Twenty-nine years ago this weekend — March 23-24, 1990 — the Illini women's gymnastics team won the Big Ten team championship, something it had never achieved before nor has accomplished since.
Entering the season, coach Bev Mackes said that her squad, comprised solely of freshmen, sophomores and juniors, would need to work together, show gradual progress and peak at the right time. She also faced the question of whether or not two of her best athletes would rebound from injuries. Two weeks before the 1989 Big Ten meet, reigning conference all-around champ and co-Gymnast of the Year Heather Singalewitch had blown out her knee, while classmate Denise Lamborn spent the entire '88-89 season in a back brace.