Michigan
Illinois
Michigan Sweeps Event Titles at Illinois for First Big Ten Win
1/18/2020 4:06:00 PM | Women's Gymnastics
» Michigan shared or won outright all four event and all-around titles.
» Sierra Brooks won on balance beam, floor exercise and captured the all-around crown.
» Abby Heiskell earned her first career event title on uneven bars.
Site: Champaign, Ill. (Huff Hall)
Score: #16 Michigan 196.700, #13 Illinois 195.650
Records: U-M (3-0, 1-0 B1G), Illinois (4-1, 0-1 B1G)
Next U-M Event: Friday, Jan. 24 -- vs. Rutgers (Crisler Center), 6:30 p.m.
• Complete Results (PDF)
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- In its first road test of the 2020 season, the No. 16-ranked University of Michigan women's gymnastics team passed with flying colors Saturday (Jan. 18) in a 196.700-195.650 victory over No. 13 Illinois at Huff Hall.
The Wolverines hit all 24 of their routines and won or shared each of the four event and all-around titles.
Sophomore Abby Heiskell got the Wolverines off to a terrific start, scoring a career-high 9.875 on uneven bars that tied her for the event win. It was her first collegiate event title and set the stage for Michigan.
U-M tallied a 49.225 on bars as all six competitors scored a 9.800 or better. Heiskell was followed by Natalie Wojcik and Sierra Brooks with 9.850 routines.
Michigan entered the meet with the top vault average in the country after a strong opening meet. On Saturday, U-M put forth another strong performance with a 49.175. Freshman Gabby Wilson capped off the rotation with her second straight vault title, scoring a 9.875. Sophomore Maddie Mariani had a stuck Yurchenko full that yielded a 9.825.
The Wolverines maintained their lead after posting a 49.175 on floor exercise. Brooks put on a show with a 9.900 to lead the team. Wojcik was the next best with a 9.850.
The Maize and Blue rebounded from a tough week on balance beam last Friday to hit on all six routines and seal its victory this week. Brooks posted her second 9.900 of the meet to tie Lexi Funk for the beam title and finished with the top score in the all-around (39.500).
Freshman Nicoletta Koulos made her collegiate debut on both vault (9.775) and floor exercise (9.725) in the meet.
Michigan will be home for its next competition, the annual Flip for Chip meet Friday (Jan. 24) at 6:30 p.m. inside Crisler Center. The meet will honor the life of the late Chip Hills, father of former U-M women's gymnast Cailee Hills. The first 1,500 fans will receive a purple glow stick and the first 1,000 fans will receive a purple glow bracelet to help light up the arena before the meet.
Players Mentioned
