DeKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University gymnastics team concluded its home competition schedule with a second-place finish at the Beauty and the Beast meet on Friday night. Competing against Southeast Missouri State and Wilberforce, the Huskies recognized seniors Jocelyn Harbeck, Samantha Nickle, and Kiera O’Shea in a special Senior Night celebration. While Southeast Missouri State claimed the top spot with a team score of 193.900, NIU posted a 191.700, and Wilberforce finished with 180.775.
The Beauty and the Beast format, where teams compete simultaneously on two different events, created a dynamic atmosphere at the NIU Convocation Center. Several Huskies delivered standout performances, highlighted by strong showings on both vault and floor exercise. The meet showcased not only athletic prowess but also the close-knit camaraderie within the NIU gymnastics program as they prepare for the upcoming Mid-American Conference Championships.
Sophomore Drake White (Indianapolis, Ind./Bishop Chatard) was a standout performer for the Huskies, tying for first place on floor exercise and securing third place on vault. Junior Dawsyn Sallee (Versailles, Ky./Woodford County High) continued her impressive form, earning first place on vault with a score of 9.825, marking her second consecutive victory in the event.
The Huskies also saw success on uneven bars, where a sweep by freshmen Elizabeth Poncin (Tinley Park, Ill./Tinley Park), Deziray Boykin (Henderson, Nev./Green Valley), and Avery Riiff (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln Way East) demonstrated the program’s promising future. Junior Mikayla Brown (Suwanee, Ga./Peachtree Ridge) added to the team’s point total with a second-place finish on balance beam, scoring a 9.850.
Sallee and White led the Huskies on vault, with sophomore Audrey Brenner (Fond du Lac, Wis./Fond du Lac) contributing a solid 9.700 from the anchor position. Brenner has consistently scored 9.700 or higher in five straight meets and six of seven meets this season, demonstrating her reliability in the lineup.
On uneven bars, Riiff opened the rotation with a 9.700, setting the stage for Poncin to achieve a career-best score of 9.825, which is the highest bars score for the Huskies this season. Boykin followed with a 9.725, her second score of that caliber in the last three meets.
Brown tied a career high and set a new season-best on beam with a 9.850, continuing her strong performances in the event. Boykin added to the momentum, earning a career-best 9.750 and tying for fifth place. Nickle (Yorktown, Va./York) contributed a 9.725 from the No. 2 spot.
In the final rotation, Sallee opened with a 9.700 on floor, followed by Harbeck (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East) earning a 9.725 – her fifth consecutive meet with a score of 9.725 or higher. White secured her second floor exercise win of the season with a score of 9.800.
The Huskies will now turn their attention to the Mid-American Conference Championships, where they will aim to build on the momentum gained from their performances throughout the season. The team’s strong showings in multiple events, coupled with the leadership of its seniors, position them as contenders in the conference competition.
What comes next for the NIU gymnastics team is the pursuit of excellence at the MAC Championships, where they will compete against the top teams in the conference. The Huskies will look to continue their upward trajectory and showcase their skills on the conference stage.
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