Michigan State University Athletics
Gymnastics Heads to Minnesota to Take On the Gophers
1/19/2018 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
Jan. 19, 2018
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW...
Michigan State gymnastics hits the road for the first time in the 2018 season, traveling to Big Ten opponent Minnesota on Saturday night for a meet slated to begin at 5 p.m. ET at Minnesota's Sports Pavilion.
The meet will be streamed live on BTN Plus. Fans can also follow along with live results at gophersports.com.
LAST TIME OUT . . .
The Spartans fell in the 2018 Big Ten opener last weekend to the Hawkeyes of Iowa by a final score of 193.975-192.900 at Alumni Night inside Jenison Field House.
The Spartans were able to take the lead in the second rotation, putting up a solid 48.625 on bars. Senior Hailee Westney earned the even victory with a season-high 9.875. Mitchell was second with a 9.800. Shirley finished fifth with a mark of 9.675, while senior Tessa Jaranowski had a personal-best score of 9.675 to finish sixth.
MSU welcomes seven freshmen to this year's squad in Ashley Beatty, Isabelle Wittebort, Lea Mitchell, Madison McHale, Anne Maxim, Michelina Lupinetti and Tristan Brown.
| ichigan State (0-2-0, 0-1-0 B1G) at Minnesota (3-0-0, 1-0-0 B1G) | |
| Date | Saturday, Jan. 20 |
| Time | 5 p.m. ET |
| Location | Minneapolis, Minn. | Minnesota Sports Pavilion |
| Tickets | Click To Purchase |
| Television | BTN Plus |
| Meet Notes | Michigan State |
| Statistics | Michigan State | Minnesota |
| Internet Coverage | |
| Social Media | @MSUGymnastics | Facebook | Instagram |
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW...
Michigan State gymnastics hits the road for the first time in the 2018 season, traveling to Big Ten opponent Minnesota on Saturday night for a meet slated to begin at 5 p.m. ET at Minnesota's Sports Pavilion.
The meet will be streamed live on BTN Plus. Fans can also follow along with live results at gophersports.com.
LAST TIME OUT . . .
The Spartans fell in the 2018 Big Ten opener last weekend to the Hawkeyes of Iowa by a final score of 193.975-192.900 at Alumni Night inside Jenison Field House.
For the second-straight meet, a Spartan captured the all-around with freshman Lea Mitchell taking the title with a 38.950. The previous week's all-around champion, junior Roya Shirley, finished second with a score of 38.825. Mitchell had a standout night, tying for the event win on floor with Shirley with matching 9.775 scores.
Michigan State started the meet on vault and tallied a season-best score of 48.125. Shirley was the top finisher for MSU with a 9.700, which placed her tied for fourth in the event.
The Spartans were able to take the lead in the second rotation, putting up a solid 48.625 on bars. Senior Hailee Westney earned the even victory with a season-high 9.875. Mitchell was second with a 9.800. Shirley finished fifth with a mark of 9.675, while senior Tessa Jaranowski had a personal-best score of 9.675 to finish sixth.
The Hawkeyes took the lead after the third rotation, but the Spartans looked to mount a comeback in the final rotation putting up a score of 48.625 on floor. Shirley and Mitchell tied for first on floor with scores of 9.775. Junior Molly Hoerner O'Malley and freshman Tristan Brown finished tied for fifth with a 9.725.
SPARTAN NOTES . . .
The Spartans currently rank 46th in the Road to Nationals rankings, sitting at 21st on bars, 35th on floor, 56th on vault and 61st on beam.
The Spartans currently rank 46th in the Road to Nationals rankings, sitting at 21st on bars, 35th on floor, 56th on vault and 61st on beam.
Sophomore Gabriella Douglas and freshman Lea Mitchell have been named as the Spartans' 2018 Gymnasts to Watch in the Big Ten, while the team has been picked to finish eighth in the conference.
MSU welcomes seven freshmen to this year's squad in Ashley Beatty, Isabelle Wittebort, Lea Mitchell, Madison McHale, Anne Maxim, Michelina Lupinetti and Tristan Brown.
SCOUTING THE GOPHERS . . .
Minnesota comes into the meet with an overall record of 3-0-0 and 1-0-0 in the Big Ten.
Minnesota comes into the meet with an overall record of 3-0-0 and 1-0-0 in the Big Ten.
The Gophers currently rank second in the conference, after defeating Maryland on Jan. 13 in a quad meet with Maryland, Northern Illinois and Winona State.
Minnesota ranks 35th in the Road to Nationals rankings, sitting at 13th on beam, 14th on bars, 40th on vault and 64th on floor.
Head coach Jenny Hansen is in her fourth season at the helm of the Minnesota program.
SPARTAN COACHING STAFF . . .
Michigan State head coach Mike Rowe enters his first season at the helm of the gymnastics program. Rowe served as the interim head coach beginning February, 2017 before being named head coach on July 1, 2017. Rowe, a Spartan graduate, spent the previous three seasons as assistant coach.
Michigan State head coach Mike Rowe enters his first season at the helm of the gymnastics program. Rowe served as the interim head coach beginning February, 2017 before being named head coach on July 1, 2017. Rowe, a Spartan graduate, spent the previous three seasons as assistant coach.
Nicole Curler was promoted to associate head coach when Rowe was announced as head coach.
Curler is also an MSU alum and a former Spartan standout gymnast, and has been an assistant coach for six seasons after serving as MSU's volunteer assistant in 2011.
Brittney Harris is in her first season as assistant coach, joining the Spartan staff in August. Harris came to MSU after coaching for one season at her hometown club, Parkettes National Gymnastics Training Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania, the same club that she competed for prior to competing as a standout gymnast at Pittsburgh.
QUOTABLE . . .
"We're really excited to get on the road to meet our Big Ten opponent, the University of Minnesota. They have been known to be a strong force in the Big Ten historically, but our girls are definitely up for the challenge," said head coach Mike Rowe. "We continue to improve on a daily basis and have upgraded a couple of vaults that should definitely help us out on that event. Practice had been great this week and the girls are on a mission."
"We're really excited to get on the road to meet our Big Ten opponent, the University of Minnesota. They have been known to be a strong force in the Big Ten historically, but our girls are definitely up for the challenge," said head coach Mike Rowe. "We continue to improve on a daily basis and have upgraded a couple of vaults that should definitely help us out on that event. Practice had been great this week and the girls are on a mission."
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