Michigan State University
Michigan
No. 15 Spartan Gymnastics Posts Season-High 196.775 Saturday At No. 1 Michigan
1/30/2022 4:18:00 PM | Women's Gymnastics
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – No. 15 Michigan State gymnastics posted its second-highest score in school history with a 196.775 in a high-scoring top-25 road match at No. 1 Michigan on Saturday afternoon in Ann Arbor, before getting edged by the defending National Champion Wolverines, 197.925-196.775.
MSU's score of 196.775 is a tied for the second-highest overall score in team history. The Spartans last posted the impressive score in a tri-meet against West Virginia and Ohio State in 2004, and trails only a 197.075 at Boise State with Penn, also in 2004.
Michigan State's best event of the day was on floor, as the team posted the 10th-best score in program history with a 49.425. It was the Spartans' top score finish in the since a 49.450 against Nebraska on Jan. 26, 2020.
Sophomore Baleigh Garcia won the beam title with a 9.925, a tie for her career-best. Freshman Skyla Schulte placed third in the all-around with a 39.350.
"Looking up and seeing the second highest score in program history, it kind of validates this meet, validated for us what we're doing," Head Coach Mike Rowe commented. "We're on the right track and can only hope to get better."
Starting out on bars in the first rotation, Michigan State scored a 49.075. The Spartans were led by sophomore Delanie Harkness, who tied for fifth-place overall with a 9.875. Schulte and junior Jori Jackard each scored a 9.825 and tied for eighth.
Following up their performance on the uneven bars, the Spartans moved on to vault, finishing with a team score of 49.050. Garcia led the charge with a 9.850, tying for fourth place overall. @@@@@ Gabrielle Stephen placed second for the Green & White with a 9.825. Junior Nyah Smith scored a season-high 9.800. Through two events, Michigan State held a running score of 98.125 while Michigan had a 98.975.
MSU's best event of the day was on floor. Senior Sydney Ewing and Lea Mitchell kicked things off, each scoring a 9.850. Mitchell's score was a season-best for the fifth-year gymnast. Harkness posted a 9.900, setting a new career-best on floor, her previous high score being a 9.850. Also with a new career-high of 9.900 was Schulte in the five-spot. Anchoring the event, senior Ashley Hofelich tied her career-high of 9.925.
The Spartans earned their sole event title of the day on beam in their final rotation. Anchoring the event, Garcia posted her 9.925 to earn the crown. Schulte was close behind with a career-high 9.875. Stephen scored a 9.850, while Smith made her beam debut on the season, earning a 9.800.
The Spartans moved to 4-2 overall and a 0-2 mark in Big Ten competition after Saturday's high-scoring loss. Michigan now holds a 4-0 record and is 2-0 in the conference.
"Shoutout to the floor squad, they were so close to a program record," Coach Rowe added. "The beam squad came back and settled in and were doing what they do, and I'm loving the consistency on bars; it's getting the dismount that's going to help us. It's just those little details. We have the Big Five meet coming up, in a couple of weeks we have a two-meet weekend … it'll be a little challenging, but we are looking forward to it."
MSU returns home for a meet with Maryland next Saturday, Feb. 5. Michigan State will celebrate both Alumni Day and National Girls and Women in Sports Day during their match with the Terrapins beginning at 7 p.m. MSU's current vaccination policy for spectators can be found here.
Players Mentioned
