Michigan State University
Circle of Stars Invite (Ball State, E. Michigan, Ohio State)
MSU Gymnastics Wins Circle Of Stars Invitational
2/8/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
Feb. 8, 2002
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - The Michigan State gymnastics team improved to 8-4 and 1-3 in the Big Ten by capturing the Circle of Stars Invitational Friday night. MSU scored 193.375 points to edge second-place Ball State, which had 193.300. No. 25 Eastern Michigan placed third with 192.325 followed by No. 19 Ohio State which totalled 190.450 points.
Junior Christy Linder tied for first on the balance beam with a score of 9.825 on her way to the all-around title. Linder finished with an all-around score of 38.850, while freshman Anna Hunsinger placed third in the all-around with a total of 38.200.
Junior Julie Devaty had another fine performance, sharing first place on the floor exercise with a personal-best score of 9.875 while tying for third on the beam with a 9.800. Freshman Lauren Simpson was also in the top three in two events, tying for second on the vault with a 9.700, and sharing third in the floor exercise with Hunsinger with scores of 9.850.
The beam and vault were keys to victory for MSU, as the Spartans had the highest team score in each of those events. The beam, in particular, was good to MSU as the Spartans scored almost half a point higher than the next best team. Along with the high finishes of Linder and Devaty, Simpson and junior Lindsay Trainham tied for fifth with scores of 9.775.
MSU also had a season-best score on the floor exercise with a total of 49.175. In addition to the Devaty's career-best and the 9.850 scores from Hunsinger and Simpson, MSU had a 9.825 from Linder and a 9.775 from freshman Jennifer Yarbrough.
The Spartans will return home to compete against Rutgers next Saturday, Feb. 8, at 7 p.m. in Jenison Field House.
