The women’s gymnastics team was rewarded for its solid year with a trip to regionals for the second straight year. The No. 33 Illini will be heading to Lincoln, Neb., as a six-seed.

“We knew we had chances during the year to make this process a whole lot easier,” said head coach Bob Starkell. “The team has done well and stayed focused during the rough times. For the seniors, this is the ultimate reward because they know once they make it to this point they have the opportunity to make the final tournament.”

Only 36 teams in the country are invited to regionals, and it is only the second time since 1999 the Illini have been invited.

“We’re very excited, no one wanted the season to be over this weekend,” said redshirt senior co-captain Kara Kapernekas. “We had a good meet this weekend, but we can do a lot better, and we want to end the season on a good note.”

The team’s overall record was 17-5 and 2-2 in the Big Ten. The team finished off the regular season with four straight victories, which cemented its berth.

“We’re really excited, it’s a big relief, and now we can go there and show the rest of the country what we’re all about,” said sophomore Cara Pomeroy.

The team’s success also earned Bob Starkell the Big Ten Coach of the Year award, the first for the coach in his six years at Illinois.

“I was completely surprised, I wasn’t even ready for the award to come out,” Starkell said. “It has to do with surrounding yourselves with good people, and they make me look good. I don’t know if it was so much me, but my assistants, training staff and the athletes who gave me the opportunity to get an award like this. It’s probably one of the nicest rewards to get respect from your peers, because it’s a reflection of the hard work you put in day in and day out.”

The team also placed three members on the All-Big Ten teams. Pomeroy was a first team All-Big Ten selection for her outstanding year, in which the Canada native won 10 event titles – 7 on bars – and moved to No.7 in the country individually on bars.

“I wasn’t really expecting it, but it’s a great honor,” Pomeroy said. “In Canada, we don’t really have this stuff, so I didn’t really know what it meant, but it turns out to be a really big deal, so I’m really honored.”

Kapernekas and senior Lauren Newcomb were second team All-Big Ten Selections.

Kapernekas took home four titles this season – one on floor and three on beam – while battling shoulder problems.

“I’m very excited; I got it a couple years ago, so the year in between was kind of disappointing,” Kapernekas said. “But it’s just exciting to receive such an honor.”

For Newcomb, it was a reward for a stellar season, which included five all-around titles and enduring soreness in her knees.

“I was very surprised, it’s great to be a senior and receive that honor,” said Newcomb. “I worked hard this year, and I feel like it paid off. My parents were at the meet when they announced it, so it was really exciting for them.”