COLUMBIA, Mo. – The 2025 season officially began for the Illinois State gymnastics team on Friday, as the Redbirds competed against host Missouri, Ball State and Southeast Missouri State at the Mizzou Beauty and the Beast, a simultaneous gymnastics and wrestling competition. The Redbirds opened the season with a team score of 194.800, which placed them third overall in the season-opening meet behind Mizzou and Ball State.

Scoring Breakdown:
•    Missouri: 196.700
•    Ball State: 194.925
•    Illinois State: 194.800
•    Southeast Missouri State: 190.475

Thoughts From Coach Conkling:
"I am so proud of the team and how they performed tonight.  We started so strong on bars and kept the momentum all the way through the next three events finishing with a very strong vault rotation. I feel the team gained a lot of confidence that should carry us well into the remainder of the season."

Team Notes:
•    The Redbirds started things off on bars and scored well with a score of 48.775 to sit in second place behind Missouri after the first rotation.
•    ISU then posted a score of 48.225 on beam during the second rotation, as the Redbirds dropped to third place halfway through the meet.
•    The Redbirds remained in third place after the third rotation, as they posted a score of 48.825 on floor and headed to the final event of the night.
•    ISU wrapped up the meet on vault with a 48.975 to place third overall in the 2025 season opener.

Gymnast Notes:
•    Alana Laster took home the win in the vault with a score of 9.875, with Jaye Mack right behind in third with a 9.825.
•    Newcomer Jaly Jones came in third overall in the all-around, with a score of 38.900 and Mya Robinson finished fifth overall with a total score of 38.475.
•    Jada Beswick led the way on bars with a score of 9.800 to tie for 10th place overall on the event.
•    Leah Davis was the top scorer for ISU on the balance beam, finishing in 10th place with a 9.700.
•    Sara Wabi and Jaye Mack tied for fourth place on the floor with scores of 9.825 and Jones tied for ninth with a 9.775.

Up Next:
Illinois State heads to Battle Creek, Michigan, next Saturday, January 11, to compete in the annual Next Level Gymnastics Podium Challenge hosted by Western Michigan. The Redbirds will also be competing against George Washington and Pittsburgh in the meet, scheduled for 6 p.m. CT at Kellogg Arena.

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