FIGHTING ILLINI TV ROSTER

FIGHTING ILLINI TV ROSTER Marijka Botterman - Sr. Allison Buckley - So. Nicole Cowart - Jr. Julie Crall - Sr. Melissa Fernandez - So. Alyssa Harmon - Fr. Kelsey Joannides - Fr. Kim Kruk - Sr. Lashlee Morris - So. Samantha Perino - So. Sarah Schmidt - Jr. Lindsey Smith - Sr. Hannah Welker - Fr. Laura Woolf - Jr. Bob Starkell Head Coach NAME YR. HT. EVENT(S) HOMETOWN/HIGH SCHOOL CLUB TEAM Marijka Botterman (muh-rye-ka) Sr. 5-3 AA New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln-Way Central Gym-Kinetics Allison Buckley So. 5-2 AA Schaumburg, Ill./Conant Gymkhana Nicole Cowart Jr. 5-2 AA Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove Wright's Gymnastics Julie Crall Sr. 5-2 VT,UB,BB Cincinnati, Ohio/Ursuline Academy Queen City Gymnastics Melissa Fernandez So. 5-0 AA Eudora, Kan./Eudora KGDC Alyssa Harmon Fr. 5-2 AA Odessa, Fla./Bishop McLaughlin Tampa Bay Turners Kelsey Joannides (joe-ann-i-dees) Fr. 5-2 AA Frederick, Md./Frederick Frederick Gymnastics Kim Kruk Sr. 5-2 AA Carol Stream, Ill./Bartlett Illinois Gymnastics Institute Lashlee Morris So. 5-1 AA Leesburg, Fla./Leesburg Brandy Johnson s Global Gym Academy Samantha Perino (purr-ee-no) So. 5-3 AA Yorktown, Va./Tabb Ocean Tumblers Gymnastics Sarah Schmidt Jr. 5-2 AA Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead Midwest Twisters Lindsey Smith Sr. 5-0 VT,BB,FX Collinsville, Ill./Metro-East Lutheran World Class Gymnastics Hannah Welker Fr. 5-2 AA Butler, Pa./Knoch Butler Gymnastics Laura Woolf Jr. 5-2 VT,UB,BB Deerfield, Ill./Deerfield Buffalo Grove Gymnastics Center HEAD COACH: Bob Starkell (star-kell), 10th season ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH: Kim Landrus, seventh season ASSISTANT COACH: Amy Kruse (CRUISE), third season STUDENT MANAGER: Lori Hamilton, second season THE 2009 FIGHTING ILLINI

09 U NIVERSITY OF I LLINOIS WOMEN S GYMNASTICS FOLLOW THE ACTION Livestats: fightingillini.com TV: CBS Tape delay - May 9, 1-3 pm (Tim Brando and Amanda Borden) FOR OPENERS The 11th-ranked Fighting Illini women s gymnastics team heads to Lincoln, Neb., to compete in the NCAA Championships April 16-18 at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. Illinois enters the competition as the 11th seed in the 12-team field. Illinois will participate in the evening session for the team preliminaries and all-around final on Thursday, April 16 at 7 p.m., along with No. 2 Utah, No. 3 Alabama, No. 6 Oregon State, No. 7 UCLA, and No. 10 Arkansas. Illinois will begin the competition on bars and will rotate as follows: bars, beam, bye, floor, vault, bye. #11 ILLINOIS AT THE NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS April 16-18, 2009 Bob Devaney Sports Center // Lincoln, Neb. 2009 SCHEDULE & RESULTS Date Event Time/Result J 9 @ #17 Michigan State 2nd of 4 (193.950) (w #8 Michigan and W. Michigan) J 17 #11 PENN STATE W, 195.500-192.925 J 24 IOWA L, 194.400-194.950 J 31 @ #15 Ohio State 2nd of 4 (194.575) (w #13 Missouri and Michigan St.) F 6 @ IGI Chicago Style Invite 1st of 4 (195.100) (w #24 Boise St., UIC, Michigan St.) F 13 @ #13 Missouri L, 195.000-196.625 F 15 #18 OHIO STATE W, 196.700-195.675 F 21 @ #24 Washington 2nd of 4 (195.900) (w #9 Oregon St. and E. Michigan) F 27 @ Kentucky 3rd of 5 (194.200) (w UNC, Ball St., William & Mary) M 7 ILLINOIS-CHICAGO W, 195.925-193.725 M 14 @ State of Illinois Classic 1st of 4 (196.450) (UIC, Illinois State, N. Illinois) M 21 BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS 2nd of 7 (196.750) A 4 @ NCAA West Regional 2nd of 6 (196.700) Seattle, Wash. (University of Washington) A 16-18 @ NCAA Championships (Lincoln, Neb.) A 16 Team Prelims & AA Final - Session 2 7 p.m. A 17 Super Six Team Finals 6 p.m. A 18 Individual Event Finals 6 p.m. * All Times Central Home meets are in bold and held at Huff Hall The top three teams from each of Thursday s preliminary sessions will advance to the Super Six team finals on Friday, April 17. The all-around champion will be crowned on the first day of competition, while individual event champions are scheduled for Saturday, April 18 at 6 p.m. The top four individuals on each event from each of Thursday s sessions will compete in the individual event finals. The Illini are coming off an impressive showing at the NCAA West Regional two weeks ago in Seattle, Wash., where they posted a 196.700 to take second place, just.05 off the school record set at this year's Big Ten Championships. QUICK HITS A First For Everything: Illinois is making its first ever team appearance at the NCAA Championships this weekend. The Illini earned the spot by taking second at the West Regional with a score of 196.700. Buckley Wins Beam at Regional: Sophomore Allison Buckley shared the West Regional Beam Title with an individual school record score of 9.95. Her score tied Stacy Redmond (1995) at the top of the individual record books. Buckley is just the third Illini in school history to earn an individual regional title, joining Nancy Thies (1976 and '77) and Cara Pomeroy (2004). UI Duo Claims Big Ten Titles: Freshman Kelsey Joannides won the 2009 Big Ten Vault title with a career-high 9.925 and junior Sarah Schmidt shared the Big Ten Floor crown with a school-record tying 9.950 to give Illinois multiple event champions at the conference meet for the first time since 1990. Records Fall in Postseason: Illinois set school records for overall team score (196.750), floor (49.500) and vault (49.375) at the Big Ten Championships en route to a second place finish. The Illini then went on to break the school beam record (49.200) at the West Regional, led by Allison Buckley s individual record tying score of 9.95. A PROGRAM ON THE RISE By advancing to this year s NCAA Championships, Illinois has continued its gradual climb towards becoming one of the nation s elite teams. When this year s senior class of Marijka Botterman, Julie Crall, Kim Kruk and Lindsey Smith started their careers four years ago, the Illini program hadn t finished in the top half of the Big Ten in 15 years and had reached regionals only four times since 1990. During the last four years, Illinois has improved its Big Ten and regional finishes each year and has continued to climb up the national rankings. This year s trip to nationals is just more proof that Illinois gymnastics is a program on the rise. Take a look at the program s progress over the last four years: Year Big Ten Regional Final Nat. Rank 2006 7th 4th 25 2007 3rd 4th 20 2008 2nd 3rd 15 2009 2nd 2nd? ILLINOIS NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY Illinois is making its first NCAA Championship appearance this weekend. However, last year two Illini individuals Allison Buckley and Nicole Cowart competed at nationals in the all-around and both are back this year with that experience under their belts. Buckley earned second team All-America honors on the balance beam, joining Nancy Thies as the only Illini to earn All-America status. Overall, 12 Illinois individuals have competed at the NCAA Championships in the program s history. HANDICAPPING THE FIELD Four-time defending NCAA Champion Georgia leads the way with both the top NQS and the top regional score (197.700) among the 12 teams. No. 2 Utah was right on their heels with a score of 197.675 at the West Regional. Illinois had the seventh-best regional score with a 196.700, ahead of No. 7 UCLA (196.625), No. 8 Oklahoma (196.600), No. 10 Arkansas (196.300), No. 9 Stanford (196.200) and No. 12 Penn State (195.800). The Illini have face three teams in the field this season, going 3-1 in those matchups. Illinois defeated Penn State twice (195.500-192.925 on Jan. 17 and 196.750-196.525 at the Big Ten Championships on March 21) and Oregon State once (195.900-195.800 in a quad at Washington on Feb. 21) this year, and fell to Utah (197.675-196.700 at the West Regional meet). 2009 University of Illinois Women s Gymnastics Notes // 1

