UIC scored 194.200 points and took first place in their first home meet of 2019. The Flames got stronger as the meet went on, scoring 48.900 on beam and 49.075 on floor to finish ahead of Kent State by 2.950 points. Wisconsin-Oshkosh took third, and Centenary was fourth.
Kayla Baddeley set two career highs, and the Flames claimed four individual championships. The beam score was UIC's highest since totaling 48.950 last February 2. The team did not break the 49 point mark on floor at all last season.
"It was a great meet in front of a great crowd," co-head coach
Peter Jansson said. "Kent State was at NCAA Regionals last year, so to knock them off was great for us. Sometimes competing at home for the first time can get the better of you, especially in front of our alums, but the girls were focused and the results show that."
Close to 40 alumnae of the gymnastics program were introduced before the meet and enjoyed a reception immediately after.
Rotation 1 – Vault
- Riley Mahoney paced the Flames on the meet's first event with a 9.725. She finished in second, 0.025 behind Kent State's Dara Williams.
- Mikailla Northern and Baddeley tied for fourth, each scoring 9.700.
- The Flames' five counting scores all placed in the top nine overall. Allison Broad and Serena Baker rounded out the squad.
Rotation 2 – Bars
Rotation 3 – Beam
- The Flames simply dominated the beam competition, sweeping the top six spots.
- Baddeley won the event with a career high 9.850.
- Dani Maciel and Northern each scored 9.775, while Jenna Squillo and Riley Mahoney each posted a 9.750.
- Sheremeta completed the sweep by scoring 9.700.
Rotation 4 – Floor
- Leading by 1.875 points entering the final rotation, the Flames nailed five floor routines to increase their margin.
- Sheremeta won the event with a 9.875.
- Northern was close behind in second, scoring 9.850.
- Ashley Albrecht set a career high and tied for third with her score of 9.800.
- Baddeley equaled Albrecht's score and tied her own career high.
- Abby Hasanov was sixth with 9.750.
All-Around
- Northern was the all-around champion with a total of 39.050.
- Baddeley was the only other Flame to complete the all-around, and she placed second with a 38.350.
Up Next
- The Flames will be on the road the next two weekends, competing against Bowling Green both times.
- The Falcons will host a dual meet next Saturday, and a tri-meet at Northern Illinois will be contested January 27.
- UIC will return home on February 3 for a dual meet against Eastern Michigan.
