ISU Gymnastics Faces Challenges, Looks to Future Competition
The Illinois State Redbirds gymnastics team encountered a tough competition on Saturday, February 16, 2026, falling to Southeast Missouri State (SEMO) with a final score of 194.150-192.475. Despite a promising start, a difficult rotation on the balance beam proved to be the deciding factor in the match, marking SEMO’s third victory against ISU this season.
Vault Sets the Tone with Strong Performances
The Redbirds began the meet with a strong showing on the vault, with all gymnasts achieving scores of 9.700 or higher. Sammie Wolff and Savannah Ray led the team, tying for second place with scores of 9.750. Jaly Jones, Leah Davis and Mia Oh too contributed to the impressive start, all finishing in the top 10, with Oh securing a 9.725 and Jones and Davis both posting 9.700s. This performance resulted in a team score of 48.625 after the first rotation.
Uneven Bars Domination
ISU continued its momentum on the uneven bars, dominating the rotation. Madyson Baucom earned first place overall with a score of 9.700, while Jada Beswick and Jercy Koliego tied for second place, both achieving scores of 9.675. Savannah Ray and Mia LeBlanc also contributed with scores of 9.650 and 9.600, respectively. The Redbirds’ combined score of 96.925 set them in the lead heading into the balance beam rotation.
Balance Beam Struggles Prove Costly
The balance beam rotation proved challenging for the Redbirds. While Savannah Ray started strong with a 9.600 and Jaly Jones followed with a 9.700, falls from Ally Lau and Mia LeBlanc significantly impacted the team’s score. Courtney Woods, in her final routine at CEFCU Arena, tallied a 9.650. Despite efforts to recover, Lau ended with an 8.875 and LeBlanc with an 8.650, causing ISU to trail heading into the final rotation.
Floor Exercise and Looking Ahead
Jaly Jones, Leah Davis, and Mia Oh showcased their skills on the floor exercise, with Davis and Jones both achieving scores of 9.800 and Oh securing a 9.775. The Redbirds finished the final rotation with a score of 48.675. Despite the strong individual performances, ISU ultimately fell to SEMO, concluding the meet with an overall record of 4-11.
The Redbirds will be back in action on February 23, 2026, at 6 p.m. Inside Horton Field House, where they will compete against Northern Illinois in their last home meet of the regular season.
Redbird Standout Performances
Several gymnasts delivered notable performances during the meet. Sammie Wolff consistently scored well, achieving 9.750 on vault. Savannah Ray also demonstrated strong performance, tying with Wolff on vault and contributing solid scores on the beam and bars.
FAQ
Q: What caused ISU to lose the meet?
A: A challenging rotation on the balance beam, with falls from key gymnasts, ultimately led to ISU’s defeat.
Q: Where will ISU’s next meet be held?
A: ISU’s next meet will be at Horton Field House on February 23, 2026, against Northern Illinois.
Q: Who were the top performers for ISU on vault?
A: Sammie Wolff and Savannah Ray tied for second place with scores of 9.750.
Q: What is ISU’s current overall record?
A: ISU’s current overall record is 4-11.