THURSDAY S COMPETITION DRAW Session 1 // Thursday, April 16 at 1 p.m. CT Rank Team Region Regional Score NQS Starting Event 1 Georgia Southeast 197.700 394.955 Bye before Floor 4 LSU Central 196.875 393.635 Beam 5 Florida North Central 196.775 393.490 Floor 8 Oklahoma Northeast 196.600 393.065 Bars 9 Stanford South Central 196.200 393.025 Vault 12 Penn State Southeast 195.800 392.040 Bye before bars Session 2 // Thursday, April 16 at 7 p.m. CT Rank Team Region Regional Score NQS Starting Event 2 Utah West 197.675 394.865 Bye before bars 3 Alabama Northeast 197.000 393.925 Floor 6 Oregon State Central 196.800 393.320 Beam 7 UCLA North Central 196.625 393.205 Vault 10 Arkansas South Central 196.300 392.740 Bye before floor 11 Illinois West 196.700 392.715 Bars ILLINI TAKE SECOND AT WEST REGIONAL TO EARN FIRST EVER NATIONAL BID The Illini took second place behind No. 2 Utah at the West Regional Championship in Seattle, earning one of the two coveted qualifying spots to the NCAA Championships. Allison Buckley took home a share of the beam crown with an individual school record -tying score of 9.95 to lead the Illini to a 196.700 team score, just.05 off the school record set at this year s Big Ten Championships. Buckley received a spot on the podium in three events, taking first on beam, second on vault (9.90), and fourth in the all-around (39.425). She led Illinois to the team record on beam (49.200), while Kelsey Joannides and Melissa Fernandez tied for fourth on beam with 9.875s. Buckley and Marijka Botterman (9.850) were the top Illini vaulters, leading the Orange and Blue to their third best score this season and in school history of 49.175. Botterman led Illinois on bars (49.100), taking third place with a career-high 9.90, and Sarah Schmidt paced the Illini on floor (49.225), finishing sixth with a 9.875. Joannides joined Buckley on the all-around podium with a 39.300 to take sixth, while Nicole Cowart finished seventh with a 39.150. ILLINI TAKE SECOND AT BIG TENS ONCE AGAIN Illinois posted a school record score of 196.750 at the 2009 Big Ten Championships at Huff Hall, but it wasn t enough to earn the Illini their first conference title since 1990, as the Orange and Blue finished runner-up for the second straight year behind Michigan. Illinois made a late charge with team records on their final two events, floor (49.500) and vault (49.375), to put pressure on the Wolverines, who finished with a 197.075. Following the competition, head coach Bob Starkell was honored as Co-Big Ten Coach of the Year along with Penn State's Steve Shephard. It is the second time that Starkell has received the honor, with the first coming in 2005. In addition to the team success, Sarah Schmidt shared the floor title with a school record tying 9.950 and Kelsey Joannides won the vault crown with a personal-best 9.925, giving the Illini a Big Ten Champion for the third consecutive year and multiple winners for only the fourth time in program history. Allison Buckley (9.925) and Marijka Botterman (9.900) finished fourth and fifth, respectively, behind Schmidt on floor to help lead the Illini to the team event record. Nicole Cowart finished right behind Joannides on vault with a career-high 9.900 to take second and pace the Illini to the team vault record. Joannides and Melissa Fernandez paved the way for the Illini on beam (48.925), tying for second with 9.875s. Joannides tied the third best all-around score in UI history of 39.375 to garner a fifth place finish, while Cowart took eighth with a career-best 39.275 and Buckley finished 10th with a 39.250. RECORDS WERE MADE TO BE BROKEN This year s Illini squad has made several significant marks on the all-time Illinois record books, breaking team record in overall team score and in three of four events. The Orange and Blue have posted the top four team scores in school history this season and currently hold six scores on program s all-time top-10 list. The record coming into the season was a 196.300, but the team has gone on to surpass the record mark with scores of 196.700 against Ohio State on Feb. 15 and 196.750 at the Big Ten Championships on March 21. This year s Illinois squad also holds the top-four team vault scores in the record book, including the new record of 49.375 at the Big Ten Championships. They moved past the old floor record (49.450) at the Big Ten Championships with a 49.500, and passed the old beam record (49.175), which had been tied twice earlier this season, at the West Regional with a 49.200. 2009 NCAA WEST REGIONAL 1. Utah 197.675 2. ILLINOIS 196.700 3. Boise State 195.300 4. Auburn 195.250 5. Washington 194.800 5. San Jose State 194.800 2009 BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS 1. Michigan 197.075 2. ILLINOIS 196.750 3. Penn State 196.525 4. Minnesota 196.000 5. Ohio State 195.900 6. Michigan St. 195.650 7. Iowa 195.450 ILLINOIS RECORDS BROKEN THIS YEAR Team Overall Score 196.750 Big Tens (3/21) Vault 49.375 Big Tens (3/21) Beam 49.200 West Regional (4/4) Floor 49.500 Big Tens (3/21) Individual Vault 9.950 M. Botterman (2/15) Beam 9.950* A. Buckley (4/4) Floor 9.950* S. Schmidt (3/21) * tied old record ILLINI QUICK FACTS THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS Location: Urbana-Champaign Founded: 1867 Enrollment: 42,326 Nickname: Fighting Illini Colors: Orange and Blue Conference: Big Ten President: B. Joseph White (Michigan 75) Chancellor: Richard Herman (Stevens I.T. 63) Athletic Director: Ron Guenther (Illinois 67) Home Gym: Huff Hall (3,800) Athletics Website: www.fightingillini.com TEAM INFORMATION Current National Rank: 11th 2009 Record: 26-9 2009 Big Ten Finish/Score: 2nd/196.750 2009 West Regional Finish/Score: 2nd/196.700 2008 High Score: 196.750 2009 Final RQS: 196.015 2009 Preseason Rank: 16th 2008 Final National Rank: 15th Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 11/2 Routines Returning/Lost: 22/2 Newcomers: 3 COACHING STAFF Head Coach: Bob Starkell, 10th season Alma Mater: UW-Oshkosh 92 Regular Season Record at Illinois: 92-92 Overall Record: same Associate Head Coach: Kim Landrus (Iowa State 97) Assistant Coach: Amy Kruse (Nebraska 02) Student Assistant: Lori Hamilton (junior) Gymnastics Phone: 217-333-1683 Gymnastics Fax: 217-244-9758 Gymnastics Address: Bielfeldt Athletic Building 1700 S. Fourth Street Champaign, IL 61820 SPORTS INFORMATON Assistant SID: Derek Neal (traveling to NCAAs) Work Phone: 217-244-3707 Cell Phone: 309-241-0804 Email: drneal@illinois.edu SID Fax: 217-333-5540 WGYM SID: Eric Giovanini Work Phone: 217-333-1391 Email: egiovan2@illinois.edu SID Address: Bielfeldt Athletic Building 1700 S. Fourth Street Champaign, IL 61820 In addition to the team records, several gymnasts have placed themselves on top of the individual record books. Marijka Botterman took sole possession of first place on the all-time vault list with her 9.950 on Feb. 15 against Ohio State. Sarah Schmidt joined four other performances at the top of the individual floor record book with her 9.950 at the Big Ten Championships. Allison Buckley tied the school beam record with a 9.95 at the West Regional championship, after posting two 9.925s earlier in the year. Several individuals have notched a spot in the top-10 all-around list this season, with Buckley leading the way with 39.425 to sit in third, behind the second place mark that she set last season of 39.450. Kelsey Joannides tallied a 39.375 to sit in a tie for fourth, while Botterman scored a 39.350, seventh on the list. For complete Illinois performance lists, see page 4. 2009 University of Illinois Women s Gymnastics Notes // 2

