Spartans Picked No. 2 in B1G Preseason Poll
12/14/2022 3:01:00 PM | Women's Gymnastics
Smith, Stephen Named Gymnasts to Watch
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State gymnastics has been selected to finish second in the 2023 Big Ten Preseason Coaches' Poll, as announced by the league Wednesday. Freshman Nikki Smith and sophomore Gabrielle Stephen were named B1G Gymnasts to Watch.Â
The preseason ranking is the highest under head coach Mike Rowe and comes after a record-setting 2022 season for the Spartans. MSU finished the season ranked a program-best ninth in the nation after finishing second at the Big Ten Championships and qualifying for the postseason for the first time since 2016. The Spartans set a program-best team score of 197.650 to finish third at the NCAA West Regional finals. Â
Smith, a West Bloomfield, Michigan, native was a seven-year level 10 gymnast at EuroStars Gymnastics and rated as a top-10 five-star recruit by College Gym News. The freshman is a two-time USA Gymnastics Development Program all-around champion and three-time Nastia Liukin Cup qualifier.Â
Stephen earns her second B1G Gymnast to Watch honor after being named to the watchlist as a freshman last season. The Elgin, Illinois native was a First Team All-B1G honoree and three-time B1G Freshman of the Week in 2022. Her all-around best score of 39.475 is tied for seventh all-time at MSU, while her high scores on beam (9.950) and vault (9.950) rank second and third, respectively, all-time at MSU.Â
The nationally-ranked No. 12 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 No. 7 Alabama on Jan. 6 at 7 p.m.Â
Players Mentioned
