DeKALB, Ill.  – The Northern Illinois University gymnastics team closed out its 2023 home schedule with a 195.350-195.075 win over Eastern Michigan Friday night to finish undefeated at home and provide a fitting send off to five Huskie seniors.
 
Seniors Gillian and Jacklyn Dolitsky, Natalie Hamp, Ciara Ryan and Brookelyn Sears were honored following the meet for their dedication and contributions to the success of Huskie gymnastics over the last four seasons, including contributing to some of the highest team scores in school history.
 
Friday night's score did not quite reach those heights but did represent the Huskies fifth 195-plus score of the season as the Huskies recorded an unblemished home record for the first time since 2023 with a 6-0 mark.  NIU is 7-3 overall and 3-2 in Mid-American Conference meets following the win.  
 
"We had a good day," said NIU head coach Sam Morreale. "We had some struggles early, we fought through some adversity but I feel good about how we ended and we got the win. It's hard because we do have expectations and we know how good this group is because we see it in the gym every day, so when there are missteps here and there, it takes a little while to focus on all of the good things we saw and did today."
 
The Huskies opened the meet with its best team vault score of the season, led by freshman Kiera O'Shea who won the event with a 9.875, NIU's top individual vault score of the season, along with sophomore Isabella Sissi who posted a 9.800.
 
Hamp earned her fifth win on uneven parallel bars of the season with a 9.850 to anchor NIU's rotation with junior Alyssa Al-Ashari and Sears tying for second after scoring 9.825 as NIU trailed Eastern Michigan 97.475-97.400 after two events.
 
Al-Ashari and Sears also recorded the Huskies' top two beam routines of the night as they tied for second on that event with matching 9.850 marks with Ellery Werner adding a 9.800. NIU scored a 48.875 on the event to take a three-tenths lead heading into the final rotation.
 
NIU's floor squad was up to the challenge, earning the Huskies' highest event score of the night with a 49.075 behind sophomore Emmalise Nock and Sissi. Nock won the floor exercise with a 9.900 followed closely by Sissi who scored a 9.875.
 
"This was one of our better vault days, Kiera O'Shea rocked out her vault with a 9.875 and then on bars, Natalie, Alyssa and Brookelyn did what they do," Morreale said. "On beam, we left a little on the table but bounced back nicely after a fall and I feel like we're starting to figure it out on floor. Good performance by that group to secure the win. We're getting some great contributions from different people and after a short week, it was a good night."
 
NIU heads out on the road for the last three regular season meets of the season, beginning next Sunday, February 26 at Lindenwood.
 
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