Spartan Gymnastics Soars to Season-Best 196.550 Sunday

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State gymnastics posted a season-high 196.550, for the fifth-best team score in program history, behind team season-best scores on bars (49.075) and floor (49.475), Sunday afternoon at Jenison Field House.

No. 16 Nebraska won the dual by a score of 197.100-196.550. The 196.550 is the fifth-best score for the Spartans in program history and the best since the 2004 season. Michigan State's 49.475 on floor ties the best in program history.

"I'm ecstatic because we haven't hit 196 that big since some time now," MSU head coach Mike Rowe said. "I'm really excited for where the program is going and what the girls are doing. We're still taking baby steps every week and it's working."

Along with the season-bests 49.075 on bars and 49.475 on floor, Michigan State tallied a season-high tying 48.875 on vault and a 49.125 on beam, just shy of its season-best of 49.200. Nebraska posted a 49.250 on bars, 49.400 on vault, 49.175 on floor and 49.275 on beam for its winning score of 197.100.

Junior Lea Mitchell placed second in the all-around with a cumulative score of 39.275, posting a career-high 9.950 on floor to take top honors on the final event of the day. Freshman Nyah Smith posted a career-high in the all-around competition with a 39.225, tying for third. Nebraska's Adnerys De Jesus won the all-around with a 39.450.

The Spartans started the meet on vault, tying their season-high on the event with a 48.875. Senior Gabriella Douglas and Mitchell tied for fourth on vault with matching 9.825 scores. Mitchell tied her career-best with the score while Douglas posted a season-high. Smith tied for sixth with a 9.800, while freshman Chloe Bellmore scored a 9.725. Sophomore Alyssa Wiedeman posted a career-best on vault with a 9.700.

MSU took to the uneven bars for the second rotation, posting a season-high 49.075. Freshman Jori Jackard took top honors on bars, with a career-best 9.900. Jackard is the first Spartan to record a 9.900 on bars this season. Sophomore Alaina Raybon (9.825) and junior Madison McHale (9.800) both tied career-bests on bars.

In the third rotation, Douglas captured her fourth-consecutive 9.800 or higher on beam with a 9.875 for third place. Smith earned a personal-best as she tied for fourth with teammate Bellmore with matching 9.850 scores. Wiedeman also earned a career-best with a 9.825.

In the fourth and final rotation, the Spartan floor squad continued its dominance as they captured a team score of 49.475, tying the highest floor score in program history. The last time the Spartans earned a 49.475 on floor was at the Big Ten Championships on March 18, 2017.

Three Spartans earned 9.900's or higher and all six floor competitors tied or earned personal-bests on floor exercise.

Sophomore Ashley Hofelich and Douglas both tied their personal-bests on floor, as Douglas (9.925) placed second and Hofelich (9.900) tied for third.

In the anchor position, Mitchell posted a career-best 9.950 for top honors on floor. Mitchell's 9.950 was not only a career-high but was also the first by a Spartan since Nicola Deans posted a 9.950 against Bowling Green on March 5, 2017.

Junior Tristan Brown and Smith earned matching career-best scores of 9.850 to place sixth, while Bellmore tied her career-best with a 9.825.

"We keep telling them every day that you've got what it takes and you've got to believe in yourself – they're starting to believe in themselves," Rowe said. "You've seen their progress every week and they still have more in them. We're in week four of a 12-week season so we're real excited about where we're going."

UP NEXT
The Spartans begin a two-meet road trip next weekend. MSU travels to Iowa City, Iowa for a dual against Iowa on Saturday, Feb. 1, with the meet slated to begin at 8 p.m. ET.

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Players Mentioned

Chloe Bellmore

Tristan Brown

Gabriella Douglas

Ashley Hofelich

Jori Jackard

Madison McHale

Lea Mitchell

Alaina Raybon

Nyah Smith

Alyssa Wiedeman