Saturday, January 15
East Lansing, Mich.
7 PM
Michigan State University
196.475
vs
192.400
Tri-Meet with Bowling Green & Illinois State
Record-Setting Night Leads Spartan Gymnastics to Tri-Meet Win
1/15/2022 10:44:00 PM | Women's Gymnastics
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State gymnastics earned its sixth-best team score in history, capturing a team scored 196.472 to breeze past Illinois State and Bowling Green in its home opener Saturday night at Jenison Field House.
Illinois State finished second with a scored of 192.625, while Bowling Green was third with a 192.400.
With the win, Michigan State has opened the season with a perfect 4-0 record. The Spartans pulled ahead with a wins on all four events and the all-around. Freshman Gabi Stephen captured her first all-around title with a score of 39.425, also earning a win on vault. Stephen's score was tied for seventh in MSU history with Sarah Alexander, who achieved the feat twice in 2003.
"We're ecstatic about tonight's results," Head Coach Mike Rowe commented. "This team is really starting to believe in themselves more and their confidence is rising, which is nice especially with us starting Big Ten competition next week against Iowa. It's going to help us a lot and give us a little bit of momentum."
Michigan State's 49.300 team scored on beam was tied for the fourth-best ever for the Spartans. MSU also reached that score at the Big Ten Championship at Minnesota on March 22, 1997. Last week, the Spartans started the season strong on the notoriously difficult beam with a scored of 49.200.Â
Career highs abounded for the Spartans on beam with sophomore Baleigh Garcia earning the event title with a career high with a 9.925, which is tied for 10th-best in MSU history. Senior Lea Mitchell and Stephen both set career-best marks with matching 9.990 scores to finish tied for second. Freshman Skyla Schulte finished tied for fourth with a score of 9.850.
The Spartans started the night with a win on vault with a team score of 48.925. Besides Stephen's win with a score of 9.850, Garcia finished second with a score of 9.800, while senior Ashley Hofelich was fifth, tying her season-best score with 9.775.
As the Spartans moved to bars, they earned another event win with a score of 48.975. Michigan State took the top four spot with a pair of personal bests. Junior Jori Jackard and sophomore Delanie Harkness shared a spot at the top of the podium with matching 9.850 scores. Stephen and Schulte continued to impress, tying for third place with personal-best scores of 9.775.Â
Michigan State saved some of its best work for last with a 49.275, led by Hofelich's personal-best score of 9.925 which earned her the event title. Four Spartans either tied or surpassed personal bests. Stephen insured her all-around title and finished second, tying her personal best with as coed of 9.990. Schulte was tied for third (9.875), while Harkness finished tied for fifth (9.850), both were personal bests.
"We've got a very talented bunch of kids that are very excited," Rowe said. "They've bonded really well together and have tons of energy. They're a crazier bunch than anything and it's such a pleasure to coach them."
The Spartans open Big Ten action at home on Saturday, Jan. 22, hosting Iowa at Jenison Field House at 7 p.m.
Illinois State finished second with a scored of 192.625, while Bowling Green was third with a 192.400.
With the win, Michigan State has opened the season with a perfect 4-0 record. The Spartans pulled ahead with a wins on all four events and the all-around. Freshman Gabi Stephen captured her first all-around title with a score of 39.425, also earning a win on vault. Stephen's score was tied for seventh in MSU history with Sarah Alexander, who achieved the feat twice in 2003.
"We're ecstatic about tonight's results," Head Coach Mike Rowe commented. "This team is really starting to believe in themselves more and their confidence is rising, which is nice especially with us starting Big Ten competition next week against Iowa. It's going to help us a lot and give us a little bit of momentum."
Michigan State's 49.300 team scored on beam was tied for the fourth-best ever for the Spartans. MSU also reached that score at the Big Ten Championship at Minnesota on March 22, 1997. Last week, the Spartans started the season strong on the notoriously difficult beam with a scored of 49.200.Â
Career highs abounded for the Spartans on beam with sophomore Baleigh Garcia earning the event title with a career high with a 9.925, which is tied for 10th-best in MSU history. Senior Lea Mitchell and Stephen both set career-best marks with matching 9.990 scores to finish tied for second. Freshman Skyla Schulte finished tied for fourth with a score of 9.850.
The Spartans started the night with a win on vault with a team score of 48.925. Besides Stephen's win with a score of 9.850, Garcia finished second with a score of 9.800, while senior Ashley Hofelich was fifth, tying her season-best score with 9.775.
As the Spartans moved to bars, they earned another event win with a score of 48.975. Michigan State took the top four spot with a pair of personal bests. Junior Jori Jackard and sophomore Delanie Harkness shared a spot at the top of the podium with matching 9.850 scores. Stephen and Schulte continued to impress, tying for third place with personal-best scores of 9.775.Â
Michigan State saved some of its best work for last with a 49.275, led by Hofelich's personal-best score of 9.925 which earned her the event title. Four Spartans either tied or surpassed personal bests. Stephen insured her all-around title and finished second, tying her personal best with as coed of 9.990. Schulte was tied for third (9.875), while Harkness finished tied for fifth (9.850), both were personal bests.
"We've got a very talented bunch of kids that are very excited," Rowe said. "They've bonded really well together and have tons of energy. They're a crazier bunch than anything and it's such a pleasure to coach them."
The Spartans open Big Ten action at home on Saturday, Jan. 22, hosting Iowa at Jenison Field House at 7 p.m.
Players Mentioned
All-Around
/ Women's Gymnastics
All-Around
/ Women's Gymnastics
All-Around
/ Women's Gymnastics
All-Around
/ Women's Gymnastics
All-Around
/ Women's Gymnastics
All-Around
/ Women's GymnasticsNot Done Yet | Spartans All-Access
Tuesday, April 08
Competing Together | Spartans All-Access
Thursday, March 13
Breslin Debut | Michigan State Gymnastics
Wednesday, January 22
Spartans All-Access: Back to Back B1G Titles
Friday, March 15