Sunday, February 7
Columbus, Ohio
4 PM ET
Michigan State University
194.500
at
196.075
Tri-Meet w/ No. 26 Ohio State and No. 20 Illinois
Photo by: Rey Del Rio/MSU Athletic Communications
Garcia Wins All-Around As MSU Gymnastics Posts 194.500 In Tri-Meet At OSU Sunday
2/7/2021 7:42:00 PM | Women's Gymnastics
Spartan freshman wins second all-around title in as many outings leading MSU all-around sweep.
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Michigan State gymnastics swept the all-around podium for the second time in as many meets to open the season, as the No. 17 Spartans posted a 194.500 in a tri-meet with host No. 26 Ohio State and No. 20 Illinois, Sunday afternoon at OSU's Covelli Center.
MSU's 194.500 was third behind the Buckeyes' winning score of 196.375, while the Illini logged a 196.075.
"No, it's not the road score we had hoped for, but we did a lot of great things tonight. Warm-ups went smoothly and we worked through them with confidence and ease," MSU head coach Mike Rowe said.
The Spartans registered a 48.300 on vault, 48.975 on bars, 48.500 on beam and 48.725 on floor for the final score of 194.500.
"As the competition began on bars, there were a couple of uncharacteristic missteps that I'm pleased didn't lead us into a hole," Rowe said. "They all had each other's backs, and we continued to improve and finish strong. I'm not sure that we were successful at leaving those missteps behind us, as even though we didn't count a fall on beam or the other events, we seemed a little rattled and couldn't shake it. We're typically not like that and as we realized it tonight, it won't happen again. Overall, for our first road score of the season, I'm confident we'll be dropping it soon."
Sunday was just MSU's second overall meet of the season and first road action, as well as the Spartans' second tri-meet involving Ohio State in as many weeks, after meeting the Buckeyes in last week's season-opening action with Nebraska. Sunday's meet was originally scheduled for a dual between MSU and Ohio State, but added Illinois after the Illini's meet vs. Michigan originally scheduled for Saturday in Champaign was postponed due to the preventative COVID-19 measures at the University of Michigan.
Freshman Baleigh Garcia won her second all-around in as many collegiate gymnastics meets, leading a 1-2-3 Spartan sweep of the all-around podium. Garcia tallied a 39.150, ahead of sophomore teammate Nyah Smith in second with a 38.875, while senior Lea Mitchell was third with a 38.175.
The Spartans opened the tri-meet on bars, where freshman Delanie Harkness improved on last week's season-opener score of 9.875 with an even-more-impressive 9.900 Sunday, finishing tied for second with Zoe Schweitzer of Ohio State, and just behind OSU's Jenna Swartzentruber winning score of 9.925. The 9.900 by Harkness is tied for the No. 19 in the Spartan record book. Mitchell was fifth with a season-high 9.850, while Garcia tallied a 9.825 to not only tie for sixth, but also last week's score.
On beam for the second rotation, Harkness was the top-scoring Spartan with a 9.775, good for 10th in her first official score after posting a 9.825 last week in an exhibition. Two Illini, Kylie Noonan and Mia Takekawa, and Buckeye Ella Hodges had a three-way tie for the event win with 9.875s.
MSU was on floor for rotation three, Garcia topped the Green & White with a career-high tying 9.825, finishing eighth, while Mitchell and Harkness tied for ninth with matching 9.775 scores. The 9.775 was a new career-best for Harkness. Ohio State's Claire Gagliardi won the floor crown outright with a 9.925.
The Spartans rounded out the rotations on vault, with Garcia posted a career-high 9.800, good for a three-way tie for second. Smith was tied for eighth with a 9.725.
Michigan State returns home to host Minnesota next Saturday, Feb. 13 in a dual. Action gets underway at 2 p.m. ET at Jenison Field House.
MSU's 194.500 was third behind the Buckeyes' winning score of 196.375, while the Illini logged a 196.075.
