NIU’s gymnastics team suffered yet another loss this weekend at Western Michigan, losing the meet 193.650 to 191.150.

Even though the Huskies (1-5 overall, 1-3 MAC) lost, it was their best meet of the year. 191.150 is their highest score of the year, two points higher than their previous high score of 189.100.

Western Michigan (6-4, 3-0) won all four events, with its highest score coming in the floor event with 48.700. NIU’s highest score was a 48.000 in both uneven parallel bars and floor exercise.

Many of the girls gave their top performances of the year. Senior Holly Reichard scored 38.600 in all-around competition and placed first in the bars event with a score of 9.725.

The return of senior Jessie Watanabe really gave the Huskies a lift. She came back and competed on vault for the first time since she got injured in the season opener. She also tied her career high with a score of 9.575.

Watanabe also did well on balance beam, tying for second with a score of 9.725.

Head Coach Mark Sontag was pleased with his team’s performance despite the loss.

“Overall, it was our best performance of the year,” Sontag said. “The team was strong in all four events. It’s good to finally see the girls get the job done.”

Some good news for NIU looking ahead is that the Huskies are now starting to get healthy.

Watanabe came back this week, and junior Tanya Rachan should be back next week, according to Sontag.

“We have been short-handed and battling injuries all year long,” Sontag said. “It’s good to finally get the girls back and see what they can do.”