Spartans Shatter School Record Sunday

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Michigan State gymnastics shattered the school record with a new program-high 197.425, topping Illinois' 196.400 on Sunday afternoon in MSU's inaugural "Erase Hate" meet at a spirited Jenison Field House.

"We're ecstatic," MSU head coach Mike Rowe said. "We knew it would happen one day. This morning, I told the team, 'you've got to stop trying for the 197 and just do what you do every single day.' To not worry about anything else except the little details that we've worked so hard on and it'll come, and that's what happened. This week is going to be dedicated to a lot more consistency and paying attention to those little details every day."

The Spartans posted a 197.425 in Sunday's meet, setting a new program-best overall team score. The previous best, a 197.075, was set March 7, 2004 in a tri-meet with Boise State and Penn State. This is just the second time in MSU history that the Spartans have registered a 197.000 or higher.

Sunday's MSU gymnastics' inaugural 'Erase Hate' meet was a celebration of inclusivity and the value that one's individuality can bring to society. Throughout the meet, personal messages from Spartan gymnasts focused on diversity, culture and inclusion were shared over the video board and PA, along with banners hung throughout Jenison Field House in support. Fans can visit Michigan State gymnastics' social media platforms for more information.

Not only did MSU smash the school record for team score, but the Spartans won three of four team events and set new program records on beam and floor. Following up last week's 49.350 team score on the beam apparatus, MSU posted a 49.500 Sunday to set the new all-time high score. In their final rotation of the night, the squad put up a massive 49.575 on floor, besting the previous record of 49.475. All five of the top scores counting toward the final floor score 9.900s or higher, as were the top three on beam.

Eight Spartan gymnasts either tied or set new career-highs over four different individual events this afternoon, as the Green & White swept all four event titles and the all-around. Along with one individual winning beam, bars and all-around, three Spartans shared the beam and floor crowns. MSU's winners on bars, beam and floor all registered career-bests. Sophomore Delanie Harkness reached new career-high scores on floor and uneven bars, winning the bar title with a 9.900 and earning a share of the floor title with a 9.925.

Freshman Skyla Schulte was the all-around winner Sunday for the second time this season, posting a 39.475 over four events. She also won a share of the floor title with a 9.925, tying her career-best. Fellow freshman Gabrielle Stephen came in second with a close 39.450. Stephen won the vault event and a share of the beam title, both with a score of 9.925, and also tied her career-best floor routine score, coming in second overall with a 9.900.

Harkness earned the bars crown with a 9.900, followed by Mitchell and Schulte part of a four-way logjam for second all with 9.875s.

Sophomore Giana Kalefe tied her career-high score on beam and shared a three-way MSU tie for the event title with a 9.925. Three Spartans tied for the top podium spot on both beam and floor, all registering a score of 9.925.

Harkness, Schulte and senior Ashley Hofelich all tied atop the podium for top honors on floor, all with 9.925s.

MSU opened the B1G dual on vault, with junior Alyssa Wiedeman, freshman Lauren Hsu and Schulte all logging the same scores at 9.825 in the first three spots. After a 9.800 by sophomore Baleigh Garcia, senior Ashley Hofelich joined the 9.825 club, before freshman Gabrielle Stephen anchored the vault lineup with her winning score of 9.925.

Wiedeman made her season debut on vault in Friday's dual and improved on her season-best score with Sunday's mark. Hsu tallied her third score of 9.800 or higher in seven meets, while Schulte registered her second 9.825 in as many outings and third score of 9.800 or better this season. Hofelich's 9.825 was her fifth-straight posting of 9.800 or better.

Stephen won the vault title for the third time this season, as well as topping the 9.800 mark in all seven meets this season, along with her second score in the 9.9s.

On bars for rotation two, the Spartans' scores incrementally improved, with Mitchell and Schulte registering their 9.875s in the fourth and fifth spots, respectively, in the lineup, before Harkness mirrored Stephen on vault by anchoring the lineup with her event winning performance.

"They did it, and they did it above and beyond, and we've still got gas left in the tank. So it's just so thrilling," Rowe added. "They're believing in themselves more every day and I'm just so proud of them."

Next up, the Spartans are preparing for the annual Big Five Meet in Toledo, Ohio on Saturday, February 19. MSU will compete with fellow Big Ten teams Minnesota, Penn State, Nebraska and Rutgers inside the Huntington Center beginning at 7 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

Baleigh Garcia

Delanie Harkness

Ashley Hofelich

Lauren Hsu

Giana Kalefe

Skyla Schulte

Gabrielle Stephen

Alyssa Wiedeman