No. 15 Women's Gymnastics Travels to Michigan and Towson
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Gymnastics
March 4, 1998
NEXT UP: The Spartans travel to Ann Arbor, Mich. on March 6 for a dual meet against the No. 4 Wolverines at 7 p.m. and to Towson, Md. for a tri-meet in Towson, Md. against Towson State and Yale on March 8 at 2 p.m.
SCOUTING MICHIGAN: The No. 4 Wolverines fell to the top-ranked Georgia Bulldogs last Saturday, 196.950-196.250. Michigan hit its highest score of the year, a 196.800 versus the University of Kentucky on Feb. 15. U of M is led by Sarah Cain, the nation's top-rated all-arounder with an average of 39.550. Currently Michigan is ranked second in the NCAA central region while MSU is fifth.
SCOUTING TOWSON UNIVERSITY: Towson University turned in a season-high score of 192.200 at its own Invitational on Feb. 22. Against Maryland and New Hampshire in the team's last meet on Feb. 27, Towson scored 191.850.
SCOUTING YALE: Yale scored 188.125 for its season high on Feb. 9 versus UMass and George Washington. In the team's last meet on March 1, the Ivy Championships, Yale scored 183.100.
THRILL OF VICTORY TURNS INTO AGONY OF DEFEAT: Michigan State thought it had snapped No. 19 Nebraska's streak of 20-straight wins at home dating back to 1993. That's what the scoresheets said. The Spartans' bubble was burst after an announcement on the p.a. told all fans and competitors that there had been a scoring error and that Nebraska had actually one. Elation turned into despair. MSU was edged out 193.350-193.300. No. 8 Kentucky claimed third place at 192.350 while Rhode Island placed fourth with a 190.075. Michigan State was the last team to defeat the Huskers at home, winning the 1993 Master's Classic.
MSU was led by Becky Robinson's first-place score of 9.875 on balance beam and Elisabeth Forishier's vault for top honors on the vault (9.800). Erin Mullen finished third in the all-around at 38.600 while Polly Kiker tied for third-place on the floor at 9.800.
SERIES RECORDS: Michigan - MSU is 24-13 in meets with the University of Michigan. In the teams' last meeting on Jan. 31, Michigan defeated the Spartans, 194.750-193.350 to win the Michigan Classic in Jenison Field House. Towson University - The Spartans are 2-2 when facing Towson State. MSU has won the last two meetings between the two teams. Yale - Michigan State has faced Yale just once, winning 190-050-182.600 in 1996.
THE RANKINGS: n the latest rankings, released March 3, MSU was 15th in the country (rankings are by regional qualifying score.). Two Spartans were ranked individually; Elisabeth Forshier was 11th on the vault at 9.819, while Carolyn Hecht was T16th on the uneven bars (9.856) and fifth on the balance beam (9.850). For complete rankings see http://www.troester.com.
Head Coach Kathie Klages: The fourth coach in Spartan history, Kathie Klages (Central Michigan, '77) has a 135-57-1 (.702) record in her eighth year as Michigan State's head coach. Under her tutelage, three Spartan teams have advanced to the NCAA Regionals, finishing as high as fourth in 1996. In 1997, MSU won the National Invitational Tournament.