BALANCING ACT Much of Illinois improvement this year can be traced to the balance team. After struggling on beam a year ago, the Illini have used off-season training to become one of the nation's elite on the event. Allison Buckley s individual record tying 9.95 led Illinois to the school vault record (49.200) at the West Regional championship, after tying the old mark (49.175) twice earlier this season. The Illini were ranked in the top-15 nationally all season and were the top beam team in the Big Ten Conference with an average of 48.850, after finishing the 2008 campaign 30th nationally with a 48.304 average. The Orange and Blue have topped the 49.0 mark six times this season, which only happened one time last year. The Illini return both 2008 Big Ten Beam Champion Julie Crall and 2008 beam All-American Allison Buckley, but this year the Illini's success on the balance beam has been aided by the addition of freshman Kelsey Joannides and rock-solid performances of Melissa Fernandez, Nicole Cowart, and Lashlee Morris. BOTTERMAN VAULTS INTO RECORD BOOK Senior Marijka Botterman broke Illinois' individual vault record on Feb. 15 against Ohio State with a 9.95. She shared the old record of 9.925 with Jessica Cole (2003) and Nicole Viernes (1996) already, but now sits alone at the top of the record book. A second team All-Big Ten selection, Botterman took fifth on floor at the Big Ten Championships with a career-high 9.900 and third on bars at the West Regional with a career-high 9.90. Botterman stepped into the all-around role at the State of Illinois Classic due to injuries and responded with a career-best 39.350, tying the fifth best score in school history and taking first at the four-team competition. She is ranks 21st in the nation on vault (9.885 RQS), scoring no lower than 9.800 all season on the event. Botterman, who has emerged as one of the team s leaders and as one of the most consistent performers this year, now has eight titles on the season, including five on vault. Sibling Rivalry: Marijka Botterman s younger sister, Kylee, is a sophomore at Michigan and qualified for the NCAA Championships as an individual on the floor exercise. Kylee will also compete in the evening session on Thursday, and competes on floor while the Illini are on a bye. The sisters have gone head-to-head several times during the last two seasons and this weekend will be the final time, as Marijka is set to graduate from Illinois in May. Their older sister, Danye, competed for Illinois from 2004-07. BUCKLEY BACK TO FORM Sophomore Allison Buckley, a 2008 All-American and Big Ten Freshman of the Year, looks to finally be back to form following offseason surgery that had limited her throughout the early part of the season. The Schaumburg, Ill., native tied the school beam record (9.95) at the West Regional to share the title honors, and also finished second on vault (9.90) and fourth in the all-around with her season-high and third best score in Illinois history of 39.425. She has competed in the all-around in each meet during the second half of the season, taking home the title twice, including a 39.350 against Ohio State on Feb. 15. At the Big Ten Championships, she finished fourth on floor with a career-high tying 9.925, ninth on vault (9.850), and tenth in the all-around (39.250). She tallied two consecutive 9.925s on beam to take the title at the State of Illinois Classic and against UIC. Buckley now has 27 career-titles, placing her sixth among UI s career event title leaders. She also holds five of the top-7 all-around scores in school history, including the second-best mark of 39.450. Despite the early injuries, she was still named second team All-Big Ten. MEET-BY-MEET SCORING BREAKDOWN ILLINOIS PROBABLE LINE-UP Vault Sarah Schmidt Melissa Fernandez Nicole Cowart Kelsey Joannides Allison Buckley Marijka Botterman Bars Melissa Fernandez Kelsey Joannides Allison Buckley Marijka Botterman Nicole Cowart Sarah Schmidt Beam Nicole Cowart Lashlee Morris Kelsey Joannides Julie Crall Allison Buckley Melissa Fernandez Floor Marijka Botterman Lindsey Smith Nicole Cowart Kelsey Joannides Allison Buckley Sarah Schmidt MEET RESULT TEAM VAULT BARS BEAM FLOOR at Michigan State Quad 2nd of 4 193.950 48.500 48.575 48.750 48.125 #11 Penn State W 195.500 49.025 48.425 49.025 49.025 Iowa L 194.400 47.925 48.850 49.000 48.625 at Ohio State Quad 2nd of 4 194.575 48.125 49.000 48.700 48.750 at IGI Chicago Style Invite 1st of 4 195.100 48.850 48.325 48.950 48.975 at #13 Missouri L 195.000 49.175 48.500 48.475 48.850 #18 Ohio State W 196.700 49.225 49.250 48.975 49.250 at Washington Quad 2nd of 4 195.900 49.150 48.850 49.175 48.725 at Kentucky Quint 3rd of 5 194.200 48.775 48.700 47.650 49.075 Illinois-Chicago W 195.925 48.950 48.850 49.050 49.075 at State of Illinois Classic 1st of 4 196.450 48.825 49.125 49.175 49.325 Big Ten Championships 2nd of 7 196.750 49.375 48.950 48.925 49.500 at NCAA Regional Championships 2nd of 6 196.700 49.175 49.100 49.200 49.225 Season Average -- 195.453 48.852 48.808 48.850 48.963 Season High Scores -- 196.750 49.375 49.250 49.200 49.500 Regional Qualifying Score (Mar. 30) -- 196.015 49.085 48.955 49.040 49.140 ILLINI INDIVIDUAL TITLES MARIJKA BOTTERMAN Vault 5 9 Uneven Bars 2 3 All-Around 1 5 TOTAL 8 17 ALLISON BUCKLEY Vault 2 6 Uneven Bars 0 1 Balance Beam 3 5 Floor Exercise 1 8 All-Around 2 7 TOTAL 8 27 NICOLE COWART Vault 0 2 Uneven Bars 0 1 Balance Beam 0 1 Floor Exercise 0 4 All-Around 1 4 TOTAL 1 12 JULIE CRALL Vault 0 1 Uneven Bars 0 1 Balance Beam 1 13 Floor Exercise 0 1 TOTAL 1 16 MELISSA FERNANDEZ Balance Beam 4 4 TOTAL 4 4 KELSEY JOANNIDES Vault 1 1 Balance Beam 3 3 Floor Exercise 1 1 All-Around 1 1 TOTAL 6 6 KIM KRUK Uneven Bars 0 2 Floor Exercise 0 2 All-Around 0 4 TOTAL 0 8 SARAH SCHMIDT Uneven Bars 4 9 Floor Exercise 5 7 All-Around 0 1 TOTAL 9 17 LINDSEY SMITH Vault 0 1 TOTAL 0 1 2009 University of Illinois Women s Gymnastics Notes // 3

JOANNIDES EXCELS EARLY IN CAREER Freshman Kelsey Joannides had stellar performances in her first two postseason competitions. Joannides won the Big Ten Vault title with the second-best score in school history of 9.925. She also tied the third best all-around score in UI history of 39.375 to finish fifth at the Big Tens, while taking runner-up on beam with a personal-best 9.875. Joannides went on to finish in the top-10 on three events at the West Regional, taking fourth on beam (9.875), sixth in the all-around (39.300), and ninth on vault (9.825). The Frederick, Md., native has competed in the allaround in each meet for the Illini, capturing her first all-around title on Feb. 6 in Chicago. She also tied a career-best 9.90 on floor at the State of Illinois Classic to take second after winning her first floor title against UIC the week prior. Joannides, a second team All-Big Ten selection, has also captured the beam title three times this season, each with a score of 9.850. She is ranked 34th in the nation on beam (9.860), 49th in the all-around (39.140), and 63rd on floor (9.850). SCHMIDT IS SMOKIN Junior Sarah Schmidt shared the 2009 Big Ten floor championship with a school record tying 9.950, after taking home the floor title the week prior at the State of Illinois Classic with a 9.925. She also took home the bars crown at the Illinois Classic with a career-high tying 9.900, and set a new personal-best in the all-around (39.275) to take third. Schmidt took sixth at the West Regional on floor with a 9.875. She was named Big Ten Gymnast of the Week by the conference (Jan. 19) after winning two individual titles with career-high scores of 9.900 on both bars and floor to lead the Illini in their upset over Penn State. Those