DeKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University gymnastics team placed second at the Beauty and the Beast Meet on Friday, February 20, 2026, whereas celebrating the careers of three departing seniors. Southeast Missouri State University took first place in the tri-meet, which also included Wilberforce University.
NIU finished with a team score of 191.700, trailing SEMO’s 193.900. Wilberforce recorded a team total of 180.775. Seniors Jocelyn Harbeck, Samantha Nickle and Kiera O’Shea were honored prior to the competition.
Sophomore Drake White of Indianapolis, Indiana, tied for first place on floor exercise and finished third on vault. Junior Dawsyn Sallee of Versailles, Kentucky, secured first place on vault for the second consecutive meet, achieving a score of 9.825.
The Huskies saw a strong showing from their freshman class on uneven bars, with Elizabeth Poncin, Deziray Boykin, and Avery Riiff sweeping the event. Poncin recorded a career-best 9.825, marking the highest score on bars for NIU this season. Boykin contributed a 9.725, her second score of 9.725 or higher in the last three meets. Riiff opened the rotation with a 9.700.
Junior Mikayla Brown of Suwanee, Georgia, placed second on balance beam with a 9.850, tying a career high and setting a novel season best. Boykin followed with a career-best 9.750, tying for fifth place, while Nickle added a 9.725.
Sallee led off the final rotation on floor exercise with a 9.700, followed by Harbeck’s 9.725 – her fifth consecutive meet with a score of 9.725 or higher. White secured her second win of the season on floor with a 9.800.
Sophomore Audrey Brenner of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, consistently delivered a 9.700 or higher in the anchor position on vault, continuing a streak of five straight meets and six out of seven meets this season.
