Skip to Main Content

Northern Star

 

Advertisement

 

 
Northern Star

Northern Illinois University’s student media since 1899

 

Ensure student journalism survives. Donate today.

The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

NIU gymnasts cheer and head coach Sam Morreale oversees the start of sophomore Kiera O’Shea’s vault routine during Sunday’s dual meet against Kent State University at the Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center in Kent, Ohio. O’Shea tied for first place on the event after implementing a Yurchenko full-and-a-half into her anchoring routine. (Cadence Pierce | Kent Stater)

Gymnastics falls to flashy Kent State

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | February 11, 2024

On Sunday, NIU gymnastics sophomore Kiera O’Shea got to showcase a new move on vault: the Yurchenko full-and-half, a move that comes with a start value – or maximum score – of a perfect 10.0. O’Shea took home a 9.875 for her efforts, tying...

Junior gymnast Isabella Sissi poses during her floor exercise routine at NIU gymnastics' and wrestling's Beauty and the Beast meet Friday. Sissi, an all-arounder, finished Friday's quad meet with a total score of 39.100. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

Gymnastics take second at Beauty and the Beast meet

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | February 10, 2024

DeKALB – Following a disappointing start to its home meet schedule, NIU gymnastics has begun to find its footing with a runner-up finish at Friday’s Beauty and the Beast Meet at the NIU Convocation Center. NIU (4-6-1, 1-2 MAC) finished second with...

Junior gymnast Isabella Sissi swings her arm as she poses during her floor routine Sunday at the NIU gymnastics Tri-meet. Sissi, the Huskies' lone all-arounder, accumulated 39.050 total points Sunday. (Sean Reed | Northern Star)

NIU falters in home opener after beam breakdown

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | January 28, 2024

DeKALB – From the first step in her sprint, junior Isabella Sissi had no doubt about the outcome of her pending vault routine. “I just knew right when I was running that I was going to stick it,” Sissi said. A pop off the table, a stick and...

Senior Olivia Lynd and the rest of the Huskie gymnasts make their entrance to a Jan. 13 meet against Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio. NIU gymnastics is set to compete in a tri-meet against Central Michigan University and Eastern Michigan University on Sunday. (Courtesy of Dena Martz)

Back in black: Huskies to host CMU, EMU in home opener

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | January 25, 2024

DeKALB – Fresh off a record-setting outing its last time out, NIU gymnastics prepares to host a pair of Michigan-based MAC foes in its first home showcase of the season Sunday. NIU (2-3-1, 1-0 MAC) will welcome defending conference champion Central...

NIU sophomore Kiera O'Shea strikes a pose during her floor exercise routine at a Jan. 13 meet against Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio. O'Shea scored a 9.900 on vault, a score that is tied for the fourth-best in program history. (Courtesy of Dena Martz)

Huskies explode with team-record scoring in ‘meet of the year’

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | January 20, 2024

NIU gymnastics found its rhythm Friday after putting together one of the greatest performances in team history: multiple season-highs, even more personal bests, three podium finishes, and a new program record. Eight Huskies achieved personal bests...

Junior Isabella Sissi performs her routine on the uneven parallel bars during Saturday's meet against Bowling Green State University at the Stroh Center in Bowling Green, Ohio. NIU gymnastics is set to compete at the Tennessee Collegiate Classic on Friday. (Courtesy of Dena Martz)

Headin’ south: Huskies to battle Lindenwood, Fisk at Tennessee meet

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | January 18, 2024

DeKALB – A stone’s throw away from “Music City,” a team of trained performers clad in color and sparkle will take the floor with the same objective as every event before: shake the nerves, woo the critics and achieve a hit. But there’s a...

Then-sophomore Emmalise Nock poses during her floor routine at an NIU gymnastics home meet on Feb. 17, 2023 at the Convocation Center. Nock tied for second place with NIU freshman Mikayla Brown on the floor exercise event to lead the Huskies to a victory over Bowling Green State University on Saturday. (Mingda Wu | Northern Star)

Gymnastics grounds Falcons in MAC opener

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | January 13, 2024

Six different Huskies earned podium finishes as NIU gymnastics earned its first victory of the season in the first meet of its MAC competition schedule. NIU (1-2-1) outperformed conference rival Bowling Green State University (0-2) on three of four...

Then-sophomore gymnast Isabella Sissi completes her floor performance at the Huskies’ Beauty and the Beast meet at the NIU Convocation Center on Feb. 4, 2023. Sissi and the Huskies are set to face Bowling Green State University on Saturday. (Cheyanne Quintanilla | Northern Star)

Gymnastics eyes bounceback at Bowling Green

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | January 13, 2024

DeKALB – After a lackluster start to a campaign with MAC Championship aspirations, NIU gymnastics looks to bounce back heading into its second test of the season. NIU (0-2-1) will make the eastward trek to Bowling Green, Ohio, for a dual meet with...

Then-junior gymnast Alyssa Al-Ashari poses during her beam routine in a home meet against Eastern Michigan University on Feb. 17, 2023. Al-Ashari placed fourth on beam at the Mizzou Invitational on Saturday. (Mingda Wu | Northern Star)

Gymnastics ties for third at Mizzou Invitational

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | January 7, 2024

NIU gymnastics tumbled and stumbled to begin the new season after tying for last in its first showcase of 2024 and posting its worst team score in a season-opener since 2018. The Huskies scored 192.755 as a team, tying with Southeast Missouri State...

Then-junior gymnast Alyssa Al-Ashari started her beam routine at the EMU gymnastics meet on Feb. 17. The Huskies kick off the 2024 season at the Missouri Quad Meet Saturday. (Northern Star File Photo)

‘In attack mode’: Gymnastics readies for trip to No. 12 Mizzou

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | January 5, 2024

DeKALB – The NIU gymnastics team is on the road and ready to rise to its first challenge of the new campaign: a quad meet hosted by a top-15 program. The Huskies, coming off an 8-5 finish in 2023, kick off their season Saturday at the Mizzou Invitational...

Then-sophomore Emmalise Nock posing during her floor routine during the EMU gymnastics meet on Feb.17. The Huskies are gearing up to begin their 2023-2024 season. (Northern Star File Photo)

Back in routine: Gymnastics jumps into new season

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | November 14, 2023

The NIU gymnastics squad prepares for the next chapter in its 47-year history. In this chapter, the Huskies seek to flip the script from the one before after being left unsatisfied with their finish in last season’s conference title meet. “They...

Then-sophomore Isabella Sissi posing during her floor routine at the EMU gymnastics meet. Sissi scored 38.250 for her all-around performance in the meet. (Mingda Wu | Northern Star)

Gymnastics releases 2024 schedule

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | October 23, 2023

DeKALB – NIU gymnastics is slated to play four competitions at home in 2024 after the team’s schedule was announced Friday. "I'm very excited about the opportunities we're going to have over the next year," said NIU gymnastics head coach Sam Morreale...