NIU gymnastics released its 2026 schedule Thursday afternoon, blocking out 11 meets, five of which will be hosted by the Huskies.
“Our first two meets are on the road, and we are looking forward to bonding time at the start of (the) season,” gymnastics head coach Dawnita “Nita” Teague said in the NIU press release. “We have five home meets this year. We love the energy at the Convo, and the athletes feed off the energy there.”
In their last season as part of the Mid-American Conference, the Huskies kick off their season on the road against Kent State University on Jan. 11 in Kent, Ohio, before traveling to Eastern Michigan University to face the Eagles Jan. 17 in Ypsilanti, Michigan.
NIU hosts Ball State University in their first home meet of the season on Jan. 24. They’ll remain at the Convocation Center to start February, facing the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse on Feb. 1 and Western Michigan University on Feb. 6.
After wrapping up their homestand, NIU goes back on the road to Bowling Green, Ohio, to battle Bowling Green State University on Feb. 15.
In its annual Beauty and the Beast meet, gymnastics will compete alongside NIU wrestling on Feb. 20 against Southeast Missouri State University and Wabash College before going right back on the road to visit Illinois State University on Feb. 23 in Normal, Illinois.
NIU holds its last home meet against reigning MAC champions Central Michigan University on Feb. 27. The Huskies meet the Chippewas again in the Iowa Quad Meet hosted by the University of Iowa, with SMSU competing as the fourth team.
The Huskies round out their season at a Big Ten opponent in the University of Minnesota on March 15, before heading to the MAC championships, hosted by Bowling Green, on March 21.
Should a Huskie qualify, NIU will travel to the NCAA Regionals from April 1-5.
NOTABLE RETURNERS
Returning for the Huskies is senior Kiera O’Shea, who competed at the 2025 NCAA Regional Meet last season for vault. She also placed fourth as an all-arounder at the MAC Championship and was named to the First Team All-MAC on vault.
Juniors Isabella Ross and Dawsyn Sallee are also back for NIU, with both making appearances in every beam lineup last season, along with 12 floor appearances each. Ross competed three times as an all-arounder last season, and Sallee was in the vault lineup for 11 meets.
UP NEXT
You can catch the Huskies for the first time this season in their annual Red/Black Intrasquad meet at home on Dec. 19. All NIU gymnastics home meets are free to attend.
