Spartan Gymnastics Competes in Annual Green & White Meet

Dec. 27, 2007

EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State gymnastics team competed in its annual Green & White Meet on December 7, in preparation for the upcoming 2008 season.

The Green squad consisting of seniors Rhiannon Banda-Scott and Bethany Little, junior Dani Fanning, sophomores Megan Bergland and Nicole Curler, and freshmen Nikki Argiros, Nicole Heikkila and Kelsey Morley won the competition with a total of 115.700 points. Team scores were compiled from the top-three scores from each team, instead of the normal top-five tallies which is used in a season meet. The White team posted a score of 113.525, led by senior Megan McNally, junior Katlyn Roggensack, sophomores Melanie Hunt, Emily Lopatofsky, Kelly Moffitt and Rochelle Robinson, and newcomers Elise Craig, Kathryn Mahoney and Kristyn Moskal.

Morley was the meet's all-around champion with a score of 38.350 and also claimed the beam crown with a 9.725. In the other events, Curler won the vault (9.800), Little took the bars (9.650), and Roggensack and Banda-Scott tied on the floor (9.775).

After the competition, the top-five scores from both teams were combined for a final MSU score of 192.225. The Spartans scored 48.550 on the vault, 47.425 on the bars, 47.700 on the beam and 48.550 in the floor exercise.

"We are so very excited about the start of the competitive season," said Head Coach Kathie Klages. "This intersquad was the first fully-judged meet for our team. Although we had a number of falls on the bars and beam, we were pleased overall with the performance of our team. We had a better team total this year than last, so we hope we will continue to build and improve on last year's No. 17 final national ranking. Also, it was a great experience for the newcomers to compete in a collegiate setting and in front of a large crowd."

Michigan State also earned a No. 21 national ranking in the 2008 GymInfo Preseason Coaches poll. The Spartans were fourth among Big Ten schools, trailing only Michigan (9), Penn State (13) and Ohio State (20). Georgia topped the poll, followed by Florida, Utah, UCLA and Stanford.

The Spartans begin the 2008 season on Friday, January 11 with a home meet against Western Michigan. Competition at Jenison Field House is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.