scores were the highest in the conference that week on the two events. The Hartland, Wis., native also tallied her career-high on vault (9.825) against the Nittany Lions. Schmidt has been Illinois' most consistent bars and floor performer this season, ranking 18th nationally on floor (9.890) and 45th on bars (9.850). A second team All-Big Ten honoree, Schmidt has nine event titles this season, including four on the uneven bars and five on floor. Performing with the Stars: This past fall, Schmidt had the opportunity to perform alongside several Olympic greats, including Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukin, when the 2008 Tour of Gymnastics Superstars came to Champaign in November. SUKI S SMOOTH Junior Nicole Suki Cowart has been one of the most consistent Illini performers all season. She took runner-up at the Big Ten Championships on vault with a career-best 9.900 and eighth in the all-around with a personal-best 39.275. Cowart then went on to tie for sixth on bars (9.850) and take seventh in the all-around (39.150) at the West Regional. She has competed in the all-around in every competition this year for the Orange and Blue, topping the 39.0 mark nine times. A second team All-Big Ten pick, Cowart ranks among the top-100 nationally on vault (93rd), bars (57th) and in the all-around (40th). Cowart has 12 career titles, including four each on floor and in the all-around. MAGNIFICENT MEL Sophomore Melissa Fernandez has emerged as one of the Big Ten s best beam performers this season. She has competed on beam in 12 of 13 competitions this season, missing only the State of Illinois Classic due to injury. The Eudora, Kan., native tied the second best beam score in UI history of 9.925 earlier this season to win the title against Missouri. She finished in a tie for second on the event at the Big Ten Championships with a 9.875. Fernandez tied for fourth (9.875) at the West Regional Championship on beam. Fernandez has four titles on beam this season and ranks 36th nationally on the event with a 9.860 RQS. She has also been a constant contributor on vault and bars this season, taking sixth at Big Tens on vault with a career-high 9.875. RECORD FIVE ILLINI NAMED TO ALL-BIG TEN TEAMS Five Fighting Illini gymnasts - Marijka Botterman, Allison Buckley, Nicole Cowart, Kelsey Joannides and Sarah Schmidt - were all named second team All-Big Ten this season. With five athletes on the combined all-conference teams, Illinois had the most selections in school history and the most of any Big Ten team this season. TEAM RECORDS TOTAL SCORE 1. 196.750 Big Ten Championships 3/21/09 2. 196.700 at NCAA West Regional 4/4/09 196.700 vs. Ohio State 2/15/09 4. 196.450 at State of Illinois Classic 3/12/09 5. 196.300 State of Illinois Classic 3/13/04 6. 196.150 vs. Iowa 3/3/01 7. 195.975 vs. Auburn 3/9/07 8. 195.925 vs. Illinois-Chicago 3/7/09 195.925 vs. Iowa State & NIU 2/25/07 10. 195.900 at Washington 2/21/09 11. 195.800 vs. Ohio State 3/6/99 12. 195.750 at Big Ten Championships 3/29/08 195.750 at Texas Women s Quad 2/26/05 195.750 at State of Illinois Classic 3/23/03 VAULT 1. 49.375 Big Ten Championships 3/21/09 2. 49.225 vs. Ohio State 2/15/09 3. 49.175 at NCAA West Regional 4/4/09 49.175 at Missouri 2/13/09 5. 49.150 at Washington 2/21/09 49.150 at Illinois-Chicago 3/15/08 7. 49.125 vs. Illinois-Chicago 3/17/07 8. 49.100 at Big Ten Championships 3/29/08 49.100 vs. Iowa State & NIU 2/25/07 49.100 at Texas Women s Quad 2/26/05 BARS 1. 49.475 at NCAA Regionals 4/3/04 2. 49.300 at Big Ten Championships 3/31/07 3. 49.250 vs. Ohio State 2/15/09 49.250 at State of Illinois Classic 3/25/07 5. 49.225 vs. Penn State 1/13/01 6. 49.200 vs. Iowa State and NIU 2/25/07 7. 49.125 at State of Illinois Classic 3/14/09 8. 49.100 at NCAA West Regional 4/4/09 49.100 vs. Auburn 3/9/07 49.100 State of Illinois Classic 3/13/04 49.100 vs. Ohio State 3/6/99 49.100 vs. Illinois State 2/28/98 BEAM 1. 49.200 at NCAA West Regional 4/4/09 2. 49.175 at State of Illinois Classic 3/14/09 49.175 at Washington 2/21/09 49.175 at Big Ten Championships 3/20/04 5. 49.150 at State of Illinois Classic 3/23/03 49.150 vs. Ohio State 2/3/01 7. 49.125 vs. Iowa 3/3/01 8. 49.100 vs. Auburn 3/9/07 49.100 vs. Ohio State 3/12/05 10. 49.075 at UIC 2/25/06 49.075 State of Illinois Classic 3/13/04 49.075 vs. Ohio State 3/6/99 FLOOR 1. 49.500 Big Ten Championships 3/21/09 2. 49.450 at State of Illinois Classic 3/16/01 3. 49.425 vs. Iowa 3/8/03 4. 49.325 at State of Illinois Classic 3/14/09 5. 49.300 vs. Ohio State 3/6/99 6. 49.275 vs. Ball State 2/21/04 49.275 vs. Iowa State 2/14/04 8. 49.250 vs. Ohio State 2/15/09 49.250 vs. Ohio State 2/3/01 49.250 vs. Iowa 3/3/01 TOP SCORES IN ILLINOIS HISTORY INDIVIDUAL RECORDS ALL-AROUND 1. 39.475 Ashley Williams 2004 2. 39.450 Allison Buckley 2008 3. 39.425 Allison Buckley 2009 4. 39.375 Kelsey Joannides 2009 Allison Buckley 2008 Kara Kapernekas 2003 7. 39.350 Allison Buckley 2009 Marijka Botterman 2009 Allison Buckley 2008 Ashley Williams 2003 Phaedra Dixon 1999 12. 39.300 Kelsey Joannides 2009 VAULT 1. 9.950 Marijka Botterman 2009 2. 9.925 Kelsey Joannides 2009 Marijka Botterman 2009 Jessica Cole 2003 Nicole Viernes 1996 6. 9.900 Allison Buckley 2009 Nicole Cowart 2009 Marijka Botterman 2009 Allison Buckley 2008 Allison Buckley 2008 Marijka Botterman 2007 Carissa Ericson 2001 BARS 1. 10.0 Cara Pomeroy 2004 2. 9.950 Cara Pomeroy 2007 Cara Pomeroy 2007 Cara Pomeroy 2005 5. 9.925 Cara Pomeroy 2007 Cara Pomeroy 2007 Cara Pomeroy 2005 Ashley Williams 2004 Cara Pomeroy 2004 Cara Pomeroy 2004 Kelli Farrar 1997 Kelli Farrar 1997 Natalie Forsthoefel 1996 BEAM 1. 9.950 Allison Buckley 2009 Stacy Redmond 1995 3. 9.925 Allison Buckley 2009 Allison Buckley 2009 Melissa Fernandez 2009 Allison Buckley 2008 Kara Kapernekas 2003 Kara Kapernekas 2003 Jana Gallagher 2001 Jana Gallagher 2001 Jana Gallagher 2001 Jana Gallagher 2001 Kim Berres 1997 FLOOR 1. 9.950 Sarah Schmidt 2009 Kara Kapernekas 2004 Kara Kapernekas 2003 Amanda Kaufman 2003 Phaedra Dixon 2000 6. 9.925 Allison Buckley 2009 Sarah Schmidt 2009 Lauren Newcomb 2004 Kara Kapernekas 2004 Carissa Ericson 2000 Carissa Ericson 1999 2009 University of Illinois Women s Gymnastics Notes // 4

ILLINI IN THE RANKINGS The Fighting Illini enter this weekend's competition as the 11th ranked team in the 12-team field with a National Qualifying Score (RQS) of 392.715. By qualifying for the championships, Illinois has solidified its spot in the top-12 in the final GymInfo rankings and the highest final ranking in school history. Heading into the regional championships, Illinois ranked 13th in the nation on the balance beam, 15th on floor, 17th on bars, and 19th on vault. Marijka Botterman ranks 21st nationally on vault (9.885), while sophomore Allison Buckley ranks 59th with a 9.850 RQS. Freshman Kelsey Joannides is 34th nationally on beam (9.860), while sophomore Melissa Fernandez sit right behind her in the national rankings, also with a 9.860 RQS. Junior Sarah Schmidt is the top Illini on floor (9.890) and uneven bars (9.850), ranking 18th and 45th in the nation respectively. Junior Nicole Cowart is the top Illinois performer in the allaround, ranking 47th in the nation. CONFERENCE BEST 11 ILLINI NAMED ACADEMIC ALL-BIG TEN All 11 upperclassmen from the Illinois women's gymnastics team were named to the Academic All-Big Ten team. The 11 honorees are the most by any Big Ten gymnastics team this season and are the second-most in school history to only the 2001 squad that had 12 Academic All-Conference selections. The Illini honored are seniors Marijka Botterman (communications), Julie Crall (business administration), Kim Kruk (Spanish/biology) and Lindsey Smith (kinesiology), juniors Nicole Cowart (accountancy), Sarah Schmidt (kinesiology) and Laura Woolf (agri-accounting), and sophomores Allison Buckley (Kinesiology), Melissa Fernandez (Kinesiology), Lashlee Morris (Kinesiology) and Samantha Perino (Psychology). All four seniors are threetime honorees, while Cowart earned recognition for the second straight. STARKELL ADDS THREE FOR 2010 Illinois coach Bob Starkell and his staff signed three gymnasts to National Letters of Intent for the 2009-10 season this past November. Macy Hyatt (Kennesaw Mountain HS, Atlanta, Ga.), Jaclyn Kantecki (Queen of Peace HS, Burbank, Ill.), and Alina Weinstein (West Windsor Plainsboro HS South, Plainsboro, N.J.) will all join the Fighting Illini next season. Hyatt is a two-time Level 10 Nationals qualifier, placing 10th on vault in 2006. Kantecki is also a two-time Level 10 National qualifier, placing eighth in the all-around, fifth on floor and ninth on bars in 2008. Weinstein is a four-time Level 10 National qualifier, placing 11th in the all-around in 2008. She is a former J.O. National Team member and Elite National Qualifier (2004). TEAM TOTAL 196.750................... Big Ten Championships (3/21/09) 196.700................... at NCAA West Regional (4/4/09) 196.700................... vs. Ohio State (2/15/09) 196.450................... at State of Illinois Classic (3/14/09) 195.925................... vs. Illinois-Chicago (3/7/09) 195.900................... at Washington (2/21/09) VAULT 49.375.................... Big Ten Championships (3/21/09) 49.225.................... vs. Ohio State (2/15/09) 49.175.................... at NCAA West Regional (4/4/09) 49.175.................... at Missouri (2/13/09) 49.150.................... at Washington (2/21/09) UNEVEN BARS 49.250.................... vs. Ohio State (2/15/09) 49.125.................... at State of Illinois Classic (3/14/09) 49.100.................... at NCAA West Regional (4/4/09) 49.000.................... at Ohio State (1/31/09) 48.950.................... Big Ten Championships (3/21/09) 48.850.................... vs. Illinois-Chicago (3/7/09) BALANCE BEAM 49.200.................... at NCAA West Regional (4/4/09) 49.175.................... at State of Illinois Classic (3/14/09) 49.175.................... at Washington (2/21/09) 49.050.................... vs. Illinois-Chicago (3/7/09) 49.025.................... vs. Penn State (1/17/09) FLOOR EXERCISE 49.500.................... Big Ten Championships (3/21/09) 49.325.................... at State of Illinois Classic (3/14/09) 49.250.................... vs. Ohio State (2/15/09) 49.225.................... at NCAA West Regional (4/4/09) 49.075.................... vs. Illinois-Chicago (3/7/09) TOP SCORES OF 2009 INDIVIDUAL ALL-AROUND 39.425 Allison Buckley.........at NCAA West Regional (4/4/09) 39.375 Kelsey Joannides......Big Ten Championships (3/21/09) 39.350 Marijka Botterman...at State of Illinois Classic (3/14/09) Allison Buckley...............vs. Ohio State (2/15/09) 39.325 Kelsey Joannides....at State of Illinois Classic (3/14/09) 39.300 Kelsey Joannides........at NCAA West Regional (4/4/09) VAULT 9.950 Marijka Botterman............vs. Ohio State (2/15/09) 9.925 Kelsey Joannides......Big Ten Championships (3/21/09) Marijka Botterman.........at IGI Chicago Style (2/6/09) 9.900 Allison Buckley.........at NCAA West Regional (4/4/09) Nicole Cowart.........Big Ten Championships (3/21/09) Marijka Botterman.................vs. Iowa (1/24/09) UNEVEN BARS 9.900 Marijka Botterman......at NCAA West Regional (4/4/09) Sarah Schmidt......at State of Illinois Classic (3/14/09) Sarah Schmidt...............vs. Penn State (1/17/09) 9.875 Marijka Botterman...at State of Illinois Classic (3/14/09) Marijka Botterman............vs. Ohio State (2/15/09) Sarah Schmidt...............vs. Ohio State (2/15/09) BALANCE BEAM 9.950 Allison Buckley.........at NCAA West Regional (4/4/09) 9.925 Allison Buckley......at State of Illinois Classic (3/14/09) Allison Buckley............vs. Illinois-Chicago (3/7/09) Melissa Fernandez...............at Missouri (2/13/09) FLOOR EXERCISE 9.950 Sarah Schmidt........Big Ten Championships (3/21/09) 9.925 Allison Buckley........Big Ten Championships (3/21/09) Sarah Schmidt......at State of Illinois Classic (3/14/09) 9.900 5x, last by M. Botterman...Big Ten Championships (3/21/09) ILLINI IN THE RANKINGS NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP SEEDING (As of April 6, 2009) Rank Team NQS** 1 Georgia 394.955 2 Utah 394.865 3 Alabama 393.925 4 Stanford 393.635 5 LSU 393.490 6 Florida 393.320 7 UCLA 393.205 8 Oklahoma 393.065 9 Stanford 393.025 10 Arkansas 392.740 11 ILLINOIS 392.715 12 Penn State 392.040 /////////////////// UI WEEK-TO-WEEK NATIONAL RANK Date Rank Ranked By Preseason 16 Coaches Poll Jan. 12 19 Season Ave. Jan. 19 14 Season Ave. Jan. 26 15 Season Ave. Feb. 2 14 Season Ave. Feb. 9 17 Season Ave. Feb. 16 14 RQS* Feb. 23 15 RQS* March 2 15 RQS* March 9 16 RQS* March 16 16 RQS* March 23 14 RQS* April 6 11 NQS** /////////////////// EVENT & INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS TEAM (As of March 30 by RQS*) Event RQS Nat l Rk Vault 49.085 19 Bars 48.955 17 Beam 49.040 13 Floor 49.140 15 Team Total 196.015 14 INDIVIDUAL (Top 100 Nationally as of March 30) Gymnast Event RQS* Nat l Rk Marijka Botterman VT 9.885 21t UB 9.820 82t Allison Buckley VT 9.850 59t AA 39.155 47t Nicole Cowart VT 9.825 93t UB 9.835 57t AA 39.190 40 Melissa Fernandez BB 9.860 35 Kelsey Joannides BB 9.860 34t FX 9.850 63t AA 39.140 49 Sarah Schmidt UB 9.850 45t FX 9.890 18t * Regional Qualifying Score (RQS) takes each team s top six scores from the season, three of which must be away meets, throws out the high, then averages the remaining five scores. ** NQS Combines a team s RQS with its Reginal score 2009 University of Illinois Women s Gymnastics Notes // 5

MARIJKA BOTTERMAN // SENIOR Vault 9.950 (2/15/09) 9.950 (2/15/09) Bars 9.900 (4/4/09) 9.900 (4/4/09) Beam 9.825 (3/14/09) 9.825 (twice, last 3/14/09) Floor 9.900 (3/21/09) 9.900 (3/21/09) All-Around 39.350 (3/14/09) 39.350 (3/14/09) SEASON AND CAREER HIGHS KIM KRUK // SENIOR Vault 9.650 (1/17/09) 9.775 (2x, last 3/9/07) Bars 9.650 (3/14/09) 9.875 (1/27/07) Beam -- 9.825 (3/31/06) Floor -- 9.850 (3/18/06) All-Around -- 39.075 (3/18/06) ALLISON BUCKLEY // SOPHOMORE Vault 9.900 (4/4/09) 9.900 (3x, last 4/4/09) Bars 9.850 (2/15/09) 9.850 (2/15/09) Beam 9.950 (4/4/09) 9.950 (4/4/09) Floor 9.925 (3/21/09) 9.925 (twice, last 3/21/09) All-Around 39.425 (2/15/09) 39.450 (3/15/08) NICOLE COWART // JUNIOR Event Season Career High Vault 9.900 (3/21/09) 9.900 (3/21/09) Bars 9.850 (5x, last 4/4/09) 9.850 (5x, last 4/4/09) Beam 9.825 (2/27/09) 9.825 (3x, last 2/27/09) Floor 9.850 (twice, last 3/21/09) 9.875 (2x, last 3/17/07) All-Around 39.275 (3/21/09) 39.275 (3/21/09) JULIE CRALL // SENIOR Vault -- 9.850 (3/4/07) Bars -- 9.850 (3/22/08) Beam 9.875 (2/21/09) 9.900 (3x, last 3/29/08) Floor -- 9.850 (1/27/07) All-Around -- 38.950 (4/8/06) MELISSA FERNANDEZ // SOPHOMORE Vault 9.875 (3/21/09) 9.875 (3/21/09) Bars 9.825 (4/4/09) 9.825 (4/4/09) Beam 9.925 (2/15/09) 9.925 (2/15/09) Floor 9.775 (2/6/09) 9.800 (4/12/08) All-Around 38.825 (2/6/09) 38.825 (2/6/09) LASHLEE MORRIS // SOPHOMORE Vault 9.525 (twice, last 1/31/09) 9.525 (twice, last 1/31/09) Bars -- 9.725 (2/2/08) Beam 9.825 (4/4/09) 9.825 (4/4/09) Floor 9.750 (twice, last 1/31/09) 9.775 (2/8/08) SAMANTHA PERINO // SOPHOMORE Floor -- 9.700 (2/24/08) SARAH SCHMIDT // JUNIOR Event Season Career High Vault 9.825 (1/17/09) 9.825 (1/17/09) Bars 9.900 (twice, last 3/14/09) 9.900 (4x, last on 3/14/09) Beam 9.775 (3x, last 3/14/09) 9.775 (5x, last 3/14/09) Floor 9.950 (3/21/09) 9.950 (3/21/09) All-Around 39.275 (3/14/09) 39.275 (3/14/09) LINDSEY SMITH // SENIOR Vault 9.000 (3/14/09) 9.850 (3x, last 3/29/08) Floor 9.825 (3/14/09) 9.850 (2/2/08) LAURA WOOLF // JUNIOR Vault 9.600 (1/17/09) 9.600 (1/17/09) KELSEY JOANNIDES // FRESHMAN Event Season High/Career High Vault 9.925 (3/21/09) Bars 9.775 (3x, last 4/4/09) Beam 9.875 (4x, last 4/4/09) Floor 9.900 (3/14/09) All-Around 39.375 (3/21/09) 2009 University of Illinois Women s Gymnastics Notes // 6

