Friday, March 11
Lexington, Ky.
Michigan State University
197.500
at
197.650
Kentucky
Spartan Gymnastics Continues Record-Setting Ways at Kentucky
3/11/2022 9:06:00 PM | Women's Gymnastics
LEXINGTON, Ky. – No. 12 Michigan State gymnastics was narrowly outmatched by No. 9 Kentucky on Friday night, with the Wildcats earning the win by a 197.650-197.500 margin.
MSU put up its third score of 197Â or better this season and earned the second-highest team score in program history. The score replaces the previous second-highest score 197.425 set this year against Illinois on Feb. 13. The Spartans also set a new program-best score of 49.500 on bars, with beam and floor scores ranking within the top 10 in the record book as well.
"We're so proud that this team came into Memorial Coliseum tonight with the mentality that it was just like any other meet: an opportunity to win," head coach Mike Rowe commented. "It was our first time in SEC territory this season, the arena was full of loud and loyal Kentucky fans, and we attacked this meet like all the others. We were within tenths of Kentucky and it came down to the last rotation. Every routine counted."
The Spartans took home two event titles on the night, led by freshman Skyla Schulte. She stood atop the podium on beam with her score of 9.950, and shared the bars title with a trio of Wildcats who also scored 9.950 on the event. Schulte came in second place in the all-around behind third-ranked all-arounder Raena Worley of Kentucky. Schulte's cumulative score of 39.575 was her second-best this season, following up on last week's breaking of the Spartan program record on all-around. Her score Friday evening ranks the third-highest all time.
The Spartans got things started in a big way in the first rotation, putting up the record-setting score of 49.500 on the uneven bars. The previous record, a 49.450, was achieved at the 1998 Spartan Invitational. Freshman Gabrielle Stephen got the bar rolling with a 9.800, followed up by a career-high 9.850 put up by junior Tori Loomis. The final three routines drew scores of 9.900 or better, as junior Jori Jackard finished with a 9.925. Continuing her hot streak, Schulte earned a new career-best score of 9.950 from her routine, receiving a perfect 10.0 from one of two judges.
Freshman Lauren Hsu and senior Ashley Hofelich led the way for the Green & White on vault in the second rotation, each scoring a team-high 9.875. Nyah Smith nearly tied her career-high with a 9.825 scored. Stephen anchored the rotation with a 9.850, helping MSU to a total score of 49.225, the sixth-highest vault score in the record books alongside Feb. 13's score against Illinois.
Michigan State moved onto floor next with Kentucky holding a slim 98.825-98.725 advantage after two rotations. Sydney Ewing led off with her first appearance of the night for the Spartans, scoring a 9.775. Smith and Delanie Harkness followed suit with a 9.850 and 9.875. Mitchell achieved the first 9.900 floor routine of the night for MSU, followed up by a close 9.875 from Schulte. The top five routines helped the Spartans to a team score of 49.375, putting them in the lead by a 148.100-148.075 margin.
The Spartans took to beam in the final events of the night, while Kentucky was on floor. Sophomore Giana Kalefe continued her consistency on beam with a 9.850. Schulte earned another 9.950 on the night, tying her career-high with a solid routine to add to her all-around score. Mitchell earned her second score of 9.900 or better on the night with a 9.925.
"We are so proud to have taken advantage ot each opportunity we've had along the way, picking up Big Ten weekly awards in every category, which contributed to building more confidence and consistency," Rowe commented. "Most of all, our performance has helped us hold steady in the rankings since week one. They've done a fantastic job of learning how to compete this season. All of these things combined set us up in pretty decent shape as the No. 3 seed in the Big Ten Championship this weekend."
The Spartans are back on the road next Saturday, March 19 for the B1G Championships in Columbus, Ohio. Michigan State will compete alongside Michigan, Minnesota, and Ohio State in the evening session of the Championships, beginning at 5:30 p.m.
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MSU put up its third score of 197Â or better this season and earned the second-highest team score in program history. The score replaces the previous second-highest score 197.425 set this year against Illinois on Feb. 13. The Spartans also set a new program-best score of 49.500 on bars, with beam and floor scores ranking within the top 10 in the record book as well.
"We're so proud that this team came into Memorial Coliseum tonight with the mentality that it was just like any other meet: an opportunity to win," head coach Mike Rowe commented. "It was our first time in SEC territory this season, the arena was full of loud and loyal Kentucky fans, and we attacked this meet like all the others. We were within tenths of Kentucky and it came down to the last rotation. Every routine counted."
The Spartans took home two event titles on the night, led by freshman Skyla Schulte. She stood atop the podium on beam with her score of 9.950, and shared the bars title with a trio of Wildcats who also scored 9.950 on the event. Schulte came in second place in the all-around behind third-ranked all-arounder Raena Worley of Kentucky. Schulte's cumulative score of 39.575 was her second-best this season, following up on last week's breaking of the Spartan program record on all-around. Her score Friday evening ranks the third-highest all time.
The Spartans got things started in a big way in the first rotation, putting up the record-setting score of 49.500 on the uneven bars. The previous record, a 49.450, was achieved at the 1998 Spartan Invitational. Freshman Gabrielle Stephen got the bar rolling with a 9.800, followed up by a career-high 9.850 put up by junior Tori Loomis. The final three routines drew scores of 9.900 or better, as junior Jori Jackard finished with a 9.925. Continuing her hot streak, Schulte earned a new career-best score of 9.950 from her routine, receiving a perfect 10.0 from one of two judges.
Freshman Lauren Hsu and senior Ashley Hofelich led the way for the Green & White on vault in the second rotation, each scoring a team-high 9.875. Nyah Smith nearly tied her career-high with a 9.825 scored. Stephen anchored the rotation with a 9.850, helping MSU to a total score of 49.225, the sixth-highest vault score in the record books alongside Feb. 13's score against Illinois.
Michigan State moved onto floor next with Kentucky holding a slim 98.825-98.725 advantage after two rotations. Sydney Ewing led off with her first appearance of the night for the Spartans, scoring a 9.775. Smith and Delanie Harkness followed suit with a 9.850 and 9.875. Mitchell achieved the first 9.900 floor routine of the night for MSU, followed up by a close 9.875 from Schulte. The top five routines helped the Spartans to a team score of 49.375, putting them in the lead by a 148.100-148.075 margin.
The Spartans took to beam in the final events of the night, while Kentucky was on floor. Sophomore Giana Kalefe continued her consistency on beam with a 9.850. Schulte earned another 9.950 on the night, tying her career-high with a solid routine to add to her all-around score. Mitchell earned her second score of 9.900 or better on the night with a 9.925.
"We are so proud to have taken advantage ot each opportunity we've had along the way, picking up Big Ten weekly awards in every category, which contributed to building more confidence and consistency," Rowe commented. "Most of all, our performance has helped us hold steady in the rankings since week one. They've done a fantastic job of learning how to compete this season. All of these things combined set us up in pretty decent shape as the No. 3 seed in the Big Ten Championship this weekend."
The Spartans are back on the road next Saturday, March 19 for the B1G Championships in Columbus, Ohio. Michigan State will compete alongside Michigan, Minnesota, and Ohio State in the evening session of the Championships, beginning at 5:30 p.m.
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Players Mentioned
Vault, Bars, Floor
/ Women's Gymnastics
All-Around
/ Women's Gymnastics
All-Around
/ Women's Gymnastics
All-Around
/ Women's Gymnastics
All-Around
/ Women's Gymnastics
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/ Women's Gymnastics
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