McLean County Times

Illinois State University's gymnastics team has released its 2026 competition schedule, with the team aiming to defend its Midwest Independent Conference (MIC) Championship title. The announcement was made by first-year head coach Cassandra Ringer.

The Redbirds will begin their season with an intrasquad scrimmage on December 7. Their regular-season opener is set for January 10 at the Border Battle meet in Iowa, where they will compete against Iowa, Iowa State, and Illinois. On January 16, the team travels to Chicago for the Windy City Invitational, facing MIC rival Centenary along with Fisk and Wilberforce.

Illinois State will host its first home meet of the year on January 18 against Centenary. The team then travels to Central Michigan on January 24 and faces Southeast Missouri State in Cape Girardeau the following weekend. A tri-meet at Ball State with Kent State is scheduled for February 8, followed by a home meet against SEMO on February 14.

The final regular-season home meet will be held on February 23 against Northern Illinois. Later that week, ISU heads to Michigan for a tri-meet with Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan on February 26. Additional meets include a visit to Western Michigan on March 6 and a match-up in Pittsburgh against Pitt and West Virginia on March 15.

The season officially opens earlier than previously stated, beginning January 3 at Missouri in a quad meet that includes Ball State and Southeast Missouri State. On January 11, Illinois State competes at the Western Michigan Next Level Podium meet alongside WMU, George Washington, and Pitt.

Illinois State will host the MIC Championship in Normal on March 20 before NCAA Regionals begin April 1.

Coach Cassandra Ringer said: "The Illinois State gymnastics will look to defend its Midwest Independent Conference Championship from 2025, as first-year head coach Cassandra Ringer has announced a competitive 2026 slate that features 11 meets and several top gymnastics programs from around the country."

For tickets and more information about Illinois State athletics events or merchandise, fans are directed to GoRedbirds.com or the Illinois State Redbirds App.