Women’s gymnastics captures first place

Catherine Dion took fourth place on the parallel bars. Photo: Steve Woltmann

With first-place finishes on the vault (48.975) and beam (48.325) the women’s gymnastics team captured the crown Sunday in a quadrangular meet against Midwest Independence Conference (MIC) foes Texas Women’s University and Centenary, along with Air Force. The Flames posted a 193.800 team score.

“It was an exciting mini-conference preview meet,” co-head coach Peter Jansson said.

Host team Texas Women’s University placed second with a 193.575, while Centenary finished third (191.625) ahead of fourth-place Air Force with a 191.225. With the victory, the Flames are now 3-1 in the MIC.

Senior Chantel Turk led the Flames on vault, placing second with a 9.850. Catherine Dion paced UIC on the parallel bars, finishing fourth with a 9.825.

Alyssa Cruz lifted the team to a first-place finish on the beam (9.725).

Turk posted a 9.850 on the floor to claim second place.

Cruz and Gabrielle May tied for third on the vault with a 9.800.

May finished second in the all-around (38.800), just .50 points behind Centenary’s Robyn Price.

The team hosts Western Michigan at 5 p.m. Saturday.