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The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star
The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star
The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

Poncin snags MAC Specialist of the Week

NIU women’s gymnastics freshman Elizabeth Poncin is celebrated by her teammates after completing her uneven bars routine during the Beauty and the Beast meet on Friday in the Convocation Center. Poncin was named the Mid-American Conference Specialist of the Week on Tuesday after -back-to-back first place finishes on the uneven bars. (Northern Star file photo)
By Claire Valenti, Sports Reporter
Feb 24, 2026

Freshman Elizabeth Poncin was named the Mid-American Conference Specialist of the Week Tuesday after two first-place uneven bars performances at NIU’s Beauty and the Beast meet and the Huskies’ latest meet at ISU on Monday. 

Poncin earned a career-high 9.825 on Friday against Southeast Missouri State University and Wilberforce at NIU’s last tri-meet. The Tinley Park, Illinois, native logged the highest score on bars out of all MAC freshman athletes last weekend.

Poncin is the second Huskie gymnast to be honored by the MAC this regular season. She joins Alanah Wallace, who earned the title on Jan 20.

NIU competes in its last home meet of the season against Central Michigan University 6 p.m. Friday at the Convocation Center.

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About the Contributor
Claire Valenti
Claire Valenti, Former Sports Reporter
Claire Valenti is from Darien, Illinois, and majored in journalism with a minor in sports journalism in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. She primarily covered NIU’s volleyball, gymnastics and softball teams. Claire is also a devoted hockey fan — especially of the six-time Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks. When she’s not immersed in sports, you can find Claire teaching Pure Barre classes or baking.
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More about Elizabeth Poncin
Members of the NIU gymnastics team huddle up after their match against Central Michigan University on Friday night. The Huskies lost a 195.250-192.800 matchup against the Chippewas at their last home meet of the season. (Marco Alvarez | Northern Star)
Huskies fall to Chippewas in final home meet
NIU women’s gymnastics junior Mikayla Brown jumps during her beam routine during the Beauty and the Beast meet on Friday inside the Convocation Center. The Huskies fell in a narrow 192.700-192.650 meet to Illinois State University on Monday. (Northern Star file photo)
Huskies fall short against Redbirds in close meet
NIU gymnastics sophomore Drake White poses while performing her floor routine on Friday in the Convocation Center. NIU placed second in gymnastics with a total of 191.700 and lost in wrestling to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville 16-15. (Aidan Penca | Northern Star)
Gymnastics boasts 8 podium finishers for Senior Night
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NIU men’s tennis sophomore Nikola Puntaric ducks close to the ground during his doubles match with senior Iker Gaztambide Arrastia against the University of Illinois Chicago on March 28. Puntaric was named the Mid-American Conference Player of the Week after a 2-0 weekend at No. 1 singles. (Northern Star file photo)
Puntaric claims MAC Player of the Week
More about NIU Gymnastics
Then-junior NIU gymnast Kiera O’Shea performs a floor exercise during the fourth rotation of the Huskies’ dual meet against Eastern Michigan University inside the Convocation Center. O'Shea will return to the Huskies' lineup in 2027. (Northern Star File Photo)
O’Shea reignites passion for gymnastics after season-ending injury
NIU women’s gymnastics junior Dawsyn Sallee poses during her beam routine during the Beauty and the Beast meet on Feb. 20. Sallee tied for first place on vault at the Mid-American Conference championship on Saturday as NIU took seventh as a team. (Northern Star file photo)
Gymnastics claims 4 podium spots, finishes last in final MAC Championship
NIU women’s gymnastics senior Jocelyn Harbeck competes her bar routine during the Beauty and the Beast Meet on Feb. 20. Harbeck competed all around for the first time in her career on Sunday as the Huskies took last at the Minnesota Quad Meet. (Northern Star file photo)
Huskies place last in final meet of season

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