FIGHTING ILLINI BIO UPDATES MARIJKA BOTTERMAN ALLISON BUCKLEY 5-3 // Senior // All-Around 5-2 // Sophomore // All-Around New Lennox, Ill. // Lincoln-Way Central HS Schaumburg, Ill. // Conant HS Club: Gym-Kinetics Club: Gymkhana Set Illinois vault record with a 9.950 on Jan. 31, breaking the old mark (9.925) that she already shared Took 3rd on bars with career-high 9.90, 7th of vault (9.850), and 8th on floor (9.850) at West Regional Posted a career-best and tied 6th best all-around score in school history of 39.350 on March 14 Scored a career-best 9.900 on floor to take 5th at the Big Ten Champhionships Eight individual titles this season (VT-5, UB-2, AA-1) & 16 top-3 finishes Second Team All-Big Ten and Academic All-Big Ten selection Three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection Has recorded 17 career individual titles (9 on vault, 3 on bars, 5 in the all-around) Younger sister, Kylee, competes for Michigan and older sister, Danye, competed for Illinois (2004-07) at MSU Quad 9.825 (1) 9.775 9.725 (5) 9.775 39.100 (3) Penn State 9.875 (2) 9.250 9.325 9.000 37.450 Iowa 9.900 (1) 9.825 (1) -- 9.700 -- at OSU Quad 9.800 9.800 -- 9.650 -- Chicago Style 9.925 (1) 9.800 (4) -- 9.675 -- at Missouri 9.875 (1) 9.750 9.325 9.700 38.650 Ohio State 9.950 (1) 9.875 (1) -- 9.775 -- at Wash 9.850 (4) 9.750 -- 9.550 -- at Kentucky 9.850 (5) 9.550 -- 9.850 (2) -- Illinois-Chicago 9.800 (3) 9.700 -- 9.800 -- at Ill. Classic 9.825 (2) 9.875 (2) 9.825 9.825 39.350 (1) Big Tens 9.825 9.800 -- 9.900 (5) -- at Regional 9.850 (7) 9.900 (3) -- 9.850 (8) -- Average 9.858 9.742 9.550 9.696 38.638 Season High 9.950 9.900 9.825 9.900 39.350 Career High 9.950 9.900 9.825 9.900 39.350 NICOLE COWART 5-2 // Junior // All-Around Greenwood, Ind. // Center Grove HS Club: Wright s Gymnastics Second team All-Big Ten and Academic All-Big Ten Placed sixth on bars (9.850) and seventh in the all-around (39.150) at West Regional Championship Took 2nd on vault at Big Tens with a career-high on 9.900 and 8th in AA with career-best 39.275 Won the all-around title against Penn State with a 39.175 Has hit 49 of 52 routines this season, including a perfect 13-for-13 on vault and floor Ranks in the top-100 nationally on vault (93rd), bars (57th), and in the all-around (40th) 2008 National qualifier in the all-around 2007 First Team All-Big Ten selection Has 12 career individual titles (2 on vault, 1 on bars, 1 on beam, 4 on floor, 4 in the all-around) at MSU Quad 9.650 9.725 9.700 9.725 38.800 (5) Penn State 9.850 (3) 9.750 9.800 9.775 39.175 (1) Iowa 9.775 9.225 9.775 9.675 38.450 at OSU Quad 9.825 (4) 9.850 (3) 9.725 9.775 39.175 (2) Chicago Style 9.725 9.850 (2) 9.750 9.750 39.075 (2) at Missouri 9.850 9.450 9.725 9.800 38.825 Ohio State 9.800 9.850 (3) 9.800 (3) 9.800 39.250 (2) at Wash 9.800 9.850 (3) 9.800 9.750 39.200 (2) at Kentucky 9.775 (9) 9.750 (6) 9.825 (3) 9.800 (8) 39.150 (2) Illinois-Chicago 9.725 9.775 (2) 9.725 9.775 39.000 at Ill. Classic 9.750 9.825 (4) 9.225 9.850 (4) 38.650 Big Tens 9.900 (2) 9.800 9.725 9.850 39.275 (8) at Regional 9.800 9.850 (6) 9.675 9.825 39.150 (7) Average 9.787 9.735 9.712 9.781 39.013 Season High 9.900 9.850 9.825 9.850 39.275 Career High 9.900 9.850 9.825 9.875 39.275 West Regional Beam Champion with school record tying 9.950 Took 2nd on vault with a career-high tying 9.900 at the West Regional Championship Scored season-high and third best score in school history in the all-around to take 4th at West Regional Tied a career-high 9.925 on floor to finish fourth at the Big Ten Championships Has eight individual titles this year and 27 in her career, placing her for sixth on the UI all-time list Had offseason surgery on her foot and did not return to full strength until midseason Second Team All-Big Ten and Academic All-Big Ten selection 2008 Second Team All-American on the Balance Beam 2008 SC Regional Gymnast of the Year, Big Ten Freshman of the Year and First Team All-Big Ten at MSU Quad -- -- -- -- -- Penn State -- 9.825 (2) -- 9.825 (3) -- Iowa -- 9.700 9.125 9.775 -- at OSU Quad 9.175 9.825 9.675 9.650 38.325 Chicago Style 9.825 9.200 9.775 (4) -- -- at Missouri 9.875 (1) 9.675 9.700 9.675 38.925 Ohio State 9.875 (2) 9.850 (3) 9.725 9.900 (1) 39.350 (1) at Wash 9.875 (2) 9.650 9.750 9.800 (5) 39.075 (4) at Kentucky 9.825 (7) 9.725 (9) 9.100 9.800 (8) 38.450 Illinois-Chicago 9.825 (1) 9.775 (2) 9.925 (1) 9.750 39.275 (1) at Ill. Classic 9.800 (3) 9.750 9.925 (1) 9.775 39.250 (4) Big Tens 9.850 (9) 9.775 9.700 9.925 (4) 39.250 (10) at Regional 9.900 (2) 9.725 9.950 (1) 9.850 (8) 39.425 (4) Average 9.783 9.706 9.668 9.793 39.036 Season High 9.900 9.850 9.950 9.925 39.425 Career High 9.900 9.850 9.950 9.925 39.450 JULIE CRALL 5-2 // Senior // VT,UB,BB Cincinnati, Ohio // Ursuline Academy HS Club: Queen City Gymnastics Won the beam title with a 9.850 on Feb. 6 at IGI Chicago Style Invite Has three second place finishes on the balance beam Has battled injuries all season, limiting her only to the balance beam 2008 Big Ten Beam Champion with a career-high tying 9.900 Name a Second Team All-Big Ten selection in 2006 and 20007 Was named Illinois top female newcomer among all varsity sports in 2006 Has 16 career event titles (13 on beam, 1 on vault, 1 on bars, and 1 on floor) Three-time Academic All-Big Ten at MSU Quad -- -- 9.075 -- -- Penn State -- -- 9.775 -- -- Iowa -- -- 9.825 (2) -- -- at OSU Quad -- -- 9.550 -- -- Chicago Style -- -- 9.850 (1) -- -- at Missouri -- -- -- -- -- Ohio State -- -- -- -- -- at Wash -- -- 9.875 (2) -- -- at Kentucky -- -- 9.225 -- -- Illinois-Chicago -- -- 9.850 (2) -- -- at Ill. Classic -- -- -- -- -- Big Tens -- -- 9.550 -- -- at Regional -- -- 9.175 -- -- Average -- -- 9.575 -- -- Season High -- -- 9.875 -- -- Career High 9.850 9.850 9.900 9.850 38.950 2009 University of Illinois Women s Gymnastics Notes // 7

FIGHTING ILLINI BIO UPDATES MELISSA FERNANDEZ ALYSSA HARMON 5-0 // Sophomore // All-Around 5-2 // Freshman // All-Around Eudora, Kan. // Eudora HS Odessa, Fla. // Bishop McLaughlin HS Club: KGDC Club: Tampa Bay Turners Tied for second on beam (9.875) and sixth on vault (9.875) at the Big Ten Championships Tied for fourth on beam (9.875) at West Regional Championship Tied UI second-best beam score of 9.925 on Feb. 13 at Missouri to win the event title Has four balance beam titles on the season Took fourth place with a 38.825 in her only all-around competition of career at Chicago Style Invite Has hit 32 of 34 routines this season, including a perfect 13-for-13 on beam Ranks 35th nationally on beam with a 9.860 RQS Academic All-Big Ten selection Placed seventh on beam with a 9.800 at the 2008 South Central Regional at MSU Quad -- 9.550 9.725 (5) 1.250 (INJ) -- Penn State -- -- 9.850 (1) -- -- Iowa -- 9.775 9.775 -- -- at OSU Quad 9.400 9.675 9.825 (1) -- -- Chicago Style 9.650 9.650 9.750 9.775 38.825 (4) at Missouri 9.750 9.675 9.925 (1) -- -- Ohio State 9.800 9.800 9.900 (1) -- -- at Wash 9.775 9.775 9.850 -- -- at Kentucky 9.725 9.675 9.650 -- -- Illinois-Chicago 9.800 (3) 9.775 (2) 9.825 (3) -- -- at Ill. Classic -- -- -- -- -- Big Tens 9.875 (6) 9.750 9.875 (2) -- -- at Regional 9.800 9.825 9.875 (4) -- -- Average 9.731 9.720 9.819 5.513 38.825 Season High 9.875 9.825 9.925 9.775 38.825 Career High 9.875 9.825 9.925 9.800 38.825 KELSEY JOANNIDES 5-2 // Freshman // AA Frederick, Md. // Frederick