Michigan State University
Pittsburgh
Women Gymnasts Vault Into The Record Books
2/19/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
Feb. 19, 2000
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State women's gymnastics team defeated Pittsburgh at home on Saturday, February 19 in what was the team's second best finish in Spartan history, winning 196.100-195.225.
Melissa Green (Jr., East Lansing, Mich.) had the best performance of her tenure at Michigan State, achieving three career highs in one night. Green landed a 9.975 on the floor exercise, tying the all-time individual record for first place. Green also had the second best score ever in MSU's history in the all-around (39.400). After falling during an uneven bars performance, Green was able to compete again due to a flash from a spectator's camera in the stands. This time around, she scored a 9.950, which moved her into second place in MSU's all-time records.
"I thought to myself that second chances do not happen a lot in life, so I have to make the most of it," said Green. "I also thought the whole meet was amazing. I like the fact that the team did awesome."
As a team, Michigan State notched a third place finish in the record books with a 49.425 on the uneven bars. Freshmen Diana Crea (Beaver Falls, Pa.), Christy Linder (Fremont, Ohio) and Lindsay Trainham (Briarcliff, N.Y.) all had a 9.900 career-high finish on the uneven bars to tie for tenth place in the all-time records. Elisabeth Forshier (Jr., S. St. Paul, Minn.) tied her career-high on the vault (9.900), tying herself for fourth place in the all-time top scores. Senior Polly Kiker (Englewood, Calif.) tied her best floor exercise score (9.950) and she also tied herself in the all-time top scores for second place. The team reached season-highs in all events except balance beam: vault (48.900), uneven bars (49.425), floor exercise (49.475) and all-around (196.100).
"It feels awesome to have a meet like we did today," said head coach Kathie Klages. "The athletes have a lot of talent and it is very exciting to see them finish like they did."
Michigan State will host New Hampshire, Southeast Missouri State and Bowling Green at the Spartan Invitational on Saturday, February 26 at 7:30 p.m.
Top Three ScoresAll-Around Floor Exercise39.400 Melissa Green, Michigan State 9.975 Melissa Green, Michigan State39.200 Danielle Alba, Pittsburgh 9.950 Polly Kiker, Michigan State39.150 Christy Linder, Michigan State 9.900 Nathalie Sulpher, Pittsburgh 9.900 Lisa Fronhofer, PittsburghVault9.900 Elisabeth Forshier, Michigan State Uneven Bars9.825 Lori Ruane, Michigan State 9.950 Melissa Green, Michigan State9.800 Lindsay Trainham, Michigan State 9.900 Diana Crea, Michigan State9.900 Christy Linder, Michigan State 9.900 Lindsay Trainham,Michigan State
Balance Beam9.975 Danielle Alba, Pittsburgh9.800 Melissa Green, Michigan State9.800 Lisa Fronhofer, Michigan State9.800 Raya Mullin, Pittsburgh
