Women's Gymnastics | January 8

DeKalb, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University gymnastics team will open their 2025 season on Friday, Jan. 10 in a quad-meet hosted by the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida. The Huskies will also compete with Michigan State and Nebraska with the meet set for a 5:45 pm (CT) start time.

"We are so excited to get the season started at Florida," interim head coach Nita Teague said. "The energy level is great and our athletes are so excited and have been working super hard. We are excited to get out there and have them show us what they can do."

Florida was ranked third in the preseason WCGA poll. Michigan State is positioned 11^th and Nebraska holds the No. 23 position.

"The team is not intimidated, they are excited about the opportunity," Teague said. "We know that the energy in the venue will be super high and it is an honor to be able to compete with them."

The Huskies return multiple contributors from last season. Junior Kiera O'Shea qualified for the NCAA Regionals and claimed the Mid-American Conference Championship on vault in 2024. All four of the Huskies' seniors - Alana Anderson, Natalia Kraus, Isabella Sissi and Ellery Werner - contributed heavily for the Huskies in 2024 and will be relied on once again in 2025.  

There are five freshmen on NIU's 2025 roster. Indianapolis product Drake White (Bishop Chatard HS) led the Huskies on beam at the Red/Black Meet on Dec. 8. White also posted the third highest all-around score in the intrasquad meet.

"We will lean heavily on our upperclassmen this season," Teague said. "We have a lot of veterans with experience. We are also excited to get some freshmen out there and see what they have. The freshmen have been handling the pressure well and we will see what happens at the meet."

In 2024 NIU posted a 9-13-1 record. The season was highlighted by the Huskies setting their all-time scoring record and capturing two individual MAC Championships. The Huskies set an all-time record of 196.400 at the Tennessee Collegiate Classic on Jan. 19, 2024. Then at the MAC Championships on March 23, 2024, O'Shea won the MAC Championship vault while outgoing senior Alyssa Al-Ashari claimed the MAC championship on beam. Both O'Shea and Al-Ashari went on to compete at the NCAA Regionals in Arkansas. NIU also set team records for highest vault and floor scores in 2024.

After opening the season in Gainesville, Fla., NIU will head to Ypsilanti, Mich. for a quad-meet at EMU on Friday, Jan. 17. NIU will compete at home for the first time on Friday, Jan. 24 against Illinois State. That meet will also be the Huskies' Senior Day Meet.

-- NIU --