HS Club: Frederick Gymnastics Big Ten Vault Champion with the second-best score in school history of 9.925 Tied the third best all-around score in UI history (39.375) to take 5th at the Big Ten Championships Tied for second on beam with a career-high tying 9.875 at the Big Ten Championships Placed 4th on beam (9.875), 6th in the all-around (39.300) and 9th on vault (9.825) at West Regional Has competed as an all-arounder in every meet as a freshman Has hit 47 of 52 routines this season, including a perfect 13-for-13 on floor Has six individual titles (VT-1, BB-3, FX-1, AA-1) and 20 top-3 finishes on the season Ranks in the national top-100 on three events (BB-34th, FX-63rd, AA-49th) Second Team All-Big Ten and Academic All-Big Ten Has not competed due to Injury at MSU Quad -- -- -- -- -- Penn State -- -- -- -- -- Iowa -- -- -- -- -- at OSU Quad -- -- -- -- -- Chicago Style -- -- -- -- -- at Missouri -- -- -- -- -- Ohio State -- -- -- -- -- at Wash -- -- -- -- -- at Kentucky -- -- -- -- -- Illinois-Chicago -- -- -- -- -- at Ill. Classic -- -- -- -- -- Big Tens -- -- -- -- -- at Regional -- -- -- -- -- Average -- -- -- -- -- Season High -- -- -- -- -- Career High -- -- -- -- -- KIM KRUK 5-2 // Senior // All-Around Carol Stream, Ill. // Bartlett HS Club: Illinois Gymnastics Institute Competed three times on bars and twice on vault this season Tied for fourth on beam at the 2007 Big Ten Championships with a career-high 9.825 Three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection in 2007, 2008 and 2009 Has claimed eight career titles (2 on bars, 2 on floor and 4 on all-around) at MSU Quad 9.750 (4) 9.700 9.850 (1) 9.800 39.100 (3) Penn State 9.825 9.700 9.850 (1) 9.725 39.100 (2) Iowa 9.800 (2) 9.775 (3) 9.850 (1) 9.625 39.050 (2) at OSU Quad 9.575 9.700 9.775 (5) 9.775 38.825 Chicago Style 9.725 9.750 9.825 (2) 9.825 (2) 39.125 (1) at Missouri 9.825 9.600 9.100 9.750 38.275 Ohio State 9.800 9.325 9.775 9.875 (3) 38.775 at Wash 9.850 (4) 9.100 9.875 (2) 9.750 38.575 at Kentucky 9.225 9.725 (9) 9.275 9.775 38.000 Illinois-Chicago 9.800 (3) 9.650 9.725 9.875 (1) 39.050 (3) at Ill. Classic 9.775 (5) 9.775 9.875 (4) 9.900 (2) 39.325 (2) Big Tens 9.925 (1) 9.700 9.875 (2) 9.875 39.375 (5) at Regional 9.825 (9) 9.775 9.875 (4) 9.825 39.300 (6) Average 9.746 9.637 9.733 9.798 38.913 Season High 9.925 9.775 9.875 9.900 39.375 Career High 9.925 9.775 9.875 9.900 39.375 at MSU Quad 9.550 9.575 -- -- -- Penn State 9.650 8.775 -- -- -- Iowa -- -- -- -- -- at OSU Quad -- -- -- -- -- Chicago Style -- -- -- -- -- at Missouri -- -- -- -- -- Ohio State -- -- -- -- -- at Wash -- -- -- -- -- at Kentucky -- -- -- -- -- Illinois-Chicago -- -- -- -- -- at Ill. Classic -- 9.650 -- -- -- Big Tens -- -- -- -- -- at Regional -- -- -- -- -- Average 9.600 9.333 -- -- -- Season High 9.650 9.650 -- -- -- Career High 9.775 9.875 9.825 9.850 39.075 2009 University of Illinois Women s Gymnastics Notes // 8

FIGHTING ILLINI BIO UPDATES LASHLEE MORRIS SAMANTHA PERINO 5-1 // Lashlee Morris // All-Around 5-3 // Sophomore // All-Around Leesburg, Fla. // Leesburg HS Yorktown, Va. // Tabb HS Club: Brandy Johnson s Global Gymnastics Academy Club: Ocean Tumblers Gymnastics Set career-high of 9.825 on beam at West Regional, helping Illinois to a team-record beam score Finished second on beam in season opener at MSU quad Has competed on beam in 11 of 13 meets and has hit 10-of-11 beam routines Has competed three times on floor and twice on vault Academic All-Big Ten selection Competed on beam in 12 of 13 meets last season, missing only the Missouri meet due to a foot injury Set a personal-best score of 9.800 on beam to take third in the 2008 State of Illinois Classic at MSU Quad 9.525 -- 9.750 (2) 9.000 -- Penn State -- -- 9.750 -- -- Iowa -- -- 9.775 9.750 -- at OSU Quad 9.525 -- 9.700 9.750 -- Chicago Style -- -- 8.400 -- -- at Missouri -- -- 9.800 -- -- Ohio State -- -- 9.700 -- -- at Wash -- -- -- -- -- at Kentucky -- -- -- -- -- Illinois-Chicago -- -- 9.725 -- -- at Ill. Classic -- -- 9.775 -- -- Big Tens -- -- 9.750 -- -- at Regional -- -- 9.825 -- -- Average 9.525 -- 9.632 9.500 -- Season High 9.525 -- 9.825 9.750 -- Career High 9.525 9.725 9.825 9.775 -- SARAH SCHMIDT 5-2 // Junior // All-Around Hartland, Wis. // Arrowhead HS Club: Midwest Twisters Big Ten Floor Champion, tying the school record of 9.950 Second Team All-Big Ten and Academic All-Big Ten selectioin Named Big Ten Gymnast of the Week (Jan. 19) after winning two individual titles against Penn State Set career-high all-around score of 39.275 to take third at the State of Illinois Classic on March 14 Placed sixth on floor (9.875) at the West Regional Has nine individual titles (UB-4, FX-5) and 18 top-3 finishes this season Ranks 18th in the nation on floor (9.890) and 45th on bars (9.850) Has won 17 career individual titles (9 on bars, 7 on floor, and 1 in the all-around) Was named the team s Most Improved Gymnast in 2007 at MSU Quad 9.725 9.800 (3) -- 9.825 (5) -- Penn State 9.825 9.900 (1) -- 9.900 (1) -- Iowa 9.175 9.775 (3) -- -- -- at OSU Quad -- 9.825 -- -- -- Chicago Style 9.450 9.275 -- 9.825 (2) -- at Missouri 9.600 9.800 (2) -- 9.875 (2) -- Ohio State 9.625 9.875 (1) 9.775 9.900 (1) 39.175 at Wash 9.625 9.825 9.775 9.700 38.925 at Kentucky 9.600 9.825 (2) 9.675 9.850 (2) 38.950 (3) Illinois-Chicago 9.600 9.825 (1) -- 9.875 (1) -- at Ill. Classic 9.675 9.900 (1) 9.775 9.925 (1) 39.275 (3) Big Tens 9.600 9.825 -- 9.950 (1) -- at Regional 9.575 9.750 -- 9.875 (6) -- Average 9.590 9.785 9.750 9.864 39.081 Season High 9.825 9.900 9.775 9.950 39.275 Career High 9.825 9.900 9.775 9.950 39.275 Exhibitioned on floor twice this season Academic All-Big Ten selection Competed twice on floor in 2008 with a personal-best 9.700 at MSU Quad -- -- -- -- -- Penn State -- -- -- -- -- Iowa -- -- -- -- -- at OSU Quad -- -- -- -- -- Chicago Style -- -- -- -- -- at Missouri -- -- -- -- -- Ohio State -- -- -- -- -- at Wash -- -- -- -- -- at Kentucky -- -- -- -- -- Illinois-Chicago -- -- -- -- -- at Ill. Classic -- -- -- -- -- Big Tens -- -- -- -- -- at Regional -- -- -- -- -- Average -- -- -- -- -- Season High -- -- -- -- -- Career High -- -- -- 9.700 -- LINDSEY SMITH 5-0 // Senior // VT,BB,FX Collinsville, Ill. // Metro-East Lutheran HS Club: World Class Gymnastics Selected as Illinois Big Ten Sportsmanship honoree for the second straight year Has competed on floor in 12 of 13 meets and has hit all 12 of those routines Scored a season-high 9.825 on floor at State of Illinois Classic Competed on vault twice this season Tied for fourth on vault at the 2008 Big Ten Championships with a career-high tying 9.850 Won her lone career event title last season on vault with a career-high tying 9.850 at Auburn Competed on floor in every meet last season, taking three top-3 finishes on the event Three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection in 2007, 2008 and 2009 at MSU Quad -- -- -- -- -- Penn State -- -- -- 9.800 -- Iowa 8.550 -- -- 9.725 -- at OSU Quad -- -- -- 9.800 -- Chicago Style -- -- -- 9.800 (5) -- at Missouri -- -- -- 9.725 -- Ohio State -- -- -- 9.750 -- at Wash -- -- -- 9.725 -- at Kentucky -- -- -- 9.750 -- Illinois-Chicago -- -- -- 9.750 -- at Ill. Classic 9.000 -- -- 9.825 -- Big Tens -- -- -- 9.750 -- at Regional -- -- -- 9.775 -- Average 8.775 -- -- 9.765 -- Season High 9.000 -- -- 9.825 -- Career High 9.850 -- -- 9.850 -- 2009 University of Illinois Women s Gymnastics Notes // 9

