Women's Gymnastics | December 8

DeKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University gymnastics team participated in the annual Red / Black exhibition inside Victor E. Court on Sunday.

"We had a lot of strong performances today," interim head coach Nita Teague said. "Vault was one of the best days that I've seen this year. We did have a few misses that we need to clean up and work a little bit harder in the gym. We had some meet jitters but that's why we do this."

Four of the Huskies five freshmen competed for the first time as Huskies. Three freshmen competed on three separate events. Drake White competed in the all-around while Aliyah Kelly (Manteno, Ill./Manteno) competed on vault, bars and beam while Audrey Brenner (Fon du Lac, Wis./Fon du Lac) competed on vault, beam and floor. Maria King (Nashville, Tenn./Currey Ingram Academy) made her debut on bars.

"The freshman did a great job," Teague said. "Drake (White) did the all-around and hit her routine, so I was very proud of how she did today. The other freshman also did a great job."
Kiera O'Shea (Norridge, Ill./Ridgewood), a 2024 NCAA Regional Qualifier on vault, led the Huskies and team Red in the opening event with a 9.825. Isabella Sissi (Blaine, Minn./Mounds View) scored 9.725 to lead team Black. Brenner scored 9.675 for team Red in her first event as a Huskie.

White led the Huskies on bars in her first appearance as a Huskie with a 9.725. Sissi led team Black on bars as well with a 9.675 on the event.

Ellery Werner (Rhinelander, Wis./Rhinelander) led the way for NIU on beam, earning an impressive 9.85. Isabella Ross (Cary, N.C./Green Level) scored a 9.75 on the event while Kelly scored 9.60. O'Shea led team Red on beam with a 9.575.

"Individually we had some strong performances," Teague said. "Elly had a very good beam routine and O'Shea had a great vault."

On the floor, Mikayla Brown (Suwanee, Ga./Peachtree Ridge) led the way with 9.75.

White led the Huskies in the all-around among the four competitors. White scored 38.025 and scored 9.60 or better in three of the four events.

The Black team won the meet overall by a score of 151.575 to the Red Team's 150.15

The Huskies will open the regular season January 10 at a quad-meet hosted by Florida in Gainesville, Fla. NIU will also compete with Michigan State and Nebraska at the meet.

Top Individual Scores
Vault – Kiera O'Shea, 9.825
Bars – Drake White, 9.725
Beam – Ellery Werner, 9.85
Floor – -Mikayla Brown, 9.75

All-Around Scores
Kiera O'Shea – 38.20
Dawsyn Sallee – 38.025
Drake White – 38.425
Bella Ross – 37.475
 
Final Team Score

TEAM SCORES	Vault (4 Scores)	Bars (4 Scores	Beam (5 Scores)	Floor (3 Scores)	TOTAL
Black	38.35	36.225	48.275	28.85	151.575
Red	38.75	37.55	45.275	28.575	150.15

 
-- NIU --