"No, it's not the road score we had hoped for, but we did a lot of great things tonight. Warm-ups went smoothly and we worked through them with confidence and ease," MSU head coach Mike Rowe said.
The Spartans registered a 48.300 on vault, 48.975 on bars, 48.500 on beam and 48.725 on floor for the final score of 194.500.
"As the competition began on bars, there were a couple of uncharacteristic missteps that I'm pleased didn't lead us into a hole," Rowe said. "They all had each other's backs, and we continued to improve and finish strong. I'm not sure that we were successful at leaving those missteps behind us, as even though we didn't count a fall on beam or the other events, we seemed a little rattled and couldn't shake it. We're typically not like that and as we realized it tonight, it won't happen again. Overall, for our first road score of the season, I'm confident we'll be dropping it soon."
Sunday was just MSU's second overall meet of the season and first road action, as well as the Spartans' second tri-meet involving Ohio State in as many weeks, after meeting the Buckeyes in last week's season-opening action with Nebraska. Sunday's meet was originally scheduled for a dual between MSU and Ohio State, but added Illinois after the Illini's meet vs. Michigan originally scheduled for Saturday in Champaign was postponed due to the preventative COVID-19 measures at the University of Michigan.
2 college gymnastics meets ✅
— MSU Gymnastics (@MSUgymnastics) February 7, 2021
2 all-around titles ✅
Not a bad start to her Spartan career for @baleighgarcia_, winning Sunday's all-around with a 39.150! #GoGreen pic.twitter.com/SFnZHRhcK8
Freshman Baleigh Garcia won her second all-around in as many collegiate gymnastics meets, leading a 1-2-3 Spartan sweep of the all-around podium. Garcia tallied a 39.150, ahead of sophomore teammate Nyah Smith in second with a 38.875, while senior Lea Mitchell was third with a 38.175.
MSU started on bars, with @harknessdelanie in the anchor spot, posting a rotation-high 9.900, bettering last week's debut score of 9.850!!#GoGreen pic.twitter.com/a5zFmrOsia
— MSU Gymnastics (@MSUgymnastics) February 7, 2021
The Spartans opened the tri-meet on bars, where freshman Delanie Harkness improved on last week's season-opener score of 9.875 with an even-more-impressive 9.900 Sunday, finishing tied for second with Zoe Schweitzer of Ohio State, and just behind OSU's Jenna Swartzentruber winning score of 9.925. The 9.900 by Harkness is tied for the No. 19 in the Spartan record book. Mitchell was fifth with a season-high 9.850, while Garcia tallied a 9.825 to not only tie for sixth, but also last week's score.
On beam for the second rotation, Harkness was the top-scoring Spartan with a 9.775, good for 10th in her first official score after posting a 9.825 last week in an exhibition. Two Illini, Kylie Noonan and Mia Takekawa, and Buckeye Ella Hodges had a three-way tie for the event win with 9.875s.
MSU was on floor for rotation three, Garcia topped the Green & White with a career-high tying 9.825, finishing eighth, while Mitchell and Harkness tied for ninth with matching 9.775 scores. The 9.775 was a new career-best for Harkness. Ohio State's Claire Gagliardi won the floor crown outright with a 9.925.
"Oh my goodness! ... That was a drop-in moment!"
— MSU Gymnastics (@MSUgymnastics) February 7, 2021
What vault by @baleighgarcia_ with a 9.8, and she finished tied for 2nd!#GoGreen pic.twitter.com/ZUqDVvnz9s
The Spartans rounded out the rotations on vault, with Garcia posted a career-high 9.800, good for a three-way tie for second. Smith was tied for eighth with a 9.725.
Michigan State returns home to host Minnesota next Saturday, Feb. 13 in a dual. Action gets underway at 2 p.m. ET at Jenison Field House.
Players Mentioned
All-Around
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All-Around
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All-Around
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All-Around
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