HANNAH WELKER 5-2 // Freshman // AA Butler, Pa. // Knoch HS Club: Butler Gymnastics Exhibitioned on beam twice this season FIGHTING ILLINI BIO UPDATES Has competed twice on vault this season Academic All-Big Ten LAURA WOOLF 5-2 // Junior // VT,UB,BB Deerfield, Ill. // Deerfield HS Club: Buffalo Grove Gymnastics Center Competed twice on vault last season at MSU Quad -- -- -- -- -- Penn State -- -- -- -- -- Iowa -- -- -- -- -- at OSU Quad -- -- -- -- -- Chicago Style -- -- -- -- -- at Missouri -- -- -- -- -- Ohio State -- -- -- -- -- at Wash -- -- -- -- -- at Kentucky -- -- -- -- -- Illinois-Chicago -- -- -- -- -- at Ill. Classic -- -- -- -- -- Big Tens -- -- -- -- -- at Regional -- -- -- -- -- Average -- -- -- -- -- Season High -- -- -- -- -- Career High -- -- -- -- -- at MSU Quad -- -- -- -- -- Penn State 9.600 -- -- -- -- Iowa 9.275 -- -- -- -- at OSU Quad -- -- -- -- -- Chicago Style -- -- -- -- -- at Missouri -- -- -- -- -- Ohio State -- -- -- -- -- at Wash -- -- -- -- -- at Kentucky -- -- -- -- -- Illinois-Chicago -- -- -- -- -- at Ill. Classic -- -- -- -- -- Big Tens -- -- -- -- -- at Regional -- -- -- -- -- Average 9.438 -- -- -- -- Season High 9.600 -- -- -- -- Career High 9.600 -- -- -- -- 2009 University of Illinois Women s Gymnastics Notes // 10

BOB STARKELL HEAD COACH 10TH SEASON AS HEAD COACH 16TH SEASON AT ILLINOIS HEAD COACH BOB STARKELL Bob Starkell is in his 10th year at the helm of the Fighting Illini women's gymnastics program, and his 16th year overall at the University of Illinois. Since he took over for former head coach Lynn Brueckman in 2000, Starkell's squads have posted the top-10 team scores in school history, including the school record of 196.750 set at the Big Ten Championships this season. Starkell was named 2009 Co-Big Ten Coach of the Year for leading Illinois to its best season in school history. Starkell guided the program to its first-ever NCAA Championship berth after a second place finish at the NCAA West Regional, the best in school history. The Illini broke the team record with a 196.750 in a second place finish at the Big Ten Championships and have posted the top four team scores in school history this year. Starkell guided two individuals to Big Ten individual titles (Sarah Schmidt on floor and Kelsey Joannides on vault) and one to a regional title (Allison Buckley on beam) in 2009. In 2008, Starkell and the Fighting Illini improved on a stellar 2007 season, finishing the season ranked No. 15 nationally, five spots higher than the programs previous best national ranking. Starkell also guided the Illini to a second place finish at the Big Ten Championships, the best since 1990, and a third place finish at the South Central Regional, marking the highest regional finish in program history and narrowly missing a team trip to the NCAA Championships. Furthermore, Starkell helped Nicole Cowart and Allison Buckley advance as individuals to the NCAA Championships in the all-around competition and helped Julie Crall (beam) earn the Illini a Big Ten individual title for the second straight season. Starkell led the 2007 Fighting Illini to new heights, including a third place finish at the Big Ten Championships and a final national rank of No. 20. Illinois advanced to their fourth consecutive regional, where they finished fourth at the South Central Regional for the second straight year. Additionally, senior Cara Pomeroy took home the school's first Big Ten individual title since 1999 under Starkell's guidance. For his success, Starkell was named South Central Regional Coach of the Year for the second time in the last three years. Starkell's 2006 squad finished the season with a national ranking of No. 25 while advancing to the NCAA South Central Regional for the third straight season. The Illini finished in fourth, equaling the best UI regional finish in school history at the time. Cara Pomeroy was named first team All-Big Ten for the second straight year, becoming the first Illini in 16 years to accomplish that feat. In 2005, Starkell guided his squad to a final ranking of 27th. Starkell was honored as the 2005 Big Ten and South Central Regional Coach of the Year after advancing his squad to the NCAA Regional for the second straight year and coaching three All-Big Ten selections. The 2004 season was equally successful as his squad finished 22nd in the nation and two of his gymnasts advanced to the NCAA National Championships. Ashley Williams (allaround) and Cara Pomeroy (uneven bars) became the first Illini in 17 years to compete at the National meet. Pomeroy scored the first perfect 10.0 in school history on bars to qualify for NCAAs and earned Illinois' first individual regional title since 1977. Under Starkell, Illinois has had four Big Ten Champions, 18 All-Big Ten honorees, 37 Scholastic All-Americans and 81 Academic All-Big Ten selections. Prior to being named the head coach, Starkell served as an assistant for the Illini for six years. He was named the 1998 Central Regional Assistant Coach of the Year by the National Association of Collegiate Gymnastics Coaches for Women. Before Illinois, Starkell served as an assistant coach for Wisconsin-Oshkosh while finishing his bachelor's degree, and then became the head coach for the men's and women's gymnastics teams in 1993. He coached the Lady Titans to a conference championship and a second-place finish at the NCAA Division II Championships in 1993. For his efforts, he was named the Wisconsin Women's Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Coach of the Year. Additionally, Starkell coached many individuals who earned high accolades. He trained a Division II All-American on vault and floor exercise and Division III champions on vault, beam and floor. Starkell also has had great success with the men's squads. Before becoming the head coach for both Oshkosh programs, Starkell served two years as the men's assistant coach. He coached five All-Americans and produced four Division II individual champions, one each on the vault, pommel horse, still rings and floor. One of his gymnasts also became a member of the 1992 U.S. National Team. In addition to his collegiate coaching, Starkell has gained experience coaching at various gymnastics schools and camps. He trained young athletes at the Oshkosh Gymnastics Club and coached for five years at the International Gymnastics School in Pennsylvania. Starkell also worked at the International Gymnastics School summer camp and was the director of the Wisconsin-Oshkosh summer camp. Prior to coming to Illinois, Starkell spent seven years at the University of Wisconsin- Oshkosh, both as a student-athlete and a coach. He competed for the Titans gymnastics team for four years, completing his eligibility in 1990 and earning a B.S. in physical education in 1992. At Wisconsin-Oshkosh, Starkell placed among the top-10 in the floor exercise at the national championships in 1989 and '90, earning All-America honors in '89. Starkell qualified for the NCAA Division III championships in the all-around, while his team qualified for the finals each year he competed. Originally from California, Starkell attended high school in Fond du Lac, Wis. During high school, he trained for the Junior National Gymnastics Championships, in which he participated in from 1982-86. Starkell and his wife, Lynnette, have two daughters, Haley (9) and Claire (6), and reside in Champaign. THE STARKELL FILE RECORD AT ILLINOIS Big Ten Regional NCAA Final NCAA Year W-L* Finish Finish Finish Rank 2000 7-10 T-5th -- -- 41 2001 3-13 7th -- -- 45 2002 6-16 6th -- -- 46 2003 7-12 6th -- -- 47 2004 10-7 6th 5th -- 22 2005 17-5 5th 6th -- 27 2006 10-4 7th 4th -- 25 2007 9-8 3rd 4th -- 20 2008 6-10 2nd 3rd -- 15 2009 17-7 2nd 2nd TBA TBA Total 92-92 -- -- -- -- * W-L record is for regular season competitions only HONORS Big Ten Conference Coach of the Year - 2005, 2009 South Central Regional Coach of the Year - 2005, 2007 Central Regional Assistant Coach of the Year 1998 2009 University of Illinois Women s Gymnastics Notes // 11