40 is just a number, right? The Fighting Illini think so, as they head into a road conference matchup this weekend. The Illini have put on some mediocre performances so far this season: not counting many of falls, but not necessarily dazzling the judges. Even Chloe Cho can’t carry a whole team on her back. Cho continues to shine in her all-around role, though, earning a 39.525 in just the first competition of the season. Junior Lyden Saltness matched Cho’s prowess last week with a 9.900 bar routine, tipping the scales such that Illinois is now a bars team, apparently.
Ohio State is making headway after a messy series of injuries slowed its progress in 2025. Where Illinois excels on bars, the Buckeyes are brilliant on floor. They’re led by JJ Coleman on the event, who has gone no lower than a 9.900 this season. The sole all-around competitor, Tory Vetter, has performed well across the board. As the Buckeyes can stay healthy, they are set up for a successful season. Their redemption arc will continue this afternoon at home.
This meet will be streamed on BIG+ at 2 p.m. ET and scores can be found on StatBroadcast. Not a B1G+ subscriber? Sign up today for the monthly pass with the code COLLEGEGYM3 for just $10.99/month (regularly $12.99/month).
Rotation 1: Ohio State VT, Illinois UB
Grimes (OSU): Yurchenko full to a stick! Tight form and easy twisting. 9.800
Brown (IL): Little short on the first handstand, Gienger to bail, double layout, step forward. Some knee form on the dismount. 9.600
Pomager (OSU): Yurchenko full, great distance and a small hop. 9.825
Clancy (IL): Maloney to bail, misses her hand on the low bar and comes off. She’s talking to the coaches, possibly jammed her fingers. They’re taping her quickly and she’s back up. High double layout, chest up and steps back. 8.825
Smith (OSU): Yurchenko 1.5, soft on the table, hops slightly to the side. Nice to see a 10.0 SV routine. 9.825
Dixon (IL): Toe, Maloney to bail handstand, some loose form, fast giants to a DLO, stuck. 9.775
Martin (OSU): Yurchenko 1.5, far back on the table, underrotates and falls back. 9.200
Denning (IL): Maloney, clean, to bail leg sep, DLO with a step back. 9.700
Coleman (OSU): Yurchenko 1.5, lots of height but falls on the landing. Another unfortunate fall for the Buckeyes. 9.325
Saltness (IL): Ray, Pak, clean form throughout, blind full to double tuck, and sticks it! A routine the Illini will be happy with. 9.850
Vetter (OSU): Yurchenko full, clean form and a slight hop back. A good recovery after a series of falls. 9.750
Cho (IL): Floaty Maloney to Pak, Van Leeuwen is clean, pretty DLO, landing is blocked by the coach but looked well done. 9.900
Ex- Green (OSU): Yurchenko full, similar to Vetter’s with good form and a hop.
Ex- Gow (IL): Short handstand on high, toe on pike dismount, really low chest on landing.
AFTER ONE: Illinois 48.825, Ohio State 48.525
After two falls on 10.0 vaults, the Buckeyes will have to count a mistake toward their event total. The Buckeyes will need to shake it off as they head to bars, what has historically been their lowest-performing event. The Illini pushed through an early-rotation hiccup to take the lead after the first rotation. Chloe Cho performed her usual, earning a 9.900 to highlight the rotation, supported by Saltness’ clean routine. To keep their edge over the Buckeyes, the Illini will need to put all their vaults to their feet.
Rotation 2: Illinois VT, Ohio State UB
Coppola (IL): Yurchenko full, piked down, a little hop back, 9.750
Pomager (OSU): Nice HS, Maloney to Pak flows well, blind full to a sky-high double tuck and sticks it. 9.825
Goldstein (IL): Powerful Yurchenko full, she could get more distance from the table, small hop. 9.775
Grimes (OSU): Bouncy Tkatchev, bail handstand leans a bit, DLO with a little step forward. 9.800
Dixon (IL): FHS pike, very forward on the table, medium hop forward. 9.650
McCann (OSU): Ray slightly close, Pak, short HS on high, double tuck goes out far and steps forward. 9.700
Byrne (IL): Yurchenko full, piked down, hop back. 9.725
Rader (OSU): Maloney leg sep, Park, casts slightly short, DLO with great form, “college” stick. 9.800
Cho (IL): Yurchenko full, clean and good height, hops back. 9.800
Jackson (OSU): Pak is close, arm bend, Van Leeuwen, DLO, 9.775
Clancy (IL): Yurchenko full, pikey, hops in place. 9.725
Vetter (OSU): Tkatchev, bail handstand, huge FTDT with a stick! She flies on that. 9.875
AFTER TWO: Illinois 97.600 (48.775), Ohio State 97.550 (49.025)
A close meet heading into the second half! The Buckeyes held their own on bars, highlighted by gorgeous routines from Pomager and Vetter to bookend the rotation. The Illini stood up all their vaults well, but landing deductions and form breaks held them back from bigger scores. Even so, the Illini keep a slight edge over the Buckeyes. With the Buckeyes’ best event coming later on floor, can the half tenth lead be enough to push the Illini ahead over the finish line?
