Reagan Johnson / Winonan

Despite recording its highest score of the season, the Winona State University gymnastics team fell to Division I Illinois State University 192.275-186.825 on Friday night in Normal, Ill. The team score was the 10th best score in program history.

The Warriors had their best vault performance of the year, breaking the program record with a 47.800, with the previous score of 47.475 set last year against the University of Wisconsin Stout. Sophomore Eboni Jackson tied the Winona State vault record with a 9.725.

Jackson said she was surprised when she found out the news of her record.

“I was kind of speechless. I found out when they put the article out so it was really exciting to know that I did that,” Jackson said. “My goal is to maybe beat that in the next upcoming meets or at regionals and hopefully when we get to nationals we beat the score there.”

Jackson now shares the vault record with Kassy Kroening’s 1998 score.

Seniors Jade Donaldson, Brooke Hiestand and Emily Goldeman added scores of 9.625, 9.550 and 9.500, respectively, while first-year Natalie Koehler earned a 9.400.

Jackson led the Warrior again on beam with a score of 9.675. Sophomore Katie Carling added a 9.575 and first-year Miranda Saathoff a 9.450.

Jackson said she likes working on the beam and it has become a strong event for her.

On the uneven bars, sophomore Katie Pipp led with a score of 9.625 and Carling added a 9.500.

Hiestand posted the Warriors’ best score on the floor with a 9.625 and Carling scored well for the team again with 9.550. Junior Veronica Peterson scored a 9.425 on the event.

Jackson said the team did a good job of maintaining their motivation throughout the meet.

“I think we did really well as a team we came together and even when we didn’t have some routines work that great we still kept up the motivation and we just came back better,” Jackson said.

Winona State will host their last home meet of the season this Friday against Hamline University at 6:30 p.m. in the McCown Gym.

The Warriors have two more competitions before competing in the WIAC Regional Championship Friday, Mar. 3. If Winona State places in the top three teams at the regional meet, they will move on to the national championship.

“I think we’re very excited because we’ve improved so much from the beginning of the year,” Jackson said.

If Jackson makes it to nationals, she said her goal is to win the all-around title.

“If I don’t win all-around, the goal is to win an event by itself. As a team our goal is to place in the top three,” Jackson said. “In all me and team just need to stay very consistent and I think we’ll be golden.”