Sometimes your best is just not enough.

That was the case for the NIU gymnastics team on Sunday in the State of Illinois Classic at the Convocation Center. Despite putting up a school-record score of 195.650, the Huskies came in third as UIC, with a 196.800, and the University of Illinois, with a 195.750 edged them.

“That’s the bitter part of today, is finishing third,” coach Mark Sontag said. “I would have liked to [set the record] and get two more wins, but everybody hit extremely well today. I’ve seen this team’s potential, so I know we’ve been capable of this kind of score.”

The Huskies (9-12, 3-3 MAC) put together a plethora of great performances as they beat the previous record score of 195.075 in the Illinois Classic.

Sophomore Kristina Campos, once again leading the way, won two events and was number one in the all-around.

Campos not only put up a season-high score of 9.950 on the beam, but one on the floor as well with a 9.925 topping her previous best of 9.900 on her way to a school-record 39.550 all-around score.

After coming up .100 short twice this season, Campos was finally able to eclipse Sandy Menard’s 39.400 mark.

“How can you ask for more from an athlete,” Sontag asked. “She has come through at every meet this year. But this was just icing on the cake. She was outstanding [Sunday]. She just focuses and gets the job done, week in and week out.”

Part of the reason the Huskies put up their record score was their handling of the balance beam. The beam has been a heartbreaker for NIU much of the year, but behind seniors Laura Hale and Tiffany Nolen 9.875 and Campos’ school record the Huskies put up a season-best beam score of 49.250.

Sophomore Mariah Howard also helped by putting up a 9.850 while filling in for senior Anna Gardina.

“Coming in, I was the most worried about our beam score,” Sontag said. “That’s where we’ve had the most difficulty this season, but everything came together today.”

NIU did a great job once again on the floor as Gardina and freshman Ashlee Williams scored 9.900 to secure the Huskies a high score and more confidence as they head to the MAC Championships on Saturday.