Spartan Gymnasts Earns Share of Three Event Wins in Season-Opener

KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Michigan State gymnastics opened the 2020 season on the road at Western Michigan on Sunday afternoon, earning a share of three event wins behind senior Gabriella Douglas on beam, sophomore Ashley Hofelich on floor and freshman Nyah Smith on vault in her Spartan debut. Western Michigan won the duel by a score of 195.275-191.750.

Douglas won the beam with a 9.925, while Smith took top honors on vault tallying a 9.825 and Hofelich shared the top score on floor with a 9.825.

"Vault and beam have improved greatly over the past few weeks, and floor is developing more quality depth as we speak," Rowe said. "Shoutouts to Nyah Smith for winning vault, Ashley Hofelich for tying for first on floor and Ella Douglas for the winning beam routine with a personal best of 9.925."

Western Michigan's Payton Murphy won the all-around with a score of 39.175, while also earning top honors on bars with a 9.800. Teammate Ronni Binstock captured medalist honors on floor scoring a 9.825.

Michigan State tallied a 45.500 on bars, 48.875 on vault, 48.575 on floor and 49.000 on beam for its final score of 191.850. Western Michigan posted a 48.775 on vault, 48.700 on bars, 49.075 on beam and 48.725 on floor for a winning score of 195.275.

MSU opened on bars with junior Lea Mitchell earning the top Spartan spot, tying for second-place with a 9.775.

"This afternoon's meet, even though we're definitely a better bar squad then we exhibited, gained momentum on each following event demonstrating our resilience and tenacity," MSU head coach Mike Rowe. "This is something that they've greatly improved on and we are proud of them for that."

Moving to vault for the second rotation, Smith, in her collegiate debut, earned a 9.825 for her first career event title. Hofelich tied for second, posting a score of 9.800.

On floor for rotation three, Hofelich earned a share of top honors with a 9.825, just shy of her career-high of 9.850. Hofelich tied for the top score with WMU's Binstock and Charlotte Tishkoff.

Finishing on beam, Douglas took top honors with a career-high score of 9.925.

In the all-around competition, Mitchell earned a cumulative score 39.100, to place second.

"All and all we know we're a much better team and this little 'shake-up' is a motivator to ensure it doesn't happen again," Rowe said.

Michigan State returns to action at home in a tri-meet with Central Michigan and Illinois State in the 2020 home-opener on Saturday, Jan. 11 at Jenison Field House, with the meet slated to begin at 2 p.m.

Spartan Gymnasts Earns Share of Three Event Wins in Season-Opener

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Players Mentioned

Gabriella Douglas

Ashley Hofelich

Lea Mitchell

Nyah Smith