also marks a homecoming for Tennessee native
Gabby Welch (Greenbrier, Tenn./Aaron Academy). Sunday's meet begins at 2 p.m. and will be available on ESPN3. Admission is free. Following the competition, the Huskies will honor seniors
Amanda Bartemio (Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata HS),
Lauren Gomes (Dix Hills, N.Y./Commack HS),
Cinny Lamberti (Grayslake, Ill./Grayslake Central HS),
Nina Martucci (Clarkston, Mich./Our Lady of the Lakes HS) and
Allison Richardson (Marysville, Ohio/Marysville HS).
NIU Head Coach
Sam Morreale, whose team enters the weekend 4-4 on the season, said competing twice in one weekend provides a challenge and an opportunity.
"Having two meets in one weekend is more of a mental challenge than a physical challenge," Morreale said. "Competitions aren't physically more demanding than practices, it's how you approach it mentally. Historically we've done well on a double weekend. This is a good time in the season because you are more ready to compete. It's easy to sharpen your routines in front of judges, and make the little corrections from one [meet] to the next without waiting a whole week."
The Huskies posted a score of 195.450 last weekend in a quad meet at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. and own the highest score by a Mid-American Conference team this season with their 196.125 at Eastern Michigan back on February 7. NIU recorded its best team scores of the year on uneven parallel bars (48.925) and floor exercise (49.000) last week and has reached the 49 or above mark on three of four events this season.
"The goal is to remain and live in that 195-plus range," Morreale said. "We feel like we can get up into the 196 and that's what we're going to chase. For us, it's solid gymnastics and hit routines. If we do those things, the scores will be where we want them."
On Sunday, the Huskies will look to improve on their 3-1 Mid-American Conference record versus the Cardinals, who also enter the meet at 3-1 in the MAC. Both teams trail league-leader Western Michigan (4-0) in the regular season race.
Morreale said Senior Day, which will be held Sunday even though the Huskies have a home meet remaining on March 6, is bittersweet for the coaches.
"You bring them in as naïve young freshmen, and it's super-fun watching them grow, mature and develop over the four years and see the individuals they become over that span of time," Morreale said. "It's fun to watch as they prepare to take the next step in their lives, whether it's grad school or jobs.
"This group of five have been amazing for the program. We talk about leaving [the program] better than you found it and they have been a big part of that. They've helped solidify the foundation to be competitive for a while, not only in how they do things but who we attract going forward. They have brought skills and competitiveness to the team that is going to make us better in the future.
"Academically they have helped us in so many ways because of how they work, and they've definitely helped set the bar on that side of the student-athlete piece.
"As we always say, once a Huskie always a Huskie."
-- NIU --
