Skip To Main Content

University of Illinois Athletics

2019 Women's Gymnastics Roster

Rachael Donovan

  • Position
    All-Around
  • Height
    5-3
  • Class
    Senior
  • Hometown
    Bethlehem, Pa.
  • Highschool
    Notre Dame Green Pond

Biography

Career-High Scores 

Event Career-High Score
Bars 9.875 | 2x - last vs. Denver | 3/1/19
Beam 8.500 | vs. Penn State | 2/2/19
Floor 9.600 | at Rutgers | 1/13/18

Collegiate Honors  

  • 2018 Academic All-Big Ten 

Senior - 2019

  • Recorded a career-high 9.875 on bars at Nebraska on Jan. 26 and vs. Denver on March 1.
  • Opened the season at the Illinois Quad Meet on Jan. 13, recording a solid 9.750 on bars.

Junior - 2018 

  • Hit career-high marks on bars and floor against Rutgers 

Sophomore - 2017 

  • Scored a career-high 9.725 on bars against Penn State

Freshman - 2016 

  • Made her collegiate competitive debut at Missouri on Jan. 8 and recorded a career high 9.625 on bars
  • Competed in three meets during her freshman campaign

Club Gymnastics 

  • National Qualifier: 2012, 2015
  • 2012 Junior Olympic National Alternate/NIT Qualifier
  • 2015 Regionals: Beam-1st, Bars-5th, All-Around-3rd
  • 2014 Regionals: Beam, Floor Medalist
  • 2013 Regionals: Beam-3rd, Bars-4th, All-Around-2nd
  • 2015 State: Bars-1st

Personal

  • Born on July 7, 1997 in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
  • Double major in Psychology and Speech and Hearing Science
  • Father, Jeffrey works as a Network Information Structure Manager and mother, Lorie is a third grade teacher
  • Has one sister, Kait
  • Her favorite athlete is Shawn Johnson because of her determination and her natural athleticism
  • Her biggest thrill in sports is “the competitive aspect and camaraderie between the teams”
  • Chose Illinois because of "of its strong academics, beautiful campus, and welcoming feeling. The coaches and the team have a positive attitude and a high level of enthusiasm. Everyone was so welcoming on my visit that I knew Illinois was the perfect fit." 

Historical Player Information

  • 2016Freshman

    All-Around
    5'3"
  • 2017Sophomore

    All-Around
    5'3"
  • 2018Junior

    All-Around
  • 2019Senior

    All-Around
    5'3"