Michigan State Gymnastics Takes Spartan Invitational Title

Feb. 14, 2004

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State's 15th annual Spartan Invitational came down to the final rotation a MSU fed off its home crowd to post a 195.725, claiming the invitational crown. New Hampshire registered 195.125 while George Washington rounded out team scoring with a 193.550. Michigan State has now posted scores above 195.00 four consecutive weeks and moves to 7-9 on the season.

Leading George Washington by just a half-point entering the final rotation of the Invitational, Michigan State needed a 48.875 team floor score to tie New Hampshire. MSU used the crowd to its advantage en route to posting a 49.475, its highest team floor score of the season.

"I'm really pleased because the team really rose to the occasion on floor exercise," said head coach Kathie Klages. "We started out okay on vault and had our best performance ever on bars, so we are very, very pleased with that. We really improved on floor after our last appearance at home. The girls stepped up and really finished the meet and I am really proud of them."

Sarah Alexander led the Spartans in the event, registering a 9.95 performance, a season-high that tied the fourth-best event score in MSU history. In addition to the event title, Alexander was honored with the Pam Poe Award, bestowed upon the gymnast with the best artistry at the invitational.

Chayla HIll recorded a 9.925, Lauren Simpson had 9.9 and Jennifer Yarbrough and Nicole Anderson posted 9.85s to round out floor scores for the Spartans.

Alexander was also the third-place finisher in the all-around with a combined score of 38.725.

Michigan State produced a team vault score of 48.575 to open the meet as Miles and Hill led the Spartans in the event with scores of 9.75, respectively. This marks the second straight meet in which Miles has scored a 9.75. Victoria Iakounina posted a mark of 9.725 while Anderson scored 9.7. Alexander rounded out scorers in the event with a mark of 9.65.

Iakounina, Hill and Miles tied for third place in the event with George Washington's Erin Aiken.

The Spartans posted a team bars score of 49.200, also a season high. Individually, three different gymnasts posted marks of 9.85 as Iakounina, Kristin Merritt and Lauren Simpson led Michigan State on bars.

Iakounina's 9.85 is a season high while Merritt competed in just her second individual competition of the season to lead MSU. It also marks Simpson's second straight 9.85 on bars. Jennifer Yarbrough and Kristen Coleman posted 9.825s, respectively, as Yarbrough tied a season high with her performance. Iakounina, Merritt and Simpson tied for second-place honors.

Alexander led the Spartans - and all competitors - on beam with a 9.875 as Michigan State posted a team score of 48.475. Miles registered a 9.8 while Iakounina and Simpson posted 9.75s, respectively. Yarbrough rounded out MSU scorers with a 9.3.

Michigan State continues its homestand Feb. 21 when it hosts Pittsburgh at 4 p.m. at Jenison Field House.