Michigan State University Athletics
Spartan Gymnastics Announces Captains for 2023 Season
12/12/2022 12:42:00 PM | Women's Gymnastics
Jori Jackard, Baleigh Garcia and Gabrielle Stephen selected as tri-captains
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State gymnastics head coach Mike Rowe announced a trio of captains for the 2023 season. Jori Jackard, Baleigh Garcia and Gabrielle Stephen will lead the Spartans during the upcoming season, each serving their first year as captains.Â
"It is with great honor and pride that I would like to name Baleigh Garcia, Jori Jackard and Gabi Stephen as the Spartans gymnastics tri-captains for the 2023 season. After an intensely competitive, rigorous, yet productive preseason, our Spartans spent time not only growing as a family but learning and listening in an effort to also increase our leadership throughout the team," said Rowe. "They voted and ultimately selected Baleigh, Gabi and Jori as our standout captains for this season."Â
Jackard, a senior out of Haslett, Michigan, is a three-time WCGA Scholastic All-American and two-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar. In 2022, she competed on uneven bars in 12 of 14 meets for the Spartans and tied her career-high of 9.925 on the event twice. She earned two bars event titles and was a member of the bars lineup for the Spartans' second-place finish at the Big Ten Championships and fourth-place finish at the NCAA West Regional Finals.Â
Garcia, a native of Boynton Beach, Florida, is a two-time WCGA Scholastic All-American and was named a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar last season. The junior earned Second Team All-Big honors in 2022 after setting career-highs on vault (9.900) and beam (9.950), while also tying her career-best (9.850) on bars. Both of her career highs were set at the NCAA West Regionals, with her 9.950 beam score tying for second-best all-time at MSU.Â
Stephen, a sophomore hailing from Elgin, Illinois, earned WCGA Scholastic All-America honors and was named First Team All-Big Ten as a rookie last season. A three-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week in 2022, Stephen posted scores of 9.9 or higher on vault, beam and floor. Her scores on beam (9.950) and vault (9.950) tied for second and third all-time at MSU, respectively, while her all-around best of 39.475 is tied for seventh all-time. Â
The Spartans host their annual Green and White exhibition meet on Saturday, Dec. 17 at 1 p.m. at Jenison Field House. The regular season begins on the road at Alabama on Jan. 6 at 7 p.m.Â
The full upcoming gymnastics schedule can be viewed here. Home meet tickets can be purchased here.
