Northern Star DeKALB — NIU gymnastics opened up its 2021 competition season this past weekend with three road contests as its hopes of defending the MAC championship began. Friday, the team traveled to compete in the Tennessee Collegiate Classic, where the team went up against Southeast Missouri State University and Lindenwood University in the triangular meet. The Huskies posted a team score of 193.100 Friday night in Lebanon, Tennessee, giving the squad a third place finish in the meet. Lindenwood took home the team victory with a final team score of 193.900. Though the team finished in third, NIU did have multiple individual medalists for its first meet of the season. Sophomore Natalie Hamp won the individual bars competition with a score of 9.825. Seniors Mia Lord and Nicolette DiPrisco also medaled as individuals. Lord finished tied for second on the beam, and DiPrisco took third with her floor routine.