Gymnastics Prepares For Fox Run Invitational
2/12/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
Feb. 12, 2003
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ON THE ROAD AGAIN
Michigan State will continue on the road, traveling to Durham, N.H., for the Fox Run Invitational on Saturday, Feb. 15. The Spartans will compete against host New Hampshire, George Washington and Bowling Green. The meet is slated to begin at 7 p.m., at the Whittemore Center.
SPARTANS DROP ROAD MEET TO IOWA
The Spartans suffered a 196.550-193.925 setback to the University of Iowa on Saturday, Feb. 8, in Iowa City, Iowa. The No. 18 Hawkeyes paced every event, en route to the third-highest total in school history. Michigan State's highest finish of the evening was a second-place finish from sophomore Anna Hunsinger (Elizabethtown, Ky.) on the floor exercise. Hunsinger posted a 9.850, just ahead of freshman Sarah Alexander (Kernersville, N.C.), who scored a 9.825.
NEWS FROM THE GYM
Sarah Alexander claimed a part of a two-way tie for third place on the balance beam with a season-best mark of 9.875. Senior Julie Devaty (North Olmstead, Ohio) finished right behind her with 9.850.
Michigan State added a pair of top-five showings from Diana Crea (Beaver Falls, Pa.) and Kristin Merritt (Racine, Wis.), who each garnered a 9.800 on the uneven bars, for a fourth-place tie.
Alexander posted the second-highest individual score of the season on the balance beam, with a 9.875... Anna Hunsinger posted a 9.850 on the floor exercise to tie for the second-best score by a Spartan this season
As a team, MSU tallied the second-highest point total of the season on three events this season - the uneven bars, the balance beam and the floor exercise. Michigan State also accumulated the third-best team score of the season.
Freshman Jaime Miles (Sterling Heights, Mich.) made her first appearance as a member of the balance beam lineup, posting a 9.225. Miles had competed on the event as an exhibition performer earlier in the season.
DEVATY NAMED CO-BIG TEN GYMNAST OF THE WEEK
Senior co-captain Julie Devaty was named the Co-Big Ten Gymnast of the Week on Tuesday, Feb. 5. Devaty matched her career-best mark of 9.925 on the balance beam to capture the event title at the State of Michigan Classic on Feb. 2. She also finished tied for second on the floor with a season-best mark of 9.875 and matched her personal-best score of 9.825 on the uneven bars to post the fourth-highest score of the day on that event. Devaty tied for the weekly honor with Calli Ryals of Michigan.
MSU EARNS STATE BRAGGING RIGHTS
The Spartans returned to Jenison Field House with a bang on Sunday, Feb. 2, winning the State of Michigan Classic. Michigan State posted a 195.075 to finish first, ahead of Central Michigan (194.900) and No. 11 Michigan (193.900). Eastern Michigan (192.525) and Western Michigan (192.000) rounded out the five-team event.
ENDING A STREAK
With the victory at the State of Michigan Classic, Michigan State became the first Big Ten Conference team to defeat Michigan in over four years. Until the Spartans topped the No. 11 Wolverines on Feb. 2, Michigan had not lost a meet against a conference rival since Jan. 15, 1999. Since that date, Michigan had recorded 40 consecutive wins over conference rivals.
A COMMANDING PRESCENCE
With the victory over its four in-state rivals at the State of Michigan Classic on Feb. 2, Michigan State improved its record with each team, taking a commanding 119-29 all-time lead against the four programs combined. The Spartans moved to a 31-3 lifetime mark against Central Michigan and improved to 25-1 all-time against Eastern Michigan. MSU evened its record with Michigan at 25 wins apiece, while continuing to dominate Western Michigan (38-0 all-time).
MOVING FORWARD
Freshman Sarah Alexander posted three career high scores at Iowa on Feb. 8. Alexander tallied a new balance beam score of 9.875 and a new floor exercise mark of 9.825, en route to scoring a new all-around score of 38.675.
Sophomores Lauren Simpson and Anna Hunsinger each had a season-best night, as well. Simpson matched her career-high mark on the uneven bars with a 9.725, while Hunsinger scored a 9.850 on the floor exercise to set a new season standard.
Senior Kristina Petersen (Saginaw, Mich.) also matched a season high on the uneven bars, posting a 9.775.
GOOD CAREER MOVES
Six Spartans matched or posted 10 career high scores at the State of Michigan Classic. Senior Julie Devaty matched her personal best score on the uneven bars and balance beam, while classmate Ilene Cohen equaled her career high on the beam. Sophomore Lauren Simpson matched one and set two new career-high tallies. Simpson scored a 9.725 on the bars to tie her career best and earned new lifetime highs on the beam (9.800) and in the all-around (39.000). Kristin Merritt set a new personal standard on the bars with a 9.850 and Anna Hunsinger tallied a 9.800 on the vault for a new career high. First-year gymnast, Nicole Anderson continued to improve her lifetime highs, tallying a new floor exercise score.
IT WAS A DAY FOR STANDARDS TO FALL
In addition to setting new career-best scores, two Spartans set season-best marks at the State of Michigan Classic on Feb. 2. Julie Devaty posted her best score of the campaign on the floor exercise with a 9.875. Lauren Simpson also tallied a new floor exercise score with a 9.850. Both gymnasts scores were just .025 off of their career-best marks.
BIG TEN BUSINESS
The Spartans are currently second the Big Ten Conference on the uneven bars, with a season average of 48.790... Sarah Alexander is currently ranked sixth in the conference on the uneven bars, with an average score of 9.800... Anna Hunsinger holds eighth place on the all-around with a total of 38.900...Alexander Is listed in eighth place on the balance beam with a 9.785, while Ilene Cohen and Christy Linder (Fremont, Ohio) are tied for tenth (9.750)
NATIONAL NETWORKING
Sarah Alexander is tied for 49th, nationally, on the uneven bars. Her season average of 9.800 on the event places her ninth in the Central Region...Alexander is also ranked No. 10 on the balance beam...tied for eighth in the Central Region is Anna Hunsinger, who earned her honor in the all-around competition... Ilene Cohen and Christy Linder are listed as the 16th-ranked gymnasts on the regional balance beam... Lauren Simpson is ranked 13th in the region in the all-around, while Kristin Merritt and Linder are ranked 15th and 18th, respectively, on the bars.
HOME SWEET HOME?
The Spartans have performed just two of their first six competitions in the familiar comfort of Jenison Field House. After the season opening meet against Auburn and Oregon State, the Spartans traveled to Iowa (Iowa State - Jan. 17) and continued on the road to Ohio (Ohio State - Jan. 25). MSU returned to Michigan to host the State of Michigan Classic (Feb. 2), but took to the road again for a return trip to Iowa (Iowa - Feb. 8), before visiting New Hampshire for the Fox Run Invitational (Feb. 15).
IF YOU WANT TO BE THE BEST...
You have to play the best. That's the motto of Kathie Klages when she scheduled the Spartans' competition. Five of Michigan State's remaining opponents are ranked in the Feb. 10 edition of the GymInfo Top-25 and six of its previous opponents also have a place among the leaders. Five of the Spartans' six Big Ten opponents are listed in the poll, including No. 11 Michigan, whom MSU will face two more times this season.
THE LEADERS OF THE PACK
The Michigan State women's gymnastics team announced that seniors Christy Linder and Julie Devaty have been selected as the captains for the 2003 season.
GAZE INTO THE FUTURE
The Spartans return home to face Big Ten rival Illinois on Saturday, Feb. 22. The meet, sponsored by Country Markett, is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m., in Jenison Field House.
Players Mentioned
