Gymnastics Prepares for State of Michigan Classic
1/29/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
Jan. 29, 2002
EAST LANSING, Mich. -
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On the Road Again: The Michigan State gymnastics team will go on the road for the second straight weekend as the Spartans compete in the State of Michigan Classic Sunday, Feb. 3, in Ypsilanti, Mich. Along with host No. 23 Eastern Michigan, MSU will compete against No. 9 Michigan, Central Michigan and Western Michigan.
Scouting the Competition: No. 9 Michigan is 4-2 and 2-0 in the Big Ten and coming off its highest point total of the season, scoring 196.175 in a victory against Minnesota Saturday. No. 23 Eastern Michigan is 1-1 and has not competed since scoring 194.700 in a loss at Kent State Jan. 18. Central Michigan is 2-3 but coming off its best point total of the season after scoring 194.125 points in a victory Sunday against Northern Illinois. Western Michigan, which lost to Michigan State in the season opener, is 2-5 and has a season-high point total of 192.925.
Last Year at State of Michigan Classic: MSU posted a season-best score of 195.500 to defeat Central, Western and Eastern Michigan last year. The Spartans won every event but the vault, and were led by Jane McIntosh, who was victorious on both the floor and the beam, with scores of 9.900 in each event. Christy Linder also excelled for MSU, winning the all-around with a then career-high 39.275. Melissa Green won the bars with a season-high 9.900.
MSU Downed at Illinois: Michigan State posted first-place scores in three of four events and had the top two all-around performers, but it wasn't enough as Illinois edged the Spartans, 193.025-192.850, Saturday night in Champaign, Ill. Freshman Anna Hunsinger won the all-around title with a score of 38.750, and also placed first in the vault with a 9.775 and tied for third on the floor exercise with a 9.800 score.
Junior Christy Linder placed first on the beam with a score of 9.850, finished second on vault with a 9.725, and tied for third on floor with a 9.800. Linder finished the meet in second place in the all-around standings with a total score of 38.525. MSU also had solid performances from junior Julie Devaty, who tied with Illinois' Jana Gallagher for first on floor with a score of 9.825, and placed second on beam with a 9.750.
Dynamic Debut: Anna Hunsinger's first ever all-around competition was one to remember, as the freshman won the all-around title Saturday at Illinois. Hunsinger's score of 38.750 is the second best all-around total for a Spartan this season.
Fresh Faces: Michigan State's freshman class continues to be crucial to its success in 2002. In Saturday's meet at Illinois, 11 of the 24 routines were performed by freshmen, marking the third straight meet that at least 10 routines were performed by freshmen. Strangely enough, the 33 combined routines are not the highest number of routines performed by a single class, as the junior class has performed 36 routines. The final three routines have been performed by sophomore Lindsey Voth.
Rank You Very Much: Michigan State slipped out of the top 25 rankings this week, but just barely. The Spartans, who are ranked ninth in the Central Region, have an average score which ranks them 26th nationally. Individually, Christy Linder is in the top 25 on the balance beam, as her average score of 9.825 ranks her 21st.
First Time's a Charm?: Michigan State's season-opening showing was so good that the Spartans have been unable to match any of their performances from that meet. MSU's top team scores on every apparatus this season were recorded during the opening weekend.
Linder Nears Record: Christy Linder's all-around score of 39.400 in the Jan. 11 season opener was tied for the second best all-around score in MSU history. Only Carolyn Hecht scored higher, recording a score of 39.450 vs. Ohio State on March 22, 1996. Melissa Green is the only other Spartan to score 39.400, accomplishing the feat Feb. 19, 2000 vs. Pittsburgh.
Best Ever Opener: Michigan State's point total of 194.650 in the Jan. 11 opener was easily its best ever in a season-opening meet. The previous best-ever score in an opener was 191.900 by the 1996 squad which went on to finish 27-3.
McIntosh Sidelined: Senior Jane McIntosh, one of Michigan State's top returners, has been unable to compete in any of MSU's first three meets because of lingering effects from off-season shoulder surgery. McIntosh, who competed on the beam at the 2001 NCAA Regional Championships, has been through three shoulder surgeries in her career. McIntosh did compete at the Green & White scrimmage, but her return to competition is on hold for an indefinite period of time.
In Order to Be the Best...: You've got to beat the best. Michigan State will compete against at least seven teams this season that are ranked in the current top 25, including Iowa State (No. 6), Michigan (No. 9), Minnesota (No. 11), Ohio State (No. 18), Iowa (No. 22), Eastern Michigan (No. 23) and Penn State (No. 24). Counting the Big Ten Championships, the Spartans will face Iowa and Eastern Michigan twice each, and MSU will compete against Michigan and Ohio State three times each. In addition, the Spartans could face other ranked teams in the Regional Championships.