Twenty-nine years have passed since the No. 17 Illinois Fighting Illini last defeated the No. 3 Michigan Wolverines. This Friday, the Illini look to use their home-field advantage to end the Wolverines’ streak. After only losing three routines and finishing second to Michigan at last year’s Big Ten Championships, this may be the year the streak ends.

Illinois enters its first home meet with some momentum; at Rutgers, the Illini earned their first victory of the season, 195.500-191.600. Michigan comes into this Big Ten matchup undefeated, most recently triumphing over the No. 25 Ohio State Buckeyes, 196.925-195.200.

Illinois

Despite a top-25 ranking on three events (No. 22 on bars, No. 10 on beam and No. 16 on floor), Illinois looks to improve on all four. So far, the Illini have had a slow start in their meets and have yet to score higher than a 49.000, which they posted against Rutgers on vault. 

As a whole, the Illini may not have had high scores, but a few individuals have stepped up to the plate and are ones to watch. Senior Giana O’Connor continues to show why she is an All-American as she is currently ranked No. 9 in the all-around and No. 19 on floor. O’Connor is a dynamic and powerful tumbler with clean landings. In addition, she excels on vault with a strong Yurchenko full. Last week, the Illini senior won four titles: all-around, vault, beam and floor.


Junior Mary Jane Horth is also ranked in the all-around (No. 22), though she excels most on uneven bars where she has clean lines and big skills, including a Maloney, a Gienger to overshoot, and full out dismount.


Fellow 2015 Nationals qualifier Sunny Kato, a redshirt senior, impresses on bars with her exceptional form. This bars-and-beam specialist is exquisite on her two events with skills like a piked Jaeger and pak salto on bars, and a lovely split leap to sheep jump combo on beam.


Since head coach Kim Landrus arrived at Illinois, beam has been a strong-suit for the Orange and Blue, and sophomore Bridget Hodan ​exemplifies that. Hodan made her collegiate debut two weeks ago, where she competed in the lead-off position and earned a 9.800. Hodan has a unique routine featuring a side aerial to back handspring series and an illusion turn.

Other Illini to watch:

• Erin Buchanan - vault and floor
  
• Lizzy LeDuc - beam

Michigan

The nation’s No. 3 team is starting the 2016 strong, showing they are a versatile team with top-5 rankings all around: No. 5 on vault, No. 4 on bars, No. 5 on beam and No. 2 on floor. With four gymnasts individually ranked on floor, it’s no wonder how the Wolverines are No. 2 on the event as a team.

Junior Nicole Artz leads the way for the Wolverines with a top-25 ranking in the all-around and three events: No. 5 all-around, No. 20 on bars, No. 10 on beam and No. 4 on floor. Her floor routine includes a piked full-in to start in addition to solid landings. After three meets, she has yet to score below a 9.900 on floor and has won every floor title since the season began.


Another strong floor worker and all-around gymnast for Michigan is freshman Olivia Karas, a Chicago native. Karas is this week’s Big Ten Freshman of the Week and co-Gymnast of the Week after winning vault and her first collegiate all-around title last week against Ohio State. She vaults is a Yurchenko 1.5, giving her a 10.000 start value. She displays great power on vault and floor. Her floor routine features a high double Arabian and great form.


This week’s Big Ten Event Specialist of the Week, junior Talia Chiarelli has also been on a roll, earning the honor for two weeks in a row. Chiarelli is ranked No. 2 on beam but has been exceptional on beam and floor this season. She has yet to score below a 9.850.



Other Wolverines to watch:
Brianna Brown - uneven bars
Briley Casanova - floor


Related Coverages
Cancun Classic 
Georgia at Michigan 

The meet begins at 7 PM CT. Live stats and a live stream will be available. It will air on Big Ten Network on Saturday, January 23 at 5 PM CT.