McLean County Times

Illinois State University showcased resilience at the Towson Quad Meet, securing second place despite a challenging start. The Redbirds scored 194.675, trailing behind Towson's 195.575 but surpassing Bowling Green and William & Mary.

Coach Conkling expressed pride in the team's performance, stating, "Starting out with three uncharacteristic falls on bars was not how we wanted to start the meet, but the team rallied to score over 49 on each of three remaining events with many event winners. I'm so proud of how this team turned it around tonight to finish second overall."

The Redbirds initially struggled on bars, scoring 47.250 and placing fourth after the first rotation. However, they recovered by scoring 49.225 on beam in the second rotation, followed by a solid floor performance with a score of 49.150, climbing into second place. A final vault score of 49.050 secured their runner-up position.

Individual performances were notable as Alana Laster won vault with a score of 9.925 and placed second in all-around with a total of 38.500. Sara Wabi also excelled on vault and bars, while Reese Grolla topped beam scores with a 9.925.

The Redbirds will next compete against Greenville at CEFCU Arena for a Valentine's Day meet.

For more updates on Illinois State gymnastics, visit GoRedbirds.com or follow them on social media platforms.