Redbird Gymnasts Soar to Chicago for the Thrilling Windy City Invite!

NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State gymnastics squad is enjoying a robust beginning to the 2025 season, and will not have to journey far to maintain that momentum this weekend as the Redbirds head to Chicago for the Windy City Invite at Navy Pier on Friday at 7 p.m.

SETTING THE SCENE

The Windy City Invite is an eagerly awaited men’s and women’s gymnastics event held in the Chicagoland region, which has been a cornerstone in the gymnastics world for the past 27 years. Notably, this year marks the first occasion where a women’s collegiate event will be included in the activities, as Illinois State competes alongside Wisconsin-Stout, Fisk University, and Wilberforce University in this inaugural gathering. Importantly, former Redbird gymnast Apollonia Barrientos has played a key role in organizing the NCAA Women’s gymnastics segment for this competition.

THOUGHTS FROM ISU HEAD COACH BOB CONKLING

“The team has concentrated on consistency and intricate details this week while preparing for the inaugural Windy City Invite collegiate competition at Navy Pier in Chicago. We have focused on enhancing our scoring capacity, and I believe we are prepared and positioned to achieve higher scores than in our initial two meets of the season.”

SCOUTING ILLINOIS STATE

•    The Redbirds achieved a second-place result last week, attaining a season-high score of 195.100 at the Next Level Gymnastics Podium Challenge in Battle Creek, Michigan.

•    Junior transfer Jaly Jones was instrumental in that success, having secured three Top 5 placements at the event, which earned her recognition as the Midwest Independent Conference Co-Newcomer of the Week.

•    Senior Alana Laster also tied for the top position on the vault with a score of 9.850, concluding a strong meet for the Redbirds.

SCOUTING UW-STOUT

•    UW-Stout was defeated in the 2025 season opener with a score of 189.475 to 187.050 against UW-Whitewater last Friday.

•    Stout triumphed in the vault event with a 47.650, as Jessica Qualich earned the individual title, matching her career-high with a 9.700.

•    Effie Ferguson tied for first in the floor routine with a score of 9.600 and Gillian Cummins won the all-around event with a total of 37.500.

SCOUTING FISK

•    On Monday at the MLK Jr. Invitational hosted by Fisk, the home team placed third behind Rutgers (194.900) and William & Mary (191.400) and secured a victory against Wilberforce, after splitting their season-opening dual meet with Kent State and Wilberforce.

•    This weekend marks their second meeting with Wilberforce this year and their second encounter with the Redbirds in program history, following ISU’s victory over Fisk with a score of 195.975 to 188.225 last year in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.

SCOUTING WILBERFORCE

•    With the launch of only the second women’s gymnastics program at a HBCU, Wilberforce University is making strides in history as they debuted in Fall 2024.

•    Dr. Morgan Byrd serves as the head coach for the Wilberforce University gymnastics team, bringing a rich background, enthusiasm, and commitment to the program. A former top competitor at Central Michigan, she participated at the Division I level from 2010-2011.

For all the latest updates on Illinois State gymnastics, stay tuned at GoRedbirds.com and follow the team on Instagram (@redbirdgymnastics), on X (@redbirdwgym), and Facebook.

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