Men's Gymnastics Wins Last Regular-Season Match
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Gymnastics
March 28, 1998
EAST LANSING, Mich. - For the third time in as many meets, the sixth-ranked Michigan State men's gymnastics team outshined No. 8 Michigan in a tight 229.225-229.150 decision Saturday night as Jenison Field House. It was the second-highest score of the season for MSU, which surpassed the Wolverines on floor (38.450), vault (38.775) and high bar (38.050).
"It was great to get another win, but this meet prepared us for regionals next weekend, and that's what we needed it to do," said head coach Rick Atkinson. "I'm very happy with the team's regular season this year."
A solid Spartan performance on high bar seemed the deciding factor of the night, led by freshman Chris Weedon with a career-best 9.800. Freshman Tommy Housley captured top honors on floor exercise (9.750), and, while he and Keith Douglas clinched career highs on vault (9.700 and 9.725, respectively), sophomore Brady Grimm was the top Spartan performer on that apparatus with a second-place 9.750. Junior Mike Phipps's 9.750 on still rings secured him medalist honors, and Dave Barron set a new career best for himself on pommel horse (9.700).
This was the last home performance for seniors Jonathan Becker, Sean Miran, Keith Douglas and captain Ethan Sterk.
The Spartans travel to Amherst, Mass., on April 4 for the NCAA Eastern Regional competition.