Michigan State University Athletics
Spartans Finish Fourth at NCAA Regionals
4/4/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
AMES, IOWA - Michigan State traveled to Ames, Iowa to compete as the No. 5 seed in the Iowa State Region of the 2015 NCAA Regional Championships. The Spartans tallied a 195.375, finishing fourth behind LSU, Nebraska and Denver who went 197.175-196.950-195.950. MSU finished ahead of Iowa State's 195.350 and Washington's 193.675. LSU and Nebraska will advance onto nationals from the Ames region.
Final Results
"I am so very proud of this team," said head coach Kathie Klages. "We have been handed so much adversity this season, and the team has stepped up each and every time. We competed without Lisa [Burt] today, and, instead of folding, the team fought through til the end; coming through on floor to move from the fifth seed into fourth place."
The Spartans started the meet on vault, and were led by a 9.900 from senior Alina Cartwright who tied for third on the event. Sophomore Mackenzie Smith and junior Nicola Deans each scored a 9.775, tying for 21st. Freshman Anna Gamelo followed suit with a 9.750, helping the Spartans to a 48.825 as a team.
After a bye in the second rotation, MSU moved to bars, scoring a 48.625 as a team. Sophomore Kira Frederick led the way for the Spartans, earning a career-high 9.850 and tying for third on the event. Gamelo notched a 9.725 for 19th place, while Cartwright and Smith tied for 22nd with a 9.700.
Cartwright sparked a 9.825 on beam in the fourth rotation, tying for fifth. Sophomore Holly Ryan followed Cartwright, matching her 9.800 achieved at the Big Ten Championships and tying for ninth. Freshman Victoria Huehn tallied a 9.750 and placed 19th, while junior Brittany Holmes scored a 9.725. The Spartans combined for a 48.800 as a team.
The fifth rotation served as the second bye for the Spartans, who came out ready for the sixth rotation, combining for a 49.125 on floor. Sophomore Elena Lagoski hit a 9.875, tying for seventh on the day. Frederick followed closely, notching a 9.850 and tying for 10th place. Ryan scored a 9.825 and tied for 18th, while Gamelo tied for 22nd with a 9.800.
This marked MSU's first time traveling to Regionals as a team since the 2012 season when the Spartans competed in Auburn, Alabama and scored a 194.050. This is the Spartans' 22nd overall team appearance in an NCAA Regional and 16th under Kathie Klages.
"So many underclassmen gained experience this season and, with the addition of our strong incoming recruits, the future looks very bright for this program," said Klages. "I'd like to thank our seniors for all they did to help change the culture of this program and raise the bar for the future."
