Spartan Gymnasts Bow To Hawkeyes
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Men's Gymnastics
February 20, 1999
IOWA CITY, Iowa--It was not a good night for the sixth-ranked Spartan gymnasts February 19. Generating their lowest point total of the year, the Spartans were toppled by the talented Iowa Hawkeyes, 227.525-221.950.
Producing silver linings for MSU Coach Rick Atkinson were senior Kenny Baker (Flint, MI), freshman Jon Plante (Easton, PA) and sophomore Tommy Housley (Atlanta, GA). Baker and Plante, ranked second in the nation on pommel horse, took top honors on pommel horse with scores of 9.700. Housley, the nation's seventh-ranked vaulter, placed first in the vault competition with a 9.650.
Other quality individual finishers for the Spartans (2-6 in Big Ten, 4-6 overall) were senior Mike Phipps (Battle Creek, MI), who snared second placed on still rings with a score of 9.725, and freshman Dave Ruiz (Oviedo, FL), whose 9.625 on floor exercise placed him second as well.
The Spartans must regroup and get ready for their next match, which will be against Illinois-Chicago February 27 at 3 p.m. EST.
Floor Exercise; 1. Todd Strada, Iowa 9.675; 2. Dave Ruiz, MSU 9.625; 3. Kevin Agnew, Iowa 9.525.
Pommel Horse; 1. Ken Baker, MSU 9.700; Jon Plante, MSU 9.700; Doug Jacobson, Iowa 9.650.
Still Rings; 1. Todd Strada, Iowa 9.775; 2. Mike Phipps, MSU 9.725; 3. Kevin Agnew, Iowa 9.550; S. DeFreitas, Iowa 9.550.
Vault; 1. Tommy Housley, MSU 9.650; 2. Todd Strada, Iowa 9.550; 3. Andy Thornton, Iowa 9.500.
Parallel Bars; 1. S. DeFreitas, Iowa 9.600; 2. Todd Strada, Iowa 9.550; 3. Lou Datilio, Iowa 9.450.
Horizontal Bar; 1. S. DeFreitas, Iowa 9.550; 2. Lou Datilio, Iowa 9.450; Todd Strada, Iowa 9.500.