The Falcons gymnastics team will head to the Windy City this weekend to compete in the Chicago Style invite against Boise State University, The University of North Carolina and the University of Illinois-Chicago.
This will be BG’s first multiple-team meet since opening the season against Oregon State and Ohio State in Columbus, were they finished last with a season-low score of 191.950.
“The Chicago Style collegiate session is a great opportunity to see some teams we may not see on a yearly basis,” Coach Kerrie Turner said. “My team has had a great week of training and they are confident going into Friday’s competition.”
The Falcons, going into this multiple-team meet, will face two familiar non-conference opponents in UNC and UIC, whom they have faced in the recent past. BG competed against UNC last year, losing 193.300 to 195.550 in addition to 2004, when they won 195.125 to 194.425. They also faced UIC in 2010-2011, winning 190.225 to 185.525, and twice the year prior, going one and one against the school.
“While we enjoy seeing a variety of opponents across the country, the sport of gymnastics challenges each team to try to out-score their own personal bests, and that is exactly what we will plan to do,” Turner said.
Going into this meet, each team looks for a crucial road win. The Falcons have two road wins this season while UNC and UIC have a combined 0-4 in away meets.
“It is definitely exciting knowing that we are the only ones with a road win going into this meet,” junior Gina Locigno said. “There are always jitters at the first away meet when adjusting to the equipment and different surroundings. We are strong competitors on the road and I’m excited to get out there again with other teams who have not yet traveled.”
The Falcons look to improve their winning streak to four, a feat BG hasn’t achieved since the 2009-2010 season with wins against Northern Illinois, Western Michigan, UIC and Ball State.
“Some of these teams are big schools and it would say a lot about our team and show everyone how hard we have been working,” Locigno said. “It would definitely help once it came to bigger competitions, considering we would have a few more wins under our belt, especially from teams that are not in the MAC.”
The meet will commence 8:30 p.m. Friday at Navy Pier in Chicago Illinois.
