SHREVEPORT, La. – Through two rotations, Illinois State narrowly trailed Texas Woman's in the team standings at the 2025 Midwest Independent Conference Championship hosted by Centenary. However, the Redbirds pulled away with a strong third rotation on vault and closed things out on bars to win the MIC Championship title on Friday night at The Gold Dome in Shreveport.

The MIC championship is the fourth for the Redbirds overall, and third under the leadership of head coach Bob Conkling (2012, 2023, 2025). The Redbirds' score of 196.025 is their second highest of the season and ranks as the fifth-best in program history. 

Scoring Breakdown:
•    Illinois State: 196.025
•    Texas Woman's: 194.800
•    Southeast Missouri State: 194.725
•    Centenary: 189.200

Thoughts From Coach Conkling:
"I could not be happier for this team winning a second conference championship in three seasons. Everyone was locked in and focused throughout the entire meet and their effort never wavered. They stuck together, hit their routines and did exactly what they had to do all night to win the meet. I'm so proud of them."

Team Notes:
•    The meet started beam for the Redbirds, as they scored 48.725 as TWU scored 48.850 on the floor to take the early lead.
•    A strong second rotation for ISU trimmed the lead halfway through, as the Birds scored 49.125 on floor to bring their running score to 97.850 just behind Texas Woman's in first place with a 97.900.
•    On the third rotation, the Redbirds were able to pull ahead as they scored 49.075 as TWU faltered on the bars with a 48.200 and headed into the final event with a sizable cushion in the standings.
•    A strong 49.100 on bars rounded out a stellar meet for the Redbirds, who came away with the win as they posted the fourt-highest score on the event in program history.

Gymnast Notes:
•    For the fourth year in a row, senior Jaye Mack found herself atop the podium as she won her fourth-consecutive individual title on the floor with a score of 9.900 … fellow senior Alana Laster tied for second place with a 9.850 and senior Sara Wabi tied for third with a 9.825.
•    For the second time in her career, Laster won the individual title on vault as she scored a 9.875 to finish just ahead of a pair of TWU gymnasts and Mack who all tied for second with scores of 9.850 … Wabi once again was right in the mix, as she finished in third place with a 9.825.
•    Wabi won her first conference individual title, as she topped the podium on bars with a 9.875 … sophomore Reese Grolla tied for third with a 9.825, while Jaly Jones, Savannah Ray and Jada Beswick all tied for fourth place with scores of 9.800.
•    Mack was the top finisher for the Redbirds on the beam, as she tied for second with a 9.800, while Grolla was third with a 9.775 and Leah Davis tied for fourth with a score of 9.750.
•    Senior Mya Robinson finished second in the all-around with a final score of 38.900, behind SEMO's Taylor Ingle who took the top spot with a 39.300. 

All-MIC Performers (1st or 2nd Team):
All-Around: 
•   Mya Robinson (1st)

Vault
•   Alana Laster (1st)
•   Jaye Mack (1st)
•   Sara Wabi (1st)
•   Sammie Wolff (2nd)
•   Savannah Ray (2nd)
•   Mya Robinson (2nd)

Beam:
•   Jaye Mack (1st)
•   Reese Grolla (1st)
•   Leah Davis (2nd)
•   Alana Laster (2nd)
•   Mya Robinson (2nd)

Bars:
•   Sara Wabi (1st)
•   Reese Grolla (1st)
•   Savannah Ray (2nd)
•   Jaly Jones (2nd)
•   Jada Beswick (2nd)
•   Mya Robinson (2nd)

Floor:
•   Jaye Mack (1st)
•   Alana Laster (1st)
•   Sara Wabi (1st)
•   Jaly Jones (2nd)
•   Kaitlyn Donovan (2nd)
•   Mya Robinson (2nd)

Up Next:
The Redbirds will wait to see if they have any individuals qualify for an NCAA Regional, when the field is announced on Monday, March 24, live at 11 a.m. CT on ESPNU.

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