Rotation 3: Ohio State BB, Illinois FX
Guevara (OSU): BHS LOSO, some knee form but solid landing, wobbles on the switch side, RO double full to dismount, drills it for a stick! 9.850
Joelson (IL): Front through to double tuck, slides back in the lunge. Double pike, bit of chest down. 9.775
Jackson (OSU): Good extension on her leaps. Front aerial to swing down handspring, bent legs in the aerial. A unique tourjete leap, side aerial 1.5 dismount, medium hop forward. 9.800
Dixon (IL): Front through to double tuck, precise turns in her leap combo, powerful double pike. 9.775
Smith (OSU): Double wolf turn, no issues. Front toss to BHS, maybe a pause in the connection but she should get it. Standing gainer full, hops back. 9.775
Brown (IL): Whip through to double tuck, slightly low to land. FHS front full to layout, loose knees, in-bounds but all the way to the corner. 9.775
Martin (OSU): BHS LOSO, good form. Cat leap to aerial is solid. Switch switch leap, both 180. Check on turn. BHS 1.5, a hop forward. 9.800
Banks (IL): Front double full, she has very fun theatrical music. RO 1.5 to front layout and lands well. 9.800
Vetter (OSU): BHS LOSO very solid, side aerial and it’s like there’s glue on her feet. BHS gainer full, stuck. Yup, definitely glue! 9.875
King (IL): Double tuck, bounces back in the lunge. Precise leap positions. RO 1.5 to front layout, timed really well and floats the layout. 9.850
McCann (OSU): Round off to layout two foot series, comes off on that but what an unusual skill! RO 1.5 dismount is super clean and sticks it. 9.000
Cho (IL): Judges conference ahead of Cho’s routine. A big FTDT to open, slides back in the lunge. Excellent leap positions. Front through to double tuck, another small scooch on the landing, but good form throughout. 9.900
AFTER THREE: Illinois 146.700 (49.100), Ohio State 146.650 (49.100)
These two teams are now officially head-to-head as they prepare for the final rotation. With matching event totals, the Illini maintain a half-tenth lead over the Buckeyes. The Illini head to beam, which is notoriously a tough event to end on, but will need to make use of the momentum they have built up in the first three rotations. The Buckeyes step up to floor, arguably their best event this season, in front of a home crowd. Let’s see if the Illini can go tenth-for-tenth with the Buckeyes yet again to round out this close matchup.
Rotation 4: Illinois BB, Ohio State FX
Byrne (IL): Quick full turn, BHS LOSO comes off there, nice straddle jump, check on the sheep jump, RO double full, goes straight up, step. Not a routine the Illinois will want to count if they want to stay in this. 9.200
Guevara (OSU): FHS double full front tuck, lots of straddle positions in her leaps, FHS Rudi LOSO, lunges out well. 9.850
Goldstein (IL): Pressure position after a fall. Controlled turn, BHS LOSO is solid, over 180 switch leap, front aerial, lifts a leg but stays on. RO 1.5 dismount with a micro-shuffle. A good recovery for the Illini. 9.675
Belman (OSU): Double pike, toes are pointed. FHS full to layout, dances out. Double tuck to finish, lands well. 9.900
Coppola (IL): Side aerial to RO series, the connection flows. 180 splits in her leaps. Side aerial two foot, solid. RO 1.5 and a tiny hop. 9.850
Martin (OSU): Huge FTDT, bit of an uncontrolled landing. Precise leaps. RO 1.5 to front layout. 9.825
Clancy (IL): Side aerial, no movement. Very composed in her dance. BHS LOSO, big balance check but holds on. Stuck RO 1.5. 9.825
Grimes (OSU): Double pike, good form with a small slide back. RO 1.5 to a floaty front layout. Double tuck, a little soft to land. 9.850
Saltness (IL): Good form in her BHS LOSO. Pulls the split full around. Front gainer full dismount to stick! 9.825
Coleman (OSU): FTDT, steps forward out of the landing. She’s bringing the intensity in the dance! Front through to double tuck, good lunge out. 9.900
Cho (IL): Wolf full, BHS LOSO and the team loves it. Great extension on her leaps. Makes cheeky eye contact with the judges. RO 1.5 rises and gets the stick! An excellent close to a pressured rotation for the Illini. 9.925
Vetter (OSU): Double tuck, absorbs the landing well. Really dancing to the crowd. Impeccable positioning in her leap combo. Front layout to Rudi, a little sideways but covers it. 9.850
FINAL: Ohio State 196.000 (49.350), Illinois 195.800 (49.100)
VT: Pomager, Smith (OSU) – 9.825
UB: Cho (IL) – 9.900
BB: Cho (IL) – 9.925
FX: Cho (IL), Belman, Coleman (OSU) – 9.900
AA: Cho (IL) – 39.525
An unexpected and incredibly close meet after Ohio State counted a fall on vault, the Buckeyes came back in the fourth event to nab the win and hit the 196 threshold for the second time this season. Falls are an anomaly, and the Buckeyes should be back on track with no problem next week. The Illini had their best showing so far this season after several disappointing finishes. Although they came out with a loss, a tight road race for the Illini should boost their confidence as they head deeper into the season.
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Live blog by Frances Leadman
