If there is anyone who knows a thing or two about winning, it is the NIU women’s gymnastics team.

In fact, winning is about the only thing the Huskies are capable of. The 18-0 Huskies took first place in two triangulars last week and defeated Ball State Sunday in the last home meet of the year.

NIU started out in Denton, Texas, (March 9) with a 188.75 tally to outdistance host Texas Women’s University, 187.45, and Winona State University, 186.30. NIU then headed to Houston (March 13) where its new team-record 189.70 was good enough to clearly defeat Southeast Missouri State (187.40) and Houston Baptist University (185.10).

For the home finale NIU claimed first, second, and third in every event but the balance beam and outscored BSU 188.25 to 183.25.

“Everybody deserves a pat on the back,” head coach Bobbie Cesarek said following the BSU dual. “We had six all-arounders and six people up each event. They just did a tremendous job.”

As usual, the Huskies racked up more school records during the week-long winning crusade. Besides NIU’s new team score set at Houston, Vicki Thimgan broke three records of her own at TWU. Thimgan‘ record breaking began with a 38.50 in the all-around and a 9.75 on the balance beam. She then beat teammate Lori Lebo’s 9.70 standard in the floor exercise with a 9.75.

“Vicki obviously did great. We did a good job overall,” Cesarek said. “We did help our average (scoring) and that’s one of our goals. The girls have that goal of getting the scores up as high as possible in order to qualify for regionals and nationals.”