Spartan Gymnastics Hosts Ohio State And Nebraska In 2021 Season-Opener Saturday in Annual Pink Meet

Saturday, January 30

East Lansing, Mich.

2 PM ET

Michigan State University

Tri-Meet w/ Nebraska and Ohio State

Photo by: Rey Del Rio/MSU Athletic Communications

Spartan Gymnastics Hosts Ohio State And Nebraska In 2021 Season-Opener Saturday in Annual Pink Meet

1/29/2021 12:35:00 PM | Women's Gymnastics

MSU's 14th Annual Jan Howard Breast Cancer Awareness pink meet

MICHIGAN STATE (0-0, 0-0 B1G) Tri-Meet with Nebraska (1-1, 1-0 B1G) & Ohio State (0-2, 0-1 B1G)
DATE	Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021
TIME	2 p.m. ET
LOCATION	East Lansing, Mich. • Jenison Field House
TICKETS	NO TICKETS
STREAMING	Big Ten Network+ {WATCH LIVE}
RESULTS	Live Results
ROSTERS	Meet Flipcard
MEET NOTES	Michigan State \| Ohio State \| Nebraska
SOCIAL MEDIA	@msugymnastics \| MichiganStateUniversityGymnastics \| @msu_gymnastics

A FULL ROTATION . . .
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE SPARTANS
Michigan State gymnastics will make its 2021 season and home debut on Saturday, Jan. 30, hosting a tri-meet with Nebraska and Ohio State. Action gets underway at 2 p.m. (ET) at Jenison Field House. Saturday is the Spartans' 14th Annual Jan Howard Breast Cancer Awareness pink meet.

Saturday's meet was originally scheduled for a dual between MSU and Nebraska, but added Ohio State after the Buckeyes' meet vs. Michigan originally scheduled for Saturday in Columbus was postponed due to the preventative COVID-19 measures at the University of Michigan.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there will be no fans in the stands, however, a limited number of family members of the student-athletes will be allowed.

Watch live and live results links will be available at MSUSpartans.com, and complete results will be posted following the meet.

Saturday is MSU's first action of the season after the Spartans' season-opener at Maryland originally scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 23, was postponed.

JAN HOWARD BREAST CANCER AWARENESS PINK MEET ...
Saturday is MSU's annual Jan Howard Breast Cancer Awareness pink meet, and fans are encouraged to wear pink while watching and cheering on the Spartans!

The 14th Annual Breast Cancer Awareness meet presented by Sparrow Health Systems is dedicated in memory of Jan Howard, mother of alumni gymnast (1990-1995) and current Director of Student-Athlete Development with MSU Athletics Student-Athlete Support Services, Angela Montie.

While the gymnastics meet is a wonderful tribute to Jan Howard, her family would like fans to honor her and to honor those survivors and everyone that has been touched by the dreaded disease and that is to raise awareness and early detection of breast cancer and ultimately find a cure.

Help is needed to understand the importance of regular screening for early detection of breast cancer. Michigan State gymnastics and Spartans everywhere aim to stand together in hopes of ultimately finding a cure

The Spartans will also be wearing their pink leos in Saturday's meet.

MESSAGE FROM JAN HOWARD'S FAMILY ...
"I am incredibly grateful that the gymnastics program began this meet in honor of my mother, Jan Howard, all those years ago. Most importantly, I am touched that this has been not only a sustaining tribute, but also an opportunity for awareness and education.

Women's health is important, and as a Spartan to her core Jan would be overwhelmed that her name is attached to such a worthy cause.

From our entire family, thank you to our current administration and to Mike Rowe and his staff for your continued commitment to honoring my mother and all of the families who have been affected by breast cancer." – Angela Montie

COACH ROWE QUOTE ...
"We are really excited to finally have the opportunity to officially make our mark on the 2021 season and are extra excited that we get to open up at home in Jenison Field House!

"We're extremely proud and honored to continue the tradition of honoring Jan Howard, Angela Montie's mother. Despite all the restrictions , we knew we wanted to keep this proud tradition alive. It's impossible to have too much awareness brought to breast cancer, and just cancer as a whole. Cancer hits home with everyone, they either know or are related to someone that has been affected and impacted by cancer, and we just want to do everything we can to help bring awareness and support this tremendous cause!

"The Spartans have been working extremely hard and making great progress over the past few weeks and their enthusiasm, competitiveness and grit have made it difficult on a daily basis, to set line-ups on a few events. Yes it's a luxury we haven't been afforded in some past seasons, but this one will definitely be special. Each day brings them a new opportunity to pay more attention to detail, stuck landings, presentation and confidence.

"We can't wait to leave it all out on the floor but just wish that our Spartan fans were here to cheer us on and enjoy it! Hopefully everyone will be cheering while watching the live stream! GO GREEN!"

NYAH SMITH AND BALEIGH GARCIA GARNER BIG TEN GYMNASTS TO WATCH ACCOLADES ...
Sophomore Nyah Smith and freshman Baleigh Garcia have been tabbed as Michigan State's Big Ten Gymnasts to Watch for the 2020-21 season as announced by the conference earlier this month.

"Nyah Smith comes off an amazing 2020 season as a consistent all-arounder, who continued to grow and excel, not only on each event, but also throughout the season," MSU head coach Mike Rowe said.

Smith, a native of West Bloomfield, Michigan, garnered Big Ten Gymnast to Watch honors for the second-straight season. Last season she posted season-highs of 39.225 in the all-around, 9.875 on vault, 9.850 on both beam and floor and 9.775 on bars. Smith posted two event titles, tying for first on vault with a 9.825 in the season-opener at Western Michigan on Jan. 5, and sharing top-honors on vault with a 9.850 vs. No. 23 Illinois on Feb. 16.

"Baleigh Garcia joined us on day one of official practice with not only her amazing talent, but strength, attention to detail and something to prove," Rowe said. "Along with Nyah, she's a fierce competitor, both of whom will complement the 2021 Spartans with the dynamics, artistry, proficiency and consistency towards achieving our success!"

Garcia enters her first season of competition for the Green & White, coming to MSU from Boca Raton, Florida, where she graduated from West Boca Raton Community High School and trained at American Twistars Gymnastics Club. Garcia is one of four freshmen on the B1G Gymnasts to Watch List.

With American Twistars Gymnastics Club, Garcia won the all-around with first-place finishes on vault, bars and floor and third on beam at 2020 Elevate the Stage. She placed sixth on vault at the 2019 J.O. National Championships.

UP NEXT . . .
Michigan State gymnastics will face Ohio State in back-to-back weekends, as the Spartans will head to Columbus next weekend for a dual on Sunday, Feb. 7 at 4 p.m.