DeKALB —NIU gymnastics looked well-adjusted in its tri-meet against Western Michigan University and late-addition West Virginia University on Friday night. Although the Huskies reached a new season-high overall score, mishaps on the uneven bars and floor kept them out of the running. 

The Huskies (2-5, 0-4 MAC) finished third behind the victorious Broncos (8-4, 2-1 MAC) and second-place Mountaineers (6-6, 1-1 BIG 12). The final scores were 195.575, 194.775 and 193.700. 

“We had many outstanding performances,” said NIU gymnastics head coach Dawnita “Nita” Teague via text. “We need a few more hits to begin to reach our potential, but this is a step in the right direction.”

Senior Samantha Nickle earned a season-high 9.875 score on floor, tying for first place. She tied with three Mountaineers, including freshmen Kayla Smith and Auden Pederson, and sophomore Emerson Smith. 

“I was really happy with (my routine),” Nickle said. “In the gym, I’ve been working really hard at cleaning up my form on my passes and my leaps, so I was glad I was able to show that today.” 

Junior Mikayla Brown tied for third place on vault with four other gymnasts in her first showing of the season. Her 9.800 score matched WMU sophomore Kennedy Cooper, WMU junior Brooke Gelesko and WVU’s Kayla Smith and Emerson Smith. Brown said her addition to the vault lineup was unexpected, but she was ready to step up. 

“I was glad I was able to step in for the team,” Brown said. “We had one of our athletes go down, so that was super unexpected. I was happy to be able to be there, and I was prepared to do it.” 

NIU also reached a season-high team score on the uneven bars with 48.225 despite not having any podium finishers. 

UP NEXT 

The Huskies are heading to Bowling Green State University on the hunt for their first away win of the season at noon Sunday in Muncie, Indiana.