Illinois is a team that just can’t quite stay in the top 20. It has broken the barrier twice in recent memory, but then falters back into the twenties. Last year’s up-and-down season ended on a high in the regional semifinal. The Illini are losing a lot in the Mia duo of Takekawa and Townes, but they’re bringing in a very exciting former four-star recruit in Chloe Cho, a U.S. Championships qualifier last year. Two of her classmates, Mya Gordon and Kennedy Brown, are also former four-stars.
2024 Rewind
No. 22 overall | No. 6 at Big Ten championships | No. 31 in regular season | Regional semi-final
2024 was a season of peaks and valleys. The Illini broke 197 on senior night and had a good day in the regional semifinal, but put up more 195s than a team of this talent would hope to. Ruthuja Nataraj’s Achilles injury toward the end of the season was certainly felt.
Losses & Gains
| Returning | In |
| Fifth-Years Amelia Knight Seniors Micheala Gentry Makayla Green Ruthuja Natarj Juniors Alea Byrne Tali Joelson Arielle Ward Emma White Sophomores Olivia Coppola Destiny Denning Mareli Muller Lyden Saltness Megan Sapp (RS) Maddie Vitolo | Freshmen Kennedy Brown Chloe Cho Ashlyn Doyle Marly Esteves Mya Gordon Eden King Sydney Wilke Transfers Emmalise Nock (NIU) |
| Out | |
| Graduated Kaitlyn Ewald (UB, BB, FX) Allie Morgan (FX) Abby Mueller (AA) Mia Takekawa (AA) Mia Townes (VT, BB, FX) Retired Kadyn Fitzgibbon (VT, FX) | |
| Injury Update | |
| Ruthuja Nataraj suffered an Achilles injury in March, and Arielle Ward was out of some lineups with a finger injury. Incoming freshman Eden King tore her Achilles in December of 2023. | |
Apparatus Deep Dive
Vault
2024 Event Ranking: No. 28 | NQS: 49.165 | Average: 49.025
| Event Overview: This was an OK event for Illinois in 2024, which is in and of itself a win; vault is historically a struggle for the Illini. Half of the lineup graduated, but the newcomers bring a host of 10.0 starts. Caution is warranted, though; it’s not uncommon for those to disappear in Champaign. | ||
| Locks: Kennedy Brown, Mya Gordon, Eden King, Arielle Ward | ||
| Contenders: Alea Byrne, Chloe Cho, Ruthuja Nataraj | ||
| Wildcards: Olivia Coppola, Marly Esteves, Emmalise Nock, Maddie Vitolo |
Bars
2024 Event Ranking: No. 29 | NQS: 49.245 | Average: 49.094
| Event Overview: Bars could be Illinois’ best event, and it was consistent before the midway point in the 2024 season but became shaky and never quite fully recovered. Cho is spectacular here and should immediately slide into Takekawa’s position. | ||
| Locks: Chloe Cho, Amelia Knight, Destiny Denning | ||
| Contenders: Lyden Saltness, Arielle Ward | ||
| Wildcards: Marly Esteves, Eden King, Emmalise Nock |
Beam
2024 Event Ranking: No. 36 | NQS: 49.125 | Average: 49.038
| Event Overview: Beam is traditionally a shining event for Illinois, largely on the heels of Takekawa. It was more inconsistent in 2024 and will certainly feel the absence of the graduated routines. Nataraj’s return is key here. This lineup could struggle. | ||
| Locks: Amelia Knight | ||
| Contenders: Chloe Cho, Mya Gordon, Ruthuja Nataraj, Arielle Ward | ||
| Wildcards: Alea Byrne, Olivia Coppola |
Floor
2024 Event Ranking: No. 40 | NQS: 49.285 | Average: 49.163
| Event Overview: Floor has become an Illini signature under Natalie Walsh, but 2024 lacked some of the starpower of recent seasons. Still, it was a good showing. This is the event where we’re most likely to see transfer Emmalise Nock. | ||
| Locks: Alea Byrne, Amelia Knight | ||
| Contenders: Chloe Cho, Mya Gordon, Eden King, Emmalise Nock, Arielle Ward | ||
| Wildcards: Tali Joelson, Ruthuja Nataraj |
Records Watch
Team: 197.575 | AA: 39.750 | VT: 49.475/10.000 | UB: 49.475/10.000 | BB: 49.675/10.000 | FX: 49.525/9.975
The Big Picture
This could be a year of growing pains, depending on how Nataraj bounces back from her injury and how quickly the freshmen, Cho and Gordon especially, adjust to college competition. Illinois should be targeting a return to the regional semifinals.
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Article by Emily Minehart
