Illini Women's Gymnastics: Buckley, Cowart Earn National Bid as Illini Take Third at

[GymBot]

Norman, Okla. ¬- The No. 24 Fighting Illini women's gymnastics team came away with its best-ever regional finish of third place by posting a team total of 195.425 Saturday evening at the 2008 South Central Regional Championship in Norman, Okla. The Illini were led by freshman Allison Buckley and sophomore Nicole Cowart, who earned individual bids in the all-around competition to the NCAA Championship in Athens, Ga. Following the meet, Buckley became the first Illini to be named Regional Gymnast of the Year, while assistant coach Amy Kruse became the third to be named the Regional Assistant Coach of the Year. Fellow assistant Kim Landrus won the honor back in 2005 and current head coach Bob Starkell received the accolade in